A few times per year, Eddie and I retreat to a mountain cabin to bathe in the beauty of Western North Carolina. During our time here, we take exhilarating cold plunges into the river, celebrate the aging trees (this land, as much land in WNC, was once logged), and admire the biodiverse forest. Every time we come, we are in awe. The forest’s top is blanketed with Oaks, Maples, Hickories, Pines, and Southern Magnolias. From the wet floor, you will find green moss, lichen, Galax, Rhododendron, Mountain Laurel, and Dogwoods. Birds chat and sing as they soar between the trees, otters swim through the water like butter to get to their cozy home, fish surf in the river’s current on their way upstream. This place is magical. It is also under attack. English Ivy (once planted in a garden years ago) is spreading.

Though English Ivy looks pretty, the powerful plant disrupts the health of the native forest. It overtakes native species, including trees, and rids the forest of biodiversity (it’s key ingredient to health).

Luckily, there is still so much incredible forest that hasn’t been touched by the Ivy, but action needs to be taken. Thus began our English Ivy Removal Project. Eddie and I are out to remove the invasive species from the grounds.

Day 6 - SECTION 1 CLEARED! October 22 2021

After 28 hours of labor, we have cleared section 1! Ivy tends to hide and come back, especially if any roots were lefts in the ground. We plan to return every year for the next few years to do maintenance and take out anything missed. Next, we move to the big section

BEFORE

AFTER

More to come - stay tuned on our progress!

-Becca Lapeyre