A group of concerned citizens led by Julie Beckford has formed a club called Liberty Rippers (Remove Invasive Plants, Power Environmental Reclamation). The club plans to gather once a month at one of the members’ homes to jump start invasive removal, leaving the landowner(s) encouraged and committed to ongoing maintenance.
The first 2-hour work session was held on August 9, going after a large wisteria infestation at a home in Liberty village. Eleven people got a lot done in two hours, followed by a lunch and a good conversation.
In September, club members will be descending on a home in Waldo to cut down multiflora rose along a pond edge, leaving the landowner with the ongoing job of cutting stump sprouts until the shrubs die.
The club formed quickly after Julie began running a series of 9 invasive plant open houses during her weekly volunteer shift at Liberty Library. The series is ongoing and is open to anyone interested in the subject. For more information, please email Julie at juliebeckford@gmail.com.
