Written by Christina Mink
In the depths of winter, on Sunday, January 8, 2024, six student volunteers from AYLUS Oyster Bay participated in a four-hour biodiversity preservation initiative at the Long Island Native Plant Initiative (LINPI), from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
Braving the chilly weather, our volunteers worked diligently inside the hoophouse, removing seeds from the heads of Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem) and Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) to support the proliferation of these native species. Members also re-soiled and re-potted various plants to maintain their health and viability. Additionally, they learned about the High-tide Bush, a resilient coastal plant essential to maintaining equilibrium within Long Island’s coastal ecosystems.
This hands-on experience deepened AYLUS members’ awareness of declining local biodiversity and emphasized the critical role of ecological restoration and native plant propagation. Through this collaboration, AYLUS has contributed to strengthening LINPI’s inventory of local plants and seeds in preparation for the upcoming season.
Christina Mink 2.5 hrs, Shirley Yu 2 hrs, Melody Hoiong 2hrs, Ming Chen 2hrs