January 25 – 30, 2016 | Service Learning Project | Community First! Village

January 25 – 30, 2016  |  Service Learning Project  |  Community First! Village
On January 25th, eight River Watchers from McCallum High School visited the Community First! Village in northeast Austin. Mobile Loaves and Fishes are developing an affordable housing community for individuals who are disabled and for individuals that are chronically homeless. River Watchers were given an informational tour of the community and were able to ask questions about the mission of MLF and some of the specific features of the new community. River Watchers visited the stream, reviewed the tenets of a healthy, functioning riparian zone, and completed a pre-assessment of the area.
On January 26th, nine River Watchers from McCallum High School hosted a MLF staff person and a Community First! Village resident at the EcoHouse. They led their guests on a tour of the EcoHouse, providing some of the unique history of the house and of Hornsby Bend. River Watchers showed their guests how to harvest E. Gamagrass plugs so they could use them at the Community First! Village project along the creek.
On January 27th, nine River Watchers from McCallum High School reviewed the tenets of riparian functioning and then planted the native grass plugs that were harvested from the EcoHouse along the stream at Community First! Village.
On January 28th, nine River Watchers from McCallum High School worked with MLF staff and residents to continue planting native grass plugs along the stream and they installed a wood revetment wall along an eroded bank.