Field & Fern was created to address the need for a greater understanding of the unique natural landscapes of the San Juan Islands. Our mission is to provide landowners and other current island dwellers with a deeper knowledge of the native species that also call this place home.
Services
Field & Fern offers a variety of services including site assessments, rare species monitoring, native seeding, and restoration planning. Our work focuses on the unique habitat types found within the San Juan Islands of Washington State.
Site Visits and Assessments
The first step to take as a landowner, or steward of the land, is to understand what you have. Initial site visits by an experienced ecologist can help shed light on species diversity, presence of native species, invasive species of concern, and how land management in the past has affected the state of things in the present.
Restoration Planning
Working with plants means working with the annual cycles of seasons and weather patterns. Coming up with a plan for how to increase native species and overall biodiversity on your property is integral to meeting your conservation goals. Management guidance often involves the development of a 2-5 year plan which includes clear goals and objectives as well as a specific timeline of actions.
Invasive Species Management
The strategy developed for interacting with the species on your land will depend on what non-natives you may be dealing with, how they affect the landscape, and how you feel about them. Field & Fern can help you prioritize and strategize where to put your energy.
Native Plant Seeding and/or Planting
In some habitat types, the direct seeding of native species can be the easiest, most cost-effective way to go. This is especially true with rocky balds and recently disturbed sites following construction. There is a small window of time when the soil is bare and the conditions are right… and that is the time to seed. We can help develop an appropriate plant list for your site, source native seeds, and implement the sowing. In some cases, the planting of plugs (small plants) can be effective as well and we can help you decide what strategy is best for you and the land that you call home.