All A-Cuivre for Invasives

Dear Internet,

I've spent the last four weeks hunting this plant:

Garlic mustard

It's invasive season all right! All our projects these days are hitting various invasive species (bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, autumn olive, etc.) I've spent the last four weeks at Cuivre River (it's pronounced quee-vr and means "copper" in French, but here in Missur-uh, they say quiver). There, we kill a devilplant called garlic mustard.

Garlic mustard was brought over from Europe to be grown in gardens and used as a seasoning, since the leaves really do taste like garlic. Turns out, it's invasive, taking over whole areas and killing various fungi in the soil (including popular Morel mushrooms). So, we kill it.

It's not terribly exciting, but it's not terribly terrible either - mostly just walking through the forest with a backpack sprayer of herbicide and hosing down all the plants we find. Meh.

Also for the last three weeks, I was a Team Leader (TL) at Cuivre. It's an interesting change, leading the team, but I've found I'm pretty content just to be a team member. People tend to argue with me when I make group decisions and there's a lot more responsibility to make sure that everything goes as planned - not to mention making the plan in the first place - so I'm not crazy about it. It's not terrible though, and it's a set of skills I'd like to work on, so I'm glad for the opportunity.

Anyway, that's about all that's been going on. I'll be on a 10-day rotation at a place called Roaring River this next time (if we don't get called anywhere for the hailstorm/thunder storm/tornado that just rolled past the front stoop). See you later!

xoxo Liz

Soulard

Dear Internet,


For those of you who don't know, I live in Soulard. And I love it. It's a historic, laid-back, beautiful old neighborhood. I spent yesterday walking around photographing some of the most landmark places in Soulard for me and the rest of ERT - enjoy! And welcome to my world every weekend.

The view down Allen Avenue, where I live.

The Shenandoah apartments, where half of ERT lives and all
of ERT hangs out.

Pontiac Park, directly across the street from Shenandoah.

From what I've heard, these stars (found on the sides of many a
Soulard building) are a symbol of the community because as
many of the old buildings start to come apart, these stars
anchor the walls to the beams inside.

Hammerstone's, a popular bar

Old advertising on 9th Street

More old advertising on 9th and Allen!

Old advertising

The Shanti, my favorite live music-hippie-hangout bar

Another bar, 1860s Saloon, has a bus... which invites you to
follow along!

The Soulard Coffee Garden, a great sit down/take out place
for brunch or just coffee! Will and I go here a lot.

At the famous Farmer's Market! It's a great, albeit crowded place
to hang out on a Saturday morning.

More Farmer's Market. Mini donut stand!

Farmer's Market

Farmer's Market

Farmer's Market

Farmer's Market

It's unofficial, but I really think this house looks like it came
out of A Series of Unfortunate Events. I think of it as the
Lemony Snicket House. Anyone?

Vincent's Market, a "real neighborhood store" is the only
grocery store within walking distance.

And finally, good old Soulard Soap - the laundromat, where
many ERT members can be found on a Sunday evening.

Anyway, I love the community vibe in Soulard. There's a variety of people who live here but the bars and restaurants and parks are definitely local hangouts, not commercialized or tourist-dominated, and each has its own character. It's been a wonderful place to live and I'd be happy to show any of you who come to visit around! There's a lot of great places that didn't make it into this post... come and see :)

xoxo Liz