We are pleased to announce that we have awarded mini-grants to communities in Fairfax County to help with professional invasives removal services. The main goal of these grants is to help jump-start a long-term invasive plant management plan by these communities, though a couple of the communities were already well on their way in that regard. A total of $30,000 was distributed from a reimbursement grant that we received from the Virginia Department of Forestry for PRISMs.
There were 17 communities that requested a site visit from one of our experienced volunteers as the first step toward applying for a grant. The volunteers walked the property with community leaders to help them identify invasive plants and formulate a short- and long-term plan. Of those, 13 communities completed the application process, and all of them received a mini-grant.
The emphasis on this round of mini-grants is on tree preservation, either by treating the vines that directly threaten them or large invasive trees and shrubs that prevent their seedlings from growing. Asian Wisteria is a particular priority, since it has particularly devastating effects on trees, strangling them with huge, tight stems, snapping off tree tops and limbs, and sending up shrub-like sprouts that completely smother the ground layer.. It typically takes about five years of aggressive treatment including herbicides to completely control it.
The mini-grants require the communities to match half the money with either their own funds or with volunteer labor. They will all be doing educational outreach to their communities and putting up a sign that says, “Invasive plant removal in progress. Please don’t plant invasive species that damage our ecosystem.”
This process very closely followed the pattern set by the 2023-2024 mini-grants awarded as a collaboration of Plant NOVA Natives and the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance.
We hope to be able to raise money for more mini-grants in the future. Our grant from VDOF is a reimbursement grant, meaning that we also need to raise money to pay for this first batch of mini-grants before we ourselves get reimbursed. Donations large and small would be extremely welcome! Every $3000 will pay for a grant.
Congratulations to the 2025 grantees!
- Walden Cluster, Reston
- Lafayette Village, Annandale
- Truro Homes Association, Annandale
- Soapstone Cluster, Reston
- Barton Hill Cluster, Reston
- South Run Regency, Fairfax Station
- Lake Barcroft Association, Falls Church
- Pickett's Reserve HOA, Fairfax
- Hunter's Green Cluster, Reston
- New England Cluster, Burke
- Truro Anglican Church, Reston
- Olam Tikvah, Fairfax
- Crest of Alexandria, Alexandria