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Taking a stand in the sand: Martin County students grow, plant mangroves to help lagoon

Morgan Bakinowski
Special to TCPalm
“By educating hands-on and learning about the environment, we can promote a greener tomorrow for Martin County and the world," Morgan Bakinowski said. "It’s important that we start stressing the importance of our waterways and the Indian River Lagoon at a young age, that way when these kids grow up it’ll still be around for their kids to enjoy!”

 

PALM CITY — From humble beginnings at Alphabet Farms Preschool in Palm City, a large crop of red mangrove seedlings has been successfully transplanted into the Indian River Lagoon.

Preschoolers start process

After learning about mangrove ecosystems, environmental sustainability, and recycling, the kids at Alphabet Farms (ages 4 to 6) planted more than 100 propagules last August in reused plastic milk jugs.

Initial seed potting day at Alphabet Farms preschool
Alphabet Farms Preschool students used recycled milk jugs and other plastic containers to pot mangrove seeds.

With hard work and mindful care, 100% of the initial crop survived.

Even in preschool, Martin County is perpetuating a future generation of environmentally aware leaders.

Planting red mangrove seedlings

The transplant, carried out with the help of the Environmental Study Center’s Camp W.E.T, was a huge success.

Using recycled milk jugs and other plastic containers to pot mangrove seeds also taught students about recycling.

 

Year-old mangroves delivered by the River Scout and planted by the ESC camp W.E.T. fifth graders.

Fifth-grade campers took to the river aboard the “River Scout” and dug holes for nearly 60 red mangrove seedlings.

Focusing on the habitats these plants create, the kids learned about the enormous range of estuary creatures that depend on mangroves.

Once the mangroves are established and continue to grow, their sprawling roots will help eliminate floating debris, and barnacles will filter the water further, fine-tuning water quality and combating the detrimental effects of the Lake Okeechobee discharges. With a record-breaking summer of rains and releases, the pressing threat of blue-green algae on biodiversity is becoming more and more apparent.

MORE: From the beginning of Alphabet Farms' preschoolers' project 

While the sprawling roots help eliminate floating debris, barnacles filter the water further, fine-tuning water quality and combating the detrimental effects of the Lake Okeechobee discharges.

Taking a stand now

With a record-breaking summer of rains and releases, the pressing threat of blue-green algae on biodiversity is becoming more and more apparent.

Rather than waiting around for the day they could no longer swim in the lagoon or see the dolphins playing by the sandbar, these kids helped take a stand in the sand.

Mangroves in oyster beds

The other 50 mangrove seedlings were donated to the Florida Oceanographic Center to be used for research and coastline rehabilitation.

In a groundbreaking new project the FOC has launched, the mangroves will be transplanted in the middle of artificial oyster beds.

By layering bags of empty oyster shells collected from local restaurants and bars, the shell formations will provide a place for new oysters to cling to.

Florida Oceanographic Center received the rest of the mangroves for its oyster bed project.

Adorned with a mangrove seedling in the middle, the roots will grow around the formation, ensuring that changing tides and intensifying storms won’t impact the shoreline and suck up the sand.

Round 2 of this collaboration was done Aug. 10.

The second crop nearly doubled!

Focusing on the habitats these plants create, the kids learned about the enormous range of estuary creatures that depend on mangroves.

'Youth-based force of citizens'

“None of this would have been made possible if not for the support of this community," said project coordinator Morgan Bakinowski, Martin County High School graduate and UWC student. "From wood and soil donated by our local Pinder’s Nursery and The Home Depot, to milk jugs and plastic containers collected from neighbors’ recycling bins, this been an uplifting example of a community coming together in order to face a pressing environmental problem.

"I hope people will see this project as an illustration of the new, mobilized, youth-based force of citizens we are witnessing taking action in Martin County," Bakinowski said. "I want to be a part of a generation that cares about how our decisions impact the environment. After all, beyond just the health of our waterways, it’s our futures we’re protecting.

After learning about mangrove ecosystems, environmental sustainability, and recycling, the kids at Alphabet Farms (ages 4 to 6) planted over 100 propagules last August in reused plastic milk jugs. With hard work and mindful care, 100% of the initial crop survived.

"Moving forward from the success of this year’s crop," she said, "the plan is to double the seedlings for next year. I can’t wait to collaborate with these schools and organizations again to have twice the positive impact.”