For our fourth day in the Pine Barrens (3/27), we took a trip to the Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA) headquarters, where we first looked at submissions of the Pinelands Photo Exhibit, which captured closeups of wildlife and landscapes across the seasons.
We were then distracted by a parrot that a visiting truck driver had as a pet. After he performed some tricks for us, we returned into the building to watch a film made by one of our guides! The film was very relaxing and informative. It showed us parts of the Pinelands that we wouldn’t see during our hikes, such as tiny animals, plants, or a controlled wildfire and drove home why this precious area needs to be protected.
After the film, we took a brief walk around the farm. While we were there, we learned about strategies for organic farming without additives or chemicals. One of the strategies was to use a combination of old pizza boxes and ground up leaves to make natural and organic buffers for weeds. Another strategy is to plant crops that help prepare the soil for the in-season crops, such as rye and clovers. We even got to eat a little bit of fresh parsley and kale straight from the ground. In addition, we learned more about the history of the Pine Barrens’ inhabitant tribes and the history of the barn building. Lastly, we learned about the addition of disability-friendly trails inside of the Pine Barrens for everyone to use and the movement to advocate for more accessible trails.
