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Impact at a glance
24 volunteers | 60 service hours | 180+ buckets of mulch hauled and spread.
Some service projects are loud. This one was the sound of rakes scraping mulch, buckets thudding on the ground, and “coming through” as we walked past each other on the trail.
Non-Toxic SGV worked with Friends of Griffith Park for a Day of Volunteering, focusing on habitat support and erosion control. Under the guidance of Ross Arnold, Volunteer Coordinator for Friends of Griffith Park, we spent the afternoon hauling and spreading mulch across the restoration areas, turning one huge pile into ground cover that actually stays where it’s needed.
The end-of-day tally was 24 volunteers, 60 hours of service, and 180+ buckets of mulch hauled and spread. But you don’t see the music that’s created when everyone gets into the zone. One person fills the buckets, someone else carries them down the line, someone else spreads the mulch with a rake, someone else checks for the next patch of bare ground...
Bucket by bucket, the hillside changes.
What we worked on
The main task was mulching. We hauled mulch in buckets and then spread it out in an even layer across the area we were working on. It’s a simple concept, but it’s surprisingly strenuous. It’s not really for making it look neat and pretty for a photo op, but rather for protecting the land in a way that will last.
Why mulch matters
Mulch is way more than what it looks like, “wood chips on the ground.” It plays an important role in the soil by helping retain moisture, prevent erosion and runoff, and returning organic matter to the earth through the decomposition process. For a place such as Griffith Park, this layer can be beneficial, especially on exposed slopes and restoration areas where native plant growth must be supported.
Thanks to our partners and volunteers
Thanks to the Friends of Griffith Park for hosting and leading the project, and to Ross Arnold, who coordinated, taught, and kept everything running smoothly on the job site. We are thankful too for all the volunteers who came ready to work. Whether you spent the morning raking, hauling, and mulching, or simply helping out wherever you could use your skills, the end result is the same: the job site left better than we found it.
Looking ahead
This project was a good reminder that not all environmental work is glamorous. A lot of what we do is steady, repetitive, and even a little unglamorous. But the point is, the “after” does not happen overnight: it happens when we all keep showing up.
More service opportunities are on the way.
If you want to be a part of the next service day, stay tuned and subscribe to our email list down below! :)
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