
On the morning of Saturday, May 31, 2025, members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco and their guests gathered at Sutro Native Plant Nursery to support restoration work at Rotary Meadow, a native plant garden within Sutro Forest. The Sutro Stewards team greeted us and gave us gloves, tools, and training.
From 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, volunteers worked with the Sutro Stewards to clear trails, spread mulch, and remove invasive species that threaten the local ecosystem. Christian Chingcuango, Restoration Technician at Sutro Stewards, led us in the removal of the Italian thistle and the Himalayan blackberry. Both plants lack natural predators in California, making them especially harmful to native habitats. Their removal from the Lower Meadow improves the ability of native species to thrive by reducing competition for sunlight, soil nutrients, and space.
Participating in this service project were Dan Davies, President Bob Hermann, Harold Hoogasian, Dan Joraanstad, Hiroe Kobayashi, Eric Orantes, Wendy Shew, Kayla Trunecek, and Frank Yoke. The group enjoyed a lighthearted moment when President Bob shared this joke: "Why did the duck cross the road? Because it was the chicken's day off."
Eric Orantes, Christian Chingcuango, President Bob Hermann, Wendy Shew, Kayla Trunecek, Dan Davies, Frank Yoke, Dan Joraanstad, Harold Hoogasian, and Hiroe Kobayashi
We concluded with pizza and drinks, giving volunteers a chance to relax and connect after a productive morning. This project reflects Rotary's continued commitment to environmental restoration and hands-on community service.