Reflections from a Native Landscape Apprentice

By Mayson Smith, Native Landscape Apprentice

As a guinea pig for the apprenticeship program at Reflection Riding, I wasn’t really sure what to expect, other than the general job description of a native landscape apprentice. Prior to the apprenticeship program, Byron Brooks was the only native landscape manager at Reflection Riding; we have multiplied the amount of work being done exponentially. We have made immense progress, and plan to continue doing so. As it turns out, this has been one of the most profound experiences I have had in a work environment. 

Although I’m a senior in college, this has been the first position I have had related to my degree. I am an environmental science major, with a focus on biodiversity, conservation, and natural resources. The work we do is directly related to conserving the native environment, mainly through managing invasive species. 

For those who are unaware, invasive plant species are plants that have been introduced to an environment by humans. Once they adjust to the environment they are placed in, they rapidly reproduce and begin to harm the native plants by stealing limited resources, like soil nutrients, water, and sunlight. When attempting to manage the invasive species on a 300-acre property, it often feels like running on a hamster wheel because the amount of work feels unlimited. 

However, it’s an incredibly rewarding feeling to look back at the end of a day's work and see the progress that has been made; it’s an incredible feeling knowing that the work we do is helping not only the native plants, but also the animals. Something I learned while on the job is that many animals, such as deer, can’t eat invasive plants because the plants do not have the proper nutrients. 

With the wealth of knowledge that I have gained here, I’ve also gained a wealth of memorable experiences. Every sunrise I got to see on the way to work was just a preface for the great day I was going to have. From cutting out invasives while cracking jokes with the crew, to learning to pilot a skid steer and tractor, to planting spice bushes, to burning native grasses that have evolved to crave fire, to working with, teaching, and learning from volunteers-– it’s all been a foundational experience that will shape the rest of my life and the relationship I have with nature, work, and people.