A quick introduction to our three new staff members, Sara, Mary, and Andrew. If you run into one the stewards, please share your favorite Land Bank preserve and what snack YOU enjoy walking the trails!
Sara De Roy – Seasonal Field Assistant, Lopez Island
What island do you call home? I live on Lopez Island.
If you were a native plant, which would you be and why? If I were a native plant I’d be a native blackberry – the tiny trailing ones.
What’s your favorite snack when on the trail? My favorite snack on the trail are thimbleberries and whatever I’ve packed in my thermos.
What’s your favorite Land Bank Preserve? My favorite Land Bank preserve is probably the Channel Preserve but that’s a really hard question. I’ve never been to any of the ones on Orcas or San Juan!
Would you rather have invisibility or flight? I’d rather have flight.
Mary Gropp – Seasonal Field Assistant, Orcas Island
What island do you call home? Orcas
If you were a native plant, which would you be and why? I live surrounded by our native vegetation, and enjoy watching the changes through the seasons. One of my favorite shrubs is the Serviceberry, Amelanchier alnifolia. It has beautiful white flowers in the spring that are visited by many pollinators. The thick bushy growth provides great cover for birds, and the deep purple berries are an important food source for the migratory birds as they get ready to head south in the fall.
What’s your favorite snack when on the trail? I always have a bag of dried apples from our apple trees in my pack. Mixed with some nuts that can get me through a long day.
What’s your favorite Land Bank Preserve and why? I love all of the Preserves on Orcas, and have enjoyed visiting them regularly this spring to see how much use they get by residents and visitors. My favorite has to be Turtleback Mountain Preserve. The Preserve includes diverse forests, wetlands, mossy knolls and open ridgelines, and the views from Ship Peak and Waldron Overlook are incredible. It is near my home, so easy access for an early morning or evening walk. I have been spending time working on the south slopes of the Garry Oak restoration area this spring, and glad to be contributing in a small way to the restoration of that rare savanna habitat.
Would you rather have invisibility or flight? Invisibility would be nice, so that I could observe birds without scaring them away. But who wouldn’t choose flight?
Andrew Jansen – Orcas Island Field Assistant 
What island do you call home? Orcas Island, and I’m originally from the Skagit Valley.
If you were a native plant, which would you be and why? Such a hard question. I guess I’d choose Thimbleberry. I love their soft fluffy leaves and they have the best berries!
What’s your favorite snack when on the trail? Extra sharp cheddar cheese, crackers, and avocado.
What’s your favorite Land Bank Preserve and why? Hard to pick just one, but I can’t deny that Turtleback has always been my favorite. I just love being around all those oaks!
Would you rather have invisibility or flight? Flight for sure. I’m always jealous of the birds.