Bradi Jacobson
I'm a Washington native, the oldest of three siblings, and I enjoy walking, listening to a wide variety of audiobooks and music, photography, and organic gardening and landscaping. Since birth, nature and animals have always captivated, enchanted, enlivened and soothed my spirits most. Heaven was being out in the woods, picking huckleberries, walking along a creek, mesmerized by the sunlight rippling across the rock bed and, otherwise, just absorbing every exquisite detail & facet of nature. Even now, a rewarding day is spent outside, listening to an audio book, hands in the dirt, creating beauty in the yard while appreciating the intricacies of life. In general, I’m enthusiastic about whole-systems, and big-picture thinking, including formulating ideas, making connections and helping to facilitate positive change in our shared world.
What sparked your interest in gardening and native plants?
When my parents made the difficult decision to sell some undeveloped property that had been in my family for two generations, I was devastated to be losing wetland habitat that was a creative, safe, and exhilarating sanctuary. Deciding to preserve and expand the “essence” of it, and the remaining (unsold) land I grew up on, I began growing its trees and plants from seeds and saplings. This developed into a lifelong hobby of gardening, including a full nursery today of plants and trees from places I cherished while growing up, as well as many “rescued” from urban interface development. Now I would like to donate many of these trees and plants to habitat restoration and stewardship projects, where they can thrive.
Why is habitat restoration important to you?
As we face climate change and environmental degradation, conservation advocacy and action feel more important than ever. Nature is miraculous and healing and worthy of our collaborative effort to ensure the world's ecosystems remain intact and accessible for all species, no matter the current popular culture or political landscape. With this goal in mind, it is my intention for the trees and plants I’ve grown to find “good homes,” that will enhance native habitats and provide sanctuary and peace for people and wildlife alike.
How did you become involved with the Salmon Coalition?
Getting involved was the result of a serendipitous connection! In looking for homes for my nursery trees, I contacted several municipal, tribal, and non-profit organizations. King County Parks referred me to the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, who then reached out just before December’s Kilisut Harbor planting event. I was thrilled to participate and bring more trees! It was a magical, emotional & deeply meaningful coincidence that the project took place just down the road from where my grandparents used to live on Marrowstone Island throughout my childhood and young adult years--a place which holds so much nostalgia and happy memories in my heart.
It is humbling to hope that my volunteer story might inspire others to plant a tree or shrub, to honor and care for the earth more each day, to take a moment to appreciate the frogs croaking, birds singing, and wind blowing through the trees, or just acknowledge the connectedness of all of life and what we are borrowing from the future. Thank you to all the wonderful staff of the North Olympic Salmon Coalition who went above and beyond in welcoming me. I look forward to restoring more natural habitat to its greatest potential with you again!
Thank you, Bradi. We appreciate you!
