Volunteers Sought To Plant Beach Plums In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Volunteers are needed to plant beach plums in the dunes at 58th Street Beach on April 15.

Join the Ocean City Environmental Commission and the Ocean City High School Environmental Association at 9:30 a.m., rain or shine, to help plant beach plums.

These shrubs play a vital role in protecting and stabilizing dunes. The fruit-bearing plants grow naturally in sandy soils and are able to thrive in harsh conditions with low nutrients, salt spray and high winds. Their roots penetrate deeply into the sand, creating a dense network of underground stems that help bind the sand and soil together to prevent erosion.

The beach plum seedlings will be provided by Jalma Farms of Ocean View. Alma George will be providing a brief presentation on the benefits of beach plums and how to plant the cuttings.

Volunteers are asked to dress appropriately for the weather of the day and to bring work gloves and wear hard-soled shoes. They are also requested to bring shovels (to dig holes two feet deep) and a bucket (for topsoil that will be provided at the site).