A 38-year labor of love

What started as 8 acres choked by kudzu and other non-natives has been transformed, hour by volunteer hour, into a thriving greenspace. Beneath the kudzu, volunteers uncovered a small tributary of Intrenchment Creek and the legacy stream bed of Southside Creek — a wetland and intermittent stream that had been hidden for decades.

The early cleanup work was no small feat: a 30-yard dumpster filled with trash, 100 tires pulled from the silt, and the constant challenge of trying not to lose a boot in the process.

Building something lasting

In 2010, longtime volunteer and Tapestry resident, Lou Clymore convinced Julie to take an Adopt-A-Stream class, and monthly water quality testing has been part of the rhythm ever since — joined later by Bob Bourne and continued through the AARC water testing program.

A few milestones along the way:

• 2013–2014: Tapestry received a 5-Star Grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, which funded a 1-acre meadow, a riparian buffer of native plants and trees, and bluebird and owl houses.

• 2014–2021: Beavers moved in and built a dam, creating remarkable biodiversity on the property — and a memorable lesson in coexistence.

• 2022: A conservation easement was established, held by the Southeastern Trust for Parks + Land, protecting the greenspace for future generations.

Nature, evolving

When the last beavers left in 2023, the dam gave way and three feet of water disappeared with them. But the work continues — removing invasive species, planting Georgia Piedmont natives, and welcoming the volunteer natives that quietly plant themselves. Twice a year, Tapestry HOA volunteers still gather for stream cleanups, clearing the trash that washes down through stormwater.