MONACA, Pa. — Sometimes seemingly small efforts can have a big impact. 
 
That’s what Autumn Sabo is hoping will happen with The Patch Project, an initiative with local nonprofit Reforest Our Future that aims to restore natural elements to the local landscape.
 
Sabo, assistant professor of biology at Penn State Beaver, and Jeff Karwoski, founder and executive director of Reforest Our Future, are planting 10 small patches of forest around Beaver County. The project is being completed with funds from the inaugural Commonwealth Campus Undergraduate Community-Engaged Research Award. The award is a new program designed for faculty who specifically support undergraduate student participation in research that aims to improve community well-being.
 
Penn State Beaver students visited the patch sites to collect initial landscape position, vegetation and soil data and are taking part in the patch preparations and planting. Students will also monitor patch growth and do sampling once the patches are complete.
 
Each patch of forest is about 150 square feet and will include edging that will keep grass from encroaching into the patch. Sabo said each patch will have trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants like wildflowers that are native to the area.
 
There are several goals for the project, Sabo said. One goal is to bring more native plants to the area that will help pollinators and wildlife. Another goal is student involvement. She said wants her students will learn a lot about reforestation, biology and alternatives to lawns. And Sabo said she hopes the community will learn more about native plants, why they matter and what options people have for planting. There are plans to create educational videos that Sabo hopes will inspire people to “take the idea and run with it.”
 
This fall the patches have been started with edging and mulch. Sabo said trees like damp soil and fungus, and the mulch will break down to provide that. In the spring trees and shrubs will be planted.
 
In addition to a patch at Beaver campus in front of the Gary B. Keefer Wellness Center, patches around Beaver County will include Antoline Park in Monaca, the New Brighton Kids Community Garden, Community College of Beaver County, and the Southside Area and Rochester Area school districts.