Mosquito Fleet is proud to be serving as safety paddlers for this event — hope you can join us!

The Portland Fruit Tree Project (PFTP) is excited to launch its seasonal “If You Can’t Beat ’Em, Eat ’Em!” blackberry harvest and eradication campaign, inviting Portlanders to roll up their sleeves, harvest invasive Himalayan blackberries, and reclaim neglected urban green spaces.

The Ross Island Blackberry Harvest & Action Day on July 27, 2025 will focus attention on the long-overdue ecological restoration of Ross Island, which has long been neglected under the private ownership of Pamplin Media Group. Paddlers will launch from Willamette Park Boat Launch and harvest blackberry, plus hear updates from our friends at the Human Access Project their progress on fixing Pamplin Media’s mismanagement of Ross Island and our waterways.

Limited boat space is available for folks who register, or feel free to bring your own stand-up paddle board, kayak, or canoe. To register and learn more, check out the event page here.