Cyricx
03-03-2009, 02:43 PM
Caretakers’ Corner
By Rhi
As I write this, what appears to be the last snowfall of this winter season is blanketing camp. With the last snowfall always comes the promise of spring, and pre-season traditions at Gaea such as the controlled burns and the crunch to launch the new season April 1st. Earth Day preparations are also underway. There is suddenly quite a bit to accomplish in a short span of time.
This year, we are delaying the controlled burns by two weeks. The first burn will be held March 28th & 29th. Burning a couple of weeks later will bring us closer to the ideal time for burning our native grass areas, effectively stunting the cool-season grasses and allowing the warm-season natives to flourish. We will be burning 1st Field and the native grass restoration area and we will also be burning Sunset Ridge and Grover’s Glen to remove thatch and straw and encourage a lush carpet of grass in these heavily used areas. This year, we will be starting later in the day (closer to noon) to allow the grass to dry. As those of you who have been around for the last few burns know, wet grass is hard to light. If you like fire, this is a task you will want to help with.
Clint closed the draw-down valve in a little over a month ago, and you will be happy to know that the lake is refilling at a steady pace, in spite of a lack of moisture. Most of the trash has been removed, the canoe has been resurrected, and the beach reclaimed. Several tractor-sized buckets of sand were rescued from near to where the floatilla floats at normal lake level. Some smoothing and raking need to occur, but there WILL be sand back on the beach… woo-hoo!
I have some housekeeping notes for you before I go run through this frosty gift from the north. The calendar is up for 2009, including our work weekends. Please check your calendar against Gaea’s and help when you can. Gaea can’t exist or thrive without the willing help of your volunteer labor. Also, if the weather cooperates, we should have the water on by the first weekend of April. Please note that parking at the end of the road to the south cabins is not allowed. This is a critical turnaround for campers and emergency vehicles alike. Don’t park there – you will have to move. Last but not least, everyone is required to register and pay fees when you arrive. Please stop at Phoenix and register when you get here. If you are doing work exchange, indicate that on your envelope, but make sure you are filling one out.
Spring is definitely on the way, and Gaea will be dressed in her summer finest soon, while we are in sarongs drinking mead by the fire with drums thundering around us. I can hardly wait, how about you?
By Rhi
As I write this, what appears to be the last snowfall of this winter season is blanketing camp. With the last snowfall always comes the promise of spring, and pre-season traditions at Gaea such as the controlled burns and the crunch to launch the new season April 1st. Earth Day preparations are also underway. There is suddenly quite a bit to accomplish in a short span of time.
This year, we are delaying the controlled burns by two weeks. The first burn will be held March 28th & 29th. Burning a couple of weeks later will bring us closer to the ideal time for burning our native grass areas, effectively stunting the cool-season grasses and allowing the warm-season natives to flourish. We will be burning 1st Field and the native grass restoration area and we will also be burning Sunset Ridge and Grover’s Glen to remove thatch and straw and encourage a lush carpet of grass in these heavily used areas. This year, we will be starting later in the day (closer to noon) to allow the grass to dry. As those of you who have been around for the last few burns know, wet grass is hard to light. If you like fire, this is a task you will want to help with.
Clint closed the draw-down valve in a little over a month ago, and you will be happy to know that the lake is refilling at a steady pace, in spite of a lack of moisture. Most of the trash has been removed, the canoe has been resurrected, and the beach reclaimed. Several tractor-sized buckets of sand were rescued from near to where the floatilla floats at normal lake level. Some smoothing and raking need to occur, but there WILL be sand back on the beach… woo-hoo!
I have some housekeeping notes for you before I go run through this frosty gift from the north. The calendar is up for 2009, including our work weekends. Please check your calendar against Gaea’s and help when you can. Gaea can’t exist or thrive without the willing help of your volunteer labor. Also, if the weather cooperates, we should have the water on by the first weekend of April. Please note that parking at the end of the road to the south cabins is not allowed. This is a critical turnaround for campers and emergency vehicles alike. Don’t park there – you will have to move. Last but not least, everyone is required to register and pay fees when you arrive. Please stop at Phoenix and register when you get here. If you are doing work exchange, indicate that on your envelope, but make sure you are filling one out.
Spring is definitely on the way, and Gaea will be dressed in her summer finest soon, while we are in sarongs drinking mead by the fire with drums thundering around us. I can hardly wait, how about you?