Field Notes #2: Tree Planting - Boulder Creek Preserve
Adventure: Tree Planting
Location: Boulder Creek Preserve
Date: November 19, 2016
Adventurer: Ryan Woldt & Friends
Knowing we were headed out into the wilderness near Julian where phone signals go to die & the driving directions included 10 miles on dirt road, I sent the directions to the tree-planting site to myself in an e-mail. Then I screenshot them and saved it on my phone just in case.
It wasn't necessary. We made a few turns off HWY 79 and found ourselves on that dirt road twisting and turning and climbing, always climbing before being waved into the Boulder Creek Preserve site by a bearded man wearing a flannel.
On Saturday we were working with the San Diego River Park Foundation (SDRPF) to plant some trees. When One Wild Life Co. had our crowdfunding campaign last spring one of our perks was that we'd use part of the donation to have a tree planted for you. We had already donated that money long ago, but it didn't feel like enough. We wanted to get our hands dirty. We wanted to smell the dirt being turned as the sun baked the back of our necks. SDRPF was kind enough to keep us involved and invite us out to a planting.
There were a few volunteers already snacking on some bagels when we arrived. We signed the waiver and volunteer time sheet. Checked out the map and I jumped right in with the questions, namely, "Why here?"
The answer was pretty straightforward. This particular area had been damaged by fire. The SDRPF had been able to acquire the damaged land and received a grant to help restore it. This particular creek had once been a well regarded trout stream but the effects of drought and the fire had brought it to it's knees. Our efforts were part of a restoration project in an area that would also be used to educate and train for other restorations projects.
It was a pretty good answer.
We were all instructed to grab our digging utensil of choice and a pair of gloves. Then split into two groups and headed into different sections of the preserve. Ben, the bearded dude, took our group and gave us a little demo on how to do the plantings. Basically, dig a hole, loosen the root balls of the plants, place it in the hole and fill it in trying to avoid air pockets or over packing. The process was pretty easy. There were markers for where the plants were supposed to go and the actual plants nearby. We got to work.
For the next three hours we planted sycamore trees, skunkbush, elderberry, live oak, wild grasses and more. The sun wasn't too hot but would poke out occasionally to warm the sheen of sweat glistening on our brows and inspiring us to shed sweatshirts or long-sleeves.
It was a meditative process that despite the soreness of my muscles later barely felt like work. Dig a hole. Put in a plant. Fill the hole. Water. Repeat. Around us birds were chirping and shuffling among tree leaves. A woodpecker kept time for us and the occasional squirrel would say hello.
When we were done our small group had planted more than 100 new plants in the preserve. We gathered again, shared some fruit and drank deeply from our water bottles. Our hands and knees were covered in dirt, shoulders were sore and necks had begun to brown. I was filled with a satisfying feeling of knowing I had done something good and enjoyed doing it.
It fulfilled that feeling that I as a founder of One Wild Life Co. owed something more to those people who had supported our crowdfunding campaign by donating money for trees. But it also inspired a pride of place, and was just one more reminder that we're surrounded by people who want a better place for themselves and others. Thank you to those who joined us on Saturday. It was awesome to bring a crew along for the event.
One Wild Life Co. will be teaming up with the San Diego River Park Foundation for another planting in January 2017. Follow our Facebook page or Instagram for event updates.
