LandPaths

Description

Let's Pull Broom at Fitch Mountain

Friday, May 17th, 2023

9am - 1pm

(volunteers may leave earlier but must arrive on time)

Event led in English

Register Here

Lend a hand at Fitch Mountain Open Space Preserve, a 173-acre protected people-powered park in Healdsburg.

Argh, French Broom! (shakes fist) An invasive plant that was brought in to be planted in gardens in the last century, French Broom grows very fast and in dense stands. If left to its own devices, it will overshadow native plants in the forest. And it acts as a fuel ladder to allow wildfire to reach into the tree canopies, which can be disastrous.

The best time to pull broom is before the next wildfire season. This is a chance to help us keep the forest healthy and resilient in the chance that wildfire comes through the preserve. The more people we get out for this day, the more broom we can remove! Plus, tending the land with like-minded people is a guaranteed mood-booster!

Here’s a sampling of possible tasks that you will do to care for the land

Hiking moderate slopes
Pulling French broom seedlings by hand. (Very satisfying!)
Pulling old-growth French broom shrubs with a weed wrench
Cutting old-growth French broom shrubs with saws and loppers
Placing woody material into piles

With your help, we can steward for ecological health and wildfire resilience, the trees, native plants, animals, and insects that live on this beautiful mountain. Fitch Mountain Preserve is owned by the City of Healdsburg and stewarded with the help of LandPaths. Fitch Mountain is located on the ancestral home of the Southern Pomo people, past, present, and future. We recognize them as the first people and the first stewards of this land.

Directions: We will meet at 9am in the Villa Chanticleer Dog Park Parking Lot (west side of Fitch) and hike to the project site/s together. Here is the google link to the meeting location: Dog Park

What is LandPaths' Covid-19 volunteer workday policy? Please read the most recent version of LandPaths' Covid-19 policy before attending the volunteer stewardship day.

Does rain mean the volunteer stewardship day is cancelled? The stewardship workday will move forward if there is a light drizzle, but a torrential rainstorm will cancel. Please call 707-544-7284 (then press 1) after 7am the morning of the stewardship day if the weather feels questionable. If you don't hear a notice of cancellation on the outgoing voice message, the stewardship day is moving forward.

What should you bring?

Picnic lunch, snacks & plenty of water, backpack to hold your gear
Sturdy boots or shoes that can get muddy
Long pants recommended
Your own workgloves
Hat and sun screen
Hand sanitizer

What else do you need to know?

A handwashing station will be available.
No experience necessary!
We'll provide the tools.
Expect to do a 1.5 mile round trip hike up a steep but well-graded trail to the project site.
You will be asked to sign a liability waiver.
No restroom on-site
No potable water available on the property. Make sure to fill up your water bottle ahead of time.
No pets or smoking.