Doing good while doing well.

[Sredfield]

This falls under the "etc." of the topic list.

VOAz (Volunteers for Outdoor Arizona) is the best kept secret in outdoor AZ activities, and Hart Prairie is the best of the best events. I can't make it but I encourage anyone who enjoys outdoor activity, likes good physical exercise and seeing what you accomplish to look into this. This event will open for non-members soon.

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What: Elk Exclosure Fencing at Hart Prairie Preserve

Where: Hart Prairie Preserve near Flagstaff

When : July 21-22-23

Escape the heat of the Valley in the cool Aspens of Hart Prairie while staying in a historic cabin with views of Mt. Humphrey. All meals will be provided by VOAz and The Nature Conservancy. Fee is $20.00 per person for the weekend, funds will pay for materials and tools for our new "Save Our Aspen" project. Common meals are being provided through a grant optained by TNC.

In May, VOAz volunteers built 1,800 feet of elk exclosure fence around a Bebb Willow stand. The Bebb Willows are the primary reason The Nature Conservancy maintains the Hart Prairie Preserve. This was a last minute change in the work plan brought on by a break down in the review process for the planned construction to promote aspen recruitment. Bebb Willow's suffer from the same kind of damage--young regrowth is being over-browsed by elk and deer. That experience taught us much about how to built these fences. That should make the work go even better during this event. We will focus on completing the smaller of two planned exclosure fences in July. The exclosure is less than half the size of the one we completed in May. On Friday July 21 we would like to have about six volunteers there to set the corner posts and pre-position materials. If time permits, we will begin the work on the second exclosure.

The Hart Prairie Preserve of The Nature Conservancy is about a 3 hour drive north of Phoenix. The last few miles are over good dirt roads.

Minimum age: 16
Maximum number of volunteers: 16

There is more information about the work and facilities on the fact sheet, which is now on the calendar page http://voaz.org/voaevents.htm

[Sredfield]

Another terrific weekend out in the cool fresh air under clear blue skies. The fire danger dictates a fire break around the 1930's vintage (and earlier) buildings at TNC's Hart Prairie Preserve, so during the week Ron and Neil (TNC Staff) cut down and bucked up numerous trees, a whole hillside it seemed. We hauled them (in trucks) out to the meadow for burning this winter. I sure hope to get an email the night before that happens. As always, good food, great views, good exercise, cool temps, etc. etc. Saw elk in the meadow, deer on the way in, and a gazillion humming birds off the front porch.

Sunday I got up early to split a bunch of firewood, one fellow said he'd stack it if I split it. He has a lot of work to do. Couldn't help but think of the valley as I was swinging an 8 pount splitting maul in with a jacket on in the <50 degrees. I love the early morning about anywhere, it's awesome in the shade of Mt Humphreys. Then got put on the saw for most of the morning. I took my antique McCollough with me but was introduced to ~50 years of technological improvements in the form of a Stihl 260 Pro. Boy toys! Left at 12:30 and made it to within 3 miles of the house when I had a flat! Changing a tire in 111 degrees, not fun but couldn't have happend at a better time, I was still in my dirty clothes so just changed it and came on home.

Looking forward to the July event where we'll probably do more of the same. Link to photo's of May event:
http://www.voaz.org/newvoaz/HTML/projec ... /index.htm