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Happy Halloween From Palos Restoration Project

10/29/2015

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They tramp into the forest, cutting through the early morning mist. At the front of the column is a silver-haired figure, slight of stature, clad in frayed denim. He walks briskly and the others scramble to match his pace.

At each side strides a helmeted man, wearing orange chaps and heavy leather gloves. One carries a chain saw, the other a brush cutter with silver blade that glistens when a shaft of sun reaches it.

Behind comes a legion of haulers, with cutting tools tucked under their arms or dangling from their hands. To a man (and woman), their clothing is marred by burn holes and rips.

They stop at a clearing and the silver-haired one dashes from tree to tree, a can of paint in his hand. Some trees receive a brief blaze of color from the can – these are the unfortunate ones, those not to stand for long. Others are spared.

Some of the haulers drop to their knees, filling their hands with dried twigs, dead branches, and clumps of grass. They move silently to a central location and deposit the detritus of the forest floor onto a quickly-forming pile.

Soon, the early morning calm will be shattered by the roar of small gasoline engines. Soon, the pile of twigs will be a wild blaze, sending fingers of flame as high as the forest canopy. The haulers will return again and again, casting armloads of brush onto the pyre and gazing skyward as their offerings are consumed. Their mumbled incantations go unheard in the din.

Later, the silver-haired one raises his arms over his head and gathers all present into a circle. He passes cups filled with a reddish liquid to each of them. Unquestioning, they lift the cups to their lips and drink.


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Hidden Pond 10/17/2015

10/22/2015

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We had 13 volunteers and cut honeysuckle re-sprouts along the ditch in the center of the prairie.  Thanks to Mary Busch from the Forest Preserves for coming to assist on this day.

Roger and Cara Keller dropped in around noon and spent an hour visiting. Great to see them!

The two photos below show a rough 'before' and 'after' of our work at Hidden Pond. Though they aren't lined up precisely the camera is pointing at the same general area. Call it "How To Make a Honeysuckle Thicket Disappear."

John Marlin held a workday at Black Partridge the following day. I missed that one and have no pictures of it, but do have a photo from Partridge two days later when we paid a visit. The fall colors are muted; probably much brighter right now.



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Hidden Pond 10/17/2015, 9:37 am
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Hidden Pond 10/17/2015, 10:25 am
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Black Partridge 10/20/2015
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Cap Sauers Holding: Visions of Prairie

10/10/2015

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Steward Margaret Tobin held her inaugural workday at Cap Sauers. "Visions of Prairie" is her conception of our efforts; working a few hundred yards from Visitation Prairie, we cleared honeysuckle and other brush, opening the area to more sunlight.

Cap Sauers is 1520 acres, the largest preserve in Palos and the Sag Valley. With two site stewards, Bob Arentz and Margaret Tobin, now hosting workdays there, we will return regularly to continue the incremental progress that characterizes volunteer restoration.

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Pioneer Woods Scouting Day

10/3/2015

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Our small crew was joined by interns from Friends of the Forest Preserves, an organization that does tremendous work in advancing restoration in Cook County, and by troops of Scouts who held their annual camping weekend at Pioneer.

The Scouts pitch their tents throughout the picnic grove, then pitch in cutting and dragging brush. The first group came around 11:00, when two of our three brush piles were already burning, and they continued to come throughout the day.

Special thanks to Steve Krupa and Dorothy Nawara, who worked this day AND the two workdays earlier in the week, at McClaughry Springs Monday and Pioneer Tuesday.

Below: five volunteers ensuring a fallen tree remains on the ground.

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    Author

    I'm Jan Pietrzak with the Palos Restoration Project. This blog and website were created for your information and enjoyment.

    I hope you'll be encouraged and inspired to volunteer at any of the numerous forest preserves in our area.

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