SOF called

FALLBROOK — On Sunday, May 1, approximately 85 Fallbrook residents came to support the Save Our Forest/Fallbrook Land Conservancy project of reforesting two of the FLC Preserve areas. In just two hours volunteers swarmed the hills and lowlands to plant 760 native trees and shrubs into the Heller’s Bend Preserve and the Creekside Conservation Easement on Stage Coach Lane. These projects are gradually restoring the land preserves acquired by the FLC to native growth that increases the pleasure of walking their trails. Heller’s Bend Preserve, once a grove of several varieties of fruit trees, has been a focus of the replanting efforts for some years with Americorps, NCCC, involved for two consecutive years in the past. An Eagle Scout project has brought water to the Heller’s Bend area to get the new plants started and adjusted to living on their own. Another Scout provided fencing to prohibit dumping on the Creekside location.

The current project has been funded through a grant from Fish & Wildlife called Partners for Wildlife. The support of community volunteers is a vital ingredient of qualifying for the matching funds for this grant.

Volunteers and donations have come from several areas in the community to support the event. The Joslyn Senior Center, through the request of Heidi & Don Nelson, SOF regulars, provided wonderful helpers for the pancake breakfast served to the planters following their work. Pancakes, sausage, freshly squeezed orange juice and hot coffee were provided by Dave & Carrie Soto, Gregg Wright and Harry Grote.

“It was a perfect ending to an astonishing morning of work,” stated Jackie Heyneman, SOF spokesperson. Ellie Ross and Mark and Rachel Strikwerda helped make that part of the day a breeze.

Major Market and Albertsons made donations that helped the organization provide food and water for the event. Sam Logan and Ron Quirk were recognized by the group as major contributors.

Working to make it all go smoothly were Mike Peters, Howard Sansom and Jody Williams, volunteers who hauled all 760 plants to the preserves and climbed the steep hill to place the plants ready for planting.

Another job well done, Fallbrook!