Russells honored with tree planting for significant service to community

FALLBROOK – Save Our Forest, a branch of the Fallbrook Land Conservancy has worked in cooperation with The Fallbrook Garden Club to dedicate a tree in the lower parking lot between the Fallbrook Library and the Art Center. Jim and Barbara Russell are honored on the brick at the tree site. This is well-deserved as Jim and Barbara were both significant in their contributions to the community they chose to live in, in 1978.

Who knew then that these were two of the most community minded people one might meet. Buying acreage on the southwest side of Fallbrook, Jim and Barbara developed The Russell Family Farm, growing macadamia nuts, persimmons, gourds and other crops. Jim’s macadamia drying equipment also dries his persimmon crop.

Commitment to their new hometown was immediate. Jim became active and was elected to serve on the Fallbrook Community Planning Group. To date, he has served the community for 28 years, many as president of the group.

His contributions extend beyond Fallbrook, serving on the board of directors of the Paralyzed Veterans of America(PVA), which has 34 chapters across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. He is also on the Cal-Diego Chapter’s Board. In his capacity with the San Diego chapter, he manages sports shooting programs for the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, the largest wheelchair sports event in the world sponsored by PVA and the VA. He also serves as a board member of the San Diego County Farm Bureau and as president of the California Macadamia Society.

Additionally, he is a founding member of the Fallbrook Art Center, awarded Volunteer of the Year by S.D. County in 1996, Citizen of the Year by the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce in 1998, Veteran of the Year by Cal-Diego PVA, 2001, and Citizens Leadership Award by the American Planning Association for 2006.

All the while, they were involved in the Fallbrook Garden Club. Barbara, a retired school teacher, ably served as president of the club for two years, in addition to other offices. She mentored many new members, and steered the group through their well-known Flower Show, which is held every two years. Jim still assists with Garden Club audio-visual and, as a very talented gourd artist, has conducted a three-day gourd art workshop for club members. Barbara passed away in 2013 and is sorely missed by family and friends.

The Garden Club and Save Our Forest feel that the Russell family has made a tremendous contribution locally and nationally, bringing honor to the community of Fallbrook.