Wilderness Calls by Paul Berensmeier Roy’s Redwoods Calling 5 AM . . . frog songs from pond . . . something stirs . . . moves me. Tiptoe under Lee‘s art into the night. Crescent moon . . . owl call.
Dirt First by Will McQuilkin
It is a simple pleasure to talk with people about their gardens and gardening stories. Despite shared hobbies, vocations, and even neighbor-
hoods, there is often some variation between approaches. I’ve heard stories of vegetarian lizards, five-foot pepper plants and beans that grow by the light of the moon. There are gardeners who tout the benefits of a no-till approach and others who dig like bunnies. The best tip I ever got came from my Grandpa Wally when I was but a lad helping him out in his summer garden. I was mostly rel- egated to grunt work, but that meant I got to familiarize myself with loads of garden equipment, including his wheelbarrow collection. While moving compost, he taught me that the best way to unload a wheelbarrow is not to just tip it over, but to shake it left-to-right to toss the contents out. It’s a simple trick, but it has saved my back more than once. Gardeners also like to talk pests - particularly gophers. I’ve heard all sorts of techniques for deterring gopher activity: from fallowing a portion of the garden to provide a food source outside your veggies, to trapping, to underground-noise-makers, to gopher wire. I tend to lean towards trapping, given that gopher wire requires attention or refreshing every couple years (I’m too lazy for that). That said, the best advice I ever got with regard to gophers is to not let them get you down. As Neil Young might say about a munched tomato plant, “Don’t let it get you down // It’s only castles burning.” They are everywhere, and they are very good at what they do, so if a plant or two or ten get eaten, try to remember that they must have been deli- cious, and try again another day. We also love to chat about irrigation. This is one of the more mysti- fied portions of any gardening project, but it really needn’t be. In simplest terms, irrigation is putting water on plants. That can be done with a hose, sprinkler, micro-irrigation, drip tape, flooding, etc. Every technique has advantages and drawbacks, but the most impor- tant thing is making sure that your irrigation system is appropriate for the size of your space. You don’t want to be hand watering a fifty foot bed every day! Whatever your approach to gardening, be open to tips and tricks from others like you, and to sharing your own experiences like you share starts, veggies and seeds.
Moonlight movement . . . two animals . . . soft shadowy shapes. Star field . . . seven in a line. Message: a morning in nature. Image: Roy’s Redwoods in first light! Come with me. Moon follows . . . peeks through trees . . . low fog . . . misty journey. Native American Flute soothes . . .Valley opens . . . Wilderness Way mural glints. Memories: children in nature . . . proud parents . . . happy families. We are here . . . so quiet . . . Redwoods . . . warm sentinels . . . cool mist. Quail greets . . . Junco sings in first light . . . birds sing. A trail of songs and senti- nels . . . green meadow appearing. Childlike adventure. Cold air . . . down jacket . . . cozy. Owl calls drift from forest. Memories: under a redwood with my dad . . . great horned owl hooting down at us . . . playing in the Ferry Ring with my mom . . . “Be sure you can climb down before you climb up.” The Ring beckons . . . let’s enter. Look up . . . branches reaching . . . touching . . . blocking the sky . . . encompassing us . . . warm redwood world. Fairy Ring Trail: tiptoe . . . what beings will come? Raindrops pit- ter patter on leaves. Redwood rain! Wilderness Way Trail: challenges . . . skip . . . balance . . . climb. An honoring of Jean and the children. Mossy Rocks Trail: mysterious in early mist . . . rocks, moss, raindrops, giant sentinels, dark forest . . . a fairy land to read about in a children’s book. But we’re here . . . in it . . . part of it. A voice from the forest: Remember to come here . . . when you need a little magic. Come early in the quiet, listen to the birds awaken, experi- ence the magic of this place. It is a gift. Offer it to yourself. It is right here in our Valley! Three mossy rocks appear through the mist. A child’s paradise to climb. Listen . . . a brook flows into a crystal clear pool. It babbles softly, flowing under a unique bridge created by a huge bay tree. A fairy land for the child in us all. A tiny winter wren flies out of a dark cave. It alights . . . greeting . . . chittering . . . chattering . . . guiding. I follow and discover a secret natural rock bench on the backside of a fourth large mossy rock. Cool stone on my back . . . hides me . . . creating another little world. Enchanting . . . babbling brook . . . crystal pool . . . dark forest . . . mysterious mist. I cuddle into my green down jacket. Feelings of warmth . . . oneness . . . home. I blend into the green moss . . . into the environment . . . look . . . listen . . . dream. We all need a special place . . . to reconnect to ourselves . . . to remember who we really are . . . to remember to give thanks for what we have. It’s easy . . . here . . . it is so near . . . remember to come. Time passes . . . light brightens . . . mist clears. Brilliant light reflects patterns of branches and leaves off the surface of the pool. It shimmers with life. Everything is so alive . . . awak- ening to the new day! The gentle current picks up silver glints from the bright sky . . . sil- verfish . . . dancing. They pause a moment . . . leave the pool . . . flowing into a gorgeous new day. Let’s follow . . . energized . . . renewed with life . . . flowing down our path into a bright new day brimming with sunshine and living. Have a brilliant day today . . . my friend . . . in our beloved Valley . . . our home. . . .
Community Response Team by Mari Ochoa, Marin County Public Information Officer & Poko Giacomini, West Marin CRT
If you’re looking to take that connection further, consider joining a Firewise Community. These grassroots groups work together to reduce risk, share informa- tion, and strengthen local response networks. Learn more at FireSafeMarin.org. This spring, Marin County made important upgrades to our alert system, including easier sign-up and new notification options like prescribed burns and severe weather alerts. Alerts are now available in both English and Spanish. If you haven’t signed up, or if your information has changed, visit Emergency.MarinCounty.gov to subscribe or update your contact information and preferences. Preparedness isn’t just about having the right supplies—it’s about building the right relationships. It’s about knowing who will knock on your door when the power goes out, and knowing who might need a helping hand when it’s time to evacuate. A simple conversation today could save a life tomorrow. Here in Marin, we’ve faced wildfires, floods, blackouts, and storms. And every time, it’s been our courage, our compassion, and our commitment to one another that have carried us through. Let’s keep strengthening those bonds. Let’s take the small steps now that will make us stronger, safer, and more connected when it matters most.
Small Steps, Stronger Communities: Let’s Get Prepared Together
May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and it’s a powerful reminder that living in a place as beautiful, and fire-prone, as Marin County means we all have a role to play in keeping our communities safe. Emergency preparedness doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, small actions taken today can make a big difference when disaster strikes. Whether it’s a wild- fire, earthquake, storm, or power outage, being ready means protecting not only yourself and your loved ones, but your neighbors too. • Make a family plan that includes evacuation routes and emergency contacts • Pack a Go Bag for every member of your household—including pets Visit ReadyMarin.org for tips, checklists, and resources for all hazard preparedness steps you can take today. As we step into another wildfire season, remember that community connection is at the heart of disaster preparedness. When emergencies happen, our first instinct is often to help one another. That’s why knowing your neighbors, especially those who may need a little extra support is one of the most powerful things you can do. Here are a few easy ways to get started: • Sign up for emergency alerts at Emergency.MarinCounty.gov
Together, we have faced challenges—and together, we have risen.
Together, we will meet the future—with open hearts, with steady hands, and with the unshakable spirit of a community that cares.
SGV Community Center Stone Soup Page 15
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