Well, it is the first work party at Koulas and I am excited to get back out there and make a difference. From all the prep work, the site is in good shape and this should be a great start. I would expect low exposure to ticks today which means good walking conditions if people stay on the main routes. Someone shared photos that deer have returned to the meadow which is a very good sign. There is also a very large coyote in the area and one was seen on Lantern Lane last night. So please make sure your dogs are always leashed on this site. This is required on all town land and especially important at Koulas.
I want to take a moment to recognize John Ray for his efforts to make parts of the site more family friendly, and to thank Joy Ray for putting up with John’s obsession of building a place families could enjoy. It was not just them, as many local families also worked alongside them to build a vision for this space. John could have easily stepped back at any point but he kept pushing forward and that perseverance matters.
I am loading up the truck with tools for the work party as not everyone always has what they need on hand. As always, we will start the work party with a safety talk, then a hands on class on bittersweet removal, site awareness, and tool safety. We always look at trees for any hazards before working near them. Any stones that have fallen from the stone walls will be stacked alongside for future repair. That will be another talk and class so everyone learns how to do this correctly and respectfully.
Work parties are more than just work. They are a chance to educate people on land management, invasive plant control, and the safe use of tools in an outdoor environment. Most of the leadership of Friends of Koulas has over twenty years of experience working with volunteers. Training the next generation of stewards is important and events like this help keep those skills alive in our community.
Off to the site. See everyone soon.