We had a good turnout of loyal and undaunted-by-the-heat volunteers at our Homedale Trail work day. We had twenty volunteers, logging in 70 plus hours of productive work for the good of the greenbelt. Our spirits were boosted and our bodies were refreshed with homemade cookies provided by Rosalie Russell and ice cold popsicles hand delivered along the trail by Robbin Trusty. We had our partner Community Service volunteers from Travis County Juvenile Probation working alongside us.

We upped our efforts to drastically reduce the Ligustrum population by orange-tagging the large trees throughout the hillside to the creek bed. We are beginning a collaborative effort with Rene Barrera of the City of Austin Parks Preserve Department. They plan to follow-up by girdling or cutting down these large seed-suppliers. The walk down the trail is now punctuated by bright orange flashes of color ? a sobering assessment of the high volume of Ligustrum that are competing with our native vegetation. Our weed wrenches were also put to good use pulling out the smaller ones.

There was some major collecting of hitchhiker weed stickers, ragweed, and Johnson grass – resulting in a satisfying mound of trash bags hauled off in John Cook?s city truck. And dead and encroaching branches were cut back from the trail, plus a treatment to eradicate the poison oak growing along the trailside. We downloaded and stockpiled some large cedar logs for a future cooler work day task working on trail edging. The footbridge retaining wall got some expert attention and repair, readying the steep slopes for future high water protection.

The trash collection finds were extensive and voluminous. There has been considerably more disrespectful use of the Greenbelt ?rock flats? area this year. Large volumes of glass and metal beer cans have been left strewn along side the creek, behind boulders, at the base of the canyon cave, and in the woods. Countless sacks were hauled out, along with personal possessions of people who had set up house and were building fires on the rocks beneath the cedar trees. We are requesting that anyone who witnesses evidence of this illegal camping to please report it to 911 ? this dry summer weather produces ready fire tinder, and these camping fires could easily set the canyon ablaze.

When I went walking on the rock flats this afternoon, I found a recycle bin in the midst of more than 50 beer bottles and cans strewn along the creek bed. I hauled out the full bin, and had to leave many bottles behind for another trip. For those who walk the area regularly, you might take in a couple of plastic sacks and check behind and beneath boulders and all along the rock flats to Campbell?s Hole ? we could start a contest for who can find and haul up the most in a walk! Not exactly an Easter Egg hunt, but it?s for a good cause.

I again tip my hat in deep appreciation for the dedicated work of our neighbors, partners, and allies who give so generously of their time and energy to take care of this natural space that gives so generously to us.

Our next work day is scheduled for Saturday, October 29, Halloween season. Maybe we should costume ourselves for this one .

Glee Ingram