Hello Greenbelt Fans:

We are looking forward to our fall work day on the greenbelt. This coming Saturday, October 20, from 9 – 1, we will be working on the Homedale Trail. It is located at 2010 Homedale Drive, directly behind Barton Hills Elementary School. We hope to have a good turn out and lovely fall weather.

The wondrous rains this summer created rampant growth in the greenbelt, with lots of it crowding the trail. We will be weeding, pruning, thinning, and weed-eating. It will be important to wear long sleeves and pants to avoid any rogue poison ivy and allergic reaction to the 10’-15’ Ragweed we will be removing.

We will also have another major ligustrum and nandina removal effort, to expand the clearing work done by the creek this summer. We’ll create more recycled branch windrows near the creek to reduce erosion from the cleared areas, and we will also be planting some native understory plants to stabilize the soil in these newly “liberated” spaces.

We’ve got some trail areas that need to be regraded for positive drainage flow and a steep area that needs some security enhancements in the form of an improved handrail and a few stepping stones (to take the place of the hazardous “slippery slope” ). I’m sure the trash gatherers will be well rewarded with lots of cans and bottles and other finds.

Please RSVP if you can come, so we can assure that we have plenty of breakfast tacos on hand to energize the work day. Thanks!

Glee Ingram
Greenbelt Guardian Coordinator
gleeful@earthlink.net