Save Our Forest receives augur

Save Our Forest (SOF), a “branch” of the Fallbrook Land Conservancy (FLC), has received a truly exciting Christmas gift: a Ground Hog two-man power augur, which will make their business of planting trees for the community a lot easier.

During a recent conversation with Sheila Walson, Jackie Heyneman said SOF was going great guns with a new grant to plant trees in the community. The only problem was that most of the volunteers are “getting on in years,” finding it harder and harder to dig those holes. The answer to the problem was a power augur. Within days, a call came from Jerry, Sheila’s husband. The augur was ordered, along with a drill with carbide teeth. This is a tremendous gift from tree enthusiasts to SOF, which has planted over 6,000 trees and shrubs in the community and outlying areas in the last 10 years – most recently, 125 trees at Megan’s Bluff.

The California ReLeaf grant SOF is currently implementing will provide 57 new trees and all the necessities to get those trees into the ground, as well as training and an on-call tree consultant for the recipients. There is an educational element in the grant that provides reading materials at the third grade level for placement in elementary schools. Planting and building a healthful environment in the future will be in the hands of these students.

California ReLeaf is the state’s volunteer coordinator for urban forestry in partnership with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The mission of ReLeaf is to empower grassroots efforts and build strategic partnerships that preserve, protect and enhance California urban and community forests. This grant is made possible by the Safe Neighborhood, Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000.

The augur will benefit future plantings on FLC preserves, slated to start early next year. Over 4,000 trees and native plants grown in the SOF nursery will be planted to reforest these preserves. The grant that is funding the plantings of over 2,500 trees and shrubs at the Engel Preserve is a Federal Fish and Wildlife grant. In the future, Bonsall Preserve will undergo reforestation through a grant from the US Department of Agriculture grant through the National Resource Conservation Service.

In addition, and as a prelude to future plantings, SOF annually brings tiny rooted cuttings, a truckload of potting soil and one-gallon cans to area fifth-graders. After a brief presentation to encourage and instill in the students the importance of trees and plants for a healthful environment, the students put their plants into the pots. They are returned to the SOF growing grounds and cared for until the following year, when the same students plant them in various locations. Plantings have been done at the Biological Preserve on Reche Road, Dinwiddie Preserve and, most recently, Pico Promenade.

According to Heyneman, this hands-on concept is the best of all as the students identify with the trees and shrubs they planted in later years. “Folks still talk about the tree that they put into the ground in 1996,” she said, “with true pride for their contribution to the community.”