trail clearing technique and tools

[cqaigy2]

When you ask people for help with labor or $$ the most common responses are.
"Just ask X (some person) to help! They'd love to help with that"

A good response to that is "could you ask them?" and they inevitably say "you need to ask, I'm to busy!". 100% of the time we asked X, they won't even get back with us. A waste of our time.

Or when we ask someone "we need to find funding. Could you help?" They inevitably say "you just need to apply here and there!" So we ask "could you write the applications?" And of course they say "I'm to busy, YOU need to apply!"

This is how volunteer projects go. I've got LOTS of good ideas for YOU to do!

Lol. Not it!

 

[ArlyA]

I don't disagree. I was just suggesting that there might be a lot of places to cast your net. Maybe a way to streamline the process would be to compose an email describing the property, it's multiple uses, your plan and who it benefits, and a description of how they could help. Send it a to bunch of places, and if you get a favorable response, follow up with a proper grant request.

There are a lot of organizations who are benefiting from your work.

This does not mean they or any organization, will give you one dallor of help.

 

[airbiscuit]

I agree that it is a difficult task, with long odds. That said, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I had a very shy co-worker who loved dogs. Just one mile out of town was a retired landfill with a nice 13 acre grassy area. She thought it would be a perfect place for a Dog Park. She pitched her plan to the Village. They said great, but we have no money to fund it. She went to all the usual suspects to ask for funds. No Go.

She tried to get a 501c-3 to be a host agency for the funds. Again, she went to all the usual suspects to ask for assistance. No Go. Then she went to the local 4H group. The kids said yes, we'll help. Once she had a vision, a plan and a host agency, she was able to get enough funds for the fencing. The local Tech-Ed class made the signage, and the Village does the maintenance.

Once this went from a dream to a tangible thing that was very good, a local disabled workers organization said we think this would be a perfect place to make a playground that is accessible to people with disabilities. They put up some money and applied for grants. They got help (labor & $$) from some of the local major employers. They ended up with a $100,000 playground, and followed that up with a paved trail around the 13 acres that was handicap accessible.

When it all started, they faced a Y in the road.

This is hard, so let's give up
or
Let's persevere

All this came to pass because a person who hated to speak in public put herself out there, and kids who said sure, we'll help. Life is all about possibilities and choices

 

[ArlyA]

Crossing this bridge today. Trivia question... Why does the snow melt from the underside like this?

 

[ning]

Crossing this bridge today. Trivia question... Why does the snow melt from the underside like this? View attachment 793125View attachment 793126

It looks like the air under the bridge tends to be warmer and is melting the snow through the slots in the bridge. Guessing that wood warms readily in the sun, possibly the air immediately under the bridge is actually warmed because light reflecting off of the snow hits the darker wood under there and then the warm air circulates through the gaps.

 

[ArlyA]

It looks like the air under the bridge tends to be warmer and is melting the snow through the slots in the bridge. Guessing that wood warms readily in the sun, possibly the air immediately under the bridge is actually warmed because light reflecting off of the snow hits the darker wood under there and then the warm air circulates through the gaps.

You are partially correct...

 

[airbiscuit]

The bridge blocks some of the snow, so the snow is less deep under the bridge. Also, if there is any running water, that will take snow out quickly.

 

[ArlyA]

The bridge blocks some of the snow, so the snow is less deep under the bridge. Also, if there is any running water, that will take snow out quickly.

All melting is from heat emanating from the water.

 

[two_bit_score]

This is how volunteer projects go. I've got LOTS of good ideas for YOU to do!

And no good deed goes unpunished.

 

[ArlyA]

On our trails today. This is lowest spring water we've ever seen. At the bottom of this photo, you can see a culvert maker stake. We are out there to check water levels, culverts and bridges.