Aspen out surveying the property.
What a full and interesting couple of months it has been at the preserve, I have been so busy with things that I am just now getting to a blog post to share it all with you and it's gonna be a full one. I might have to start doing weekly with as everthing happening.....
November marked my official nudge into the spotlight of the community on social media. I wasn't exactly ready, but when are we ever truly ready. A kind community member decided to share this website I had been sandboxing and things just took off from there. Overall, it was wonderful to read and engage with all the positive and supportive people from the community.
I suppose it's that time I get to introduce myself and share with you my love and passion for this precious land. I am sure you have likely already read it in my other posts, but I am in awe of the gift of being caretaker for this place. It's beauty nestled between the folds of the wild woods and fallen leaves, carressed by the life giving flow of fall creek. Well, I have found home and it still feels like a dream every moment I am there and that's exactly the life I want - to live in a dream full of wonder and potential and creative expansiveness. My name is Aspen, I go by Aspen Fall as fall is my favorite of all the seasons - the rich color and vibrant melody of the forest as it sings the world to sleep for the winter. The gentle ease into the night leading towards Winter Solstice. I celebrate the beauty of the seasons, the cycles, the joy of being alive in this rich experience. If you happen to come to the property during an event or by invite, then I hope we get a moment to get to know each other.
preserve and park
Let's start off with introducing the property - the park and the preserve. Jones Park (The Floyd and Lila Jones Memorial Park) consists of approximately 3 acres at the mouth of Fall Creek before it connects with the Clatskanie River, just south of Highway 30. It is nestled into and surrounded by the Fall Creek Preserve. In the satellite image I have highlighted the general outlines of the preserve and park for reference. Currently the park and preserve are off limits with plans for opening portions to the public in the future. Please offer your respect and care in not violating the boundaries as we work on cleaning, clearing, and improving the property for future use. I will not be easy with trespassers, read on there is a reason.
Park and Preserve - Satellite view
There has been a lot of great progress even in the few months since being on the land. Most of the effort has been focused on Jones Park in preperation for the upcoming little league season and it's transition into it's new look and feel. I have been busy clearing out blackberry bushes, cleaning out years of buried trash, removing abandoned sand piles, working on trails, repairing buildings, and in general trying to get the place in a state it can be maintained. The hope is to have Jones Park under full rennovation in 2023 and trails started for the Preserve. I hope you will come join me for some work parties this summer as we remove blackberry bushes, ivy, holly, morning glory and other invasive species from the land.
Jones park
Jones Park has been the greatest focus these past few months and so much has happened, where to begin. After uncovering the property from all the overgrowth I started to find what was there. I found an old dry well that was being used for the grey water from the concession stand, I thought it was a holding tank but after pumping it out soon found it was just a dry well. The ground water in this area was amazing to witness, the pumper truck was pulling gallons of water from the ground with every suction. This is helpful to know as we design the foundations for the new buildings.
I collected all the existing picnic tables and other pieces I found in the park to prevent further weather damage. Several of the existing picnic tables looked to be poor condition and may not be usable so I purchased some newish ones from a food cart closing down in Portland. The tables led me to the owner who was a generously kind woman and on top of that she had run a Vegan food cart - it was a magical meeting. She graced the park with loads of good materials and the stell container for my storage needs. I had so much difficulty with the city just trying to create storage out at the property, I wish I had found her sooner. All in good time though as it was meant to be.
Some of the bigger park repairs I made this month was in reroofing both the main buildings, new gutters, and a new gate to the parking lot. The reroof was relatively easy, but we ended up with more challenges from the city in doing that minor repair. Thankfully it all worked out in the end and the buildings were weatherized before the rain hit. It was definitely a race against time and trying to find some peace and understanding with the city. Along with the new roof I put in new gutters, living in a wet climate a roof and gutters are some of the most important aspects of a building. Now both structures are dry and able to last through the rennovations.
The gate was not a planned (at least not right now) feature of the park. We recently had a male bodied person trespass onto the property and break into a few buildings, luckily the ones he was able to get into didn't have anything of significant value. However, it was enough to make me concerned. I already have heavy video survellance and security on the property, but the addition of the gate would help to make calling in for reinforcements much more clear. It also helps to keep the dog poop down, that is something I have been dealing with since coming to the property - dog owners using the lot like a poop box. Putting in the gate was no easy task, but thanks to the help of Fred we were able to chip through the old asphalt into the ground and dig a good solid post base. I still have the decorative finisth to add, but it's doing it's job well for now.
Gate install in progress
Probably one of the more laughable moments was having my dear neighbors witness me dragging logs through the parking lot with my Prius - who needs a truck. It was before the tractor arrived, I use the tractor for those things now. I am known for my creativity - you'll likely see me driving through town in my Prius with trailer in tow (hauling something).
Debris removal
Never ending blackberries and tree debris. This sweet land has not been tended in so long and the blackberries were definitely well established. I have been spending a great deal of time cutting and pulling large thick blackberry vines and digging out old fallen trees. As I uncover I find even more hidden treasures. So far I have found at least 5 different abandoned sand piles from old little league use that had been swallowed by the land and tree debris. Piles of trash, stashes of aluminum cans, and all manner of other human trash. It brings me so much joy to uncover it and pull it all out, cleaning out the human trash is a favorite hobby of mine (#trashpedition). The tree and other waste I have been transporting to other parts of the property to shut down unwelcome trespassing trails that are honestly not safe to be used. I hope people will be respectful and get the hint, the area is closed until further notice. If you see me up on the Mist-Clatskanie in my prius with my trailer moving brush and limbs, that's what I am doing. Feel welcome to wave and say Hi. I am excited to get Fall creek free and opened up with a nice creek walk for people to enjoy during our open hours.
Whats next...
The goal for the end of the year is to continue with the brush and dead tree removal, open up the creek path and do some landscaping to make mowing easier in and around the park. By the start of next year we hope to have our permits pulled and begin work on pouring new foundations, installing our lift station, making pathways, and getting our ground work done before little league season. I'm crossing my fingers it's going to be an easy process with the city and things will be in an easy place for the little league. I hope I can post the overall site plan in January, I'm excited.