By Kevin Foster
With reports of 2 inches of rain recently, it gets me thinking about the continuous efforts to keep my property and the space around my house defensible. With rain comes growth. All the seeds and dormant weeds hiding in the dirt get inspired to grow from our little bits of rain we get here and there. Fingers crossed we get a bunch more this winter since our lakes and rivers and forests are in dire need of a good drink. But with that being said, it means more work.
The rains bring the redwood duff out of the trees and it fills our gutters and covers our roofs. With fire season being all year now, the constant chore of keeping fuels cleaned up around our houses is an ever growing battle. So don’t let winter make you lazy, keep up on it just in case this winter brings minimal rainfall.
Another thing I noticed is a lot of elderly can’t keep up with their properties. Either the family lives too far away, or they’re on a fixed income and can’t afford to hire professional landscapers. With that being said, reach out to your immediate elderly neighbors on your street and try to be a blessing and ask them if you might be of assistance. There’s no greater feeling in the world than helping someone else that is really in need of it and isn’t asking. In doing so, you help make your neighborhood a little more safe from fire and you will bring your neighborhood closer together. Some of the nicest strangers I’ve met were by offering to lend a hand or asking if they could use some help from time to time. Granted a lot will refuse any type of help but you will definitely make their day by offering. That’s one of the beautiful things about living in the Santa Cruz mountains. There are so many of us that offer to help others, not for anything in return just for the wonderful feeling we get when we see that sparkle in your eye which is the best payment possible. Helping others is what makes this world great.
And another reminder to keep your branches cut back for your driveways for first responders. Have your address highly visible on a fence, tree, or mailbox so addresses are easily found. Keep any dry vegetation away from your house and trees cut back so there’s no way for fire to travel up a tree and get to your eaves. Living in the redwood forest and trying to keep properties fire safe and defensible is more than a chore, it is a nonstop project that never ends.
New folks that are getting generators, keep them at least 5 feet away from your house and do not store gas or firewood against your house. These are some of my winter tips and suggestions to make for a safer community for everyone. Always remember the best neighborhoods are the ones where everyone knows everyone and watching out for one another is the most help of all.
