<div class="ck-content"><p>I spent 30 years in Chicago before moving to Chapel Hill in 2018. My wife hated the cold weather. Ironically, two months after arriving, in early December, we had 9 inches of snow in one day….in Chapel Hill. Well, since then winters have been quite mild, almost no snow, just an occasional cold streak. </p><p>Back in Chicago, my invasives work focused on the hated <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/ct-home-garden-morton-0513-20210516-wr7ssjc6yve4nb5y7grabh7igu-story.html">buckthorn</a>. I searched out any natural areas I could that had buckthorn and cut it back. I did it pretty much all year round, even in the snow, as long as the temperature didn't dip too close to 25 degrees (then my fingers and toes would go number….quickly). Sure, stepping out the door, stepping out of the car, etc., was a bit intimidating. But as soon as I started sawing and looping and pulling trees around, I started sweating and the jacket came off.</p><p>I tell you all this because I've noticed a drop off of volunteers at some recent events. I was thinking that the cooler weather would have had people rejoicing: “I didn't want to go out when it so hot, but now it's perfect!” But instead, my impression is that with the first few shivers, there was a feeling of “Oooh, getting cold, time to stay warm inside.”</p><p>Ha, I say, ha! This is a <i>fantastic</i> time to be outdoors. The leaves are changing, and they are magnificent. The insects are <i>much </i>less of a bother. You are not soaked in sweat after 20 minutes. And you <i>definitely</i> do not feel cold, about 30 seconds after you get started with the cutting.</p><p>Of course, the work can change when it gets sufficiently cold. Cut-and-paint on stumps is not as effective when it gets cooler. The ground gets hard, so pulling anything out by the roots becomes more of a challenge. But don't worry, have I got work lined up for us at Brumley! Over the past few weeks, I've been chainsawing down lots of big privet, then leaving it in place - so, a BIG mess.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><img src="https://drive.google.com/thumbnail?id=15dcB3vWoMHTo1euadbSbNh3DBm-PudEk" alt="Big privet came down" width="600" height="400"></div><p>Now, I could just leave all that privet the way it is. One big problem with doing that is that it will make future work removing smaller privet much harder. And there is less open ground for natives plants to take hold, and for animals to move freely.</p><p>Consequently, I plan to put volunteers to work, cutting up the big trees and making compact piles. I promise: you will not feel cold while you do this. </p><p>So, my friends, do not hesitate, do not fear the cool (I can't really call NC weather “cold”)! Sign up for one (two! three!) of our many rewilding tree rescues in the coming months. </p></div> |