Why We Do It

Posted December 12, 2021

Filed under Acts of Service, Philosophical Musings, Stewardship

I confess: I have begun writing a post many times in the past to talk about why we Overlook stewards give of our time, energy and essence to this endeavor, and why it matters. Each time, the words simply didn’t come, and so I would delete the post without publishing it. Today, I’d like to attempt to speak for the team on the notion of why we do it.

There are many benefits to being of service, to giving back to your local community or the global good. These may include recognition, accolades, credit, and even occasional material rewards. You tend to meet some of the best and most interesting people when you volunteer, and it’s a fantastic way to network. Plus it looks great on your resumé!

There are also physiological benefits to volunteering as long as you perform it willingly: studies show that acts of service encourage your body to generate telomerase, an enzyme that helps to heal the ends of your chromosomes. And if you work the trails like some of us, it’s an excellent source of cardio and weight bearing. 🙂

This is all wonderful, and reason enough. Far beyond that, however, I can tell you that there is a stunning depth of satisfaction in one’s life that is born and thrives when one devotes oneself to these acts even in small stints. It doesn’t matter what cause you choose as long as you help to drive it towards the best outcome. Push the spinning wheel a bit further onwards, chop wood, carry water. Just jump in somewhere and you will eventually find the work that jives with what you have to offer. As you do, you and your comrades, you will find the real reward, the one that words can’t describe.

And So it Begins…

Posted November 10, 2021

Filed under Invasive Species, Italian Thistle, Plant Life, Seasons, Stewardship, Winter

Today I realized that the invasive species removal season had started — earlier than it ever has during my tenure. The earliest I had started removing Italian thistle from the Sonoma Overlook and Montini Preserve properties had been in December. But now, with our early rains this season, the thistle has already started coming in (see pic). This essentially cuts my “down time” from four months to three, meaning the thistle removal season is going to be nine months long this year. Ouch!

One nice thing, though, is that I will have a three-week “vacation” in May, when I put in on the Colorado River rowing an 18-foot raft for 17 days. Since I just recently got off a 19-day trip doing the same thing, call me one lucky guy!

But mostly I’ll be out there, day in and day out, pulling these plants so that we can eventually eradicate them, as we almost have with the Yellow starthistle.

Congratulations Roy Tennant

Posted October 17, 2021

Filed under Events, Stewardship

During a packed outdoor event at Hanna Boys Center on Oct. 10, the Sonoma Valley Fund recognized dozens of volunteers for their contributions to local charities. Sonoma Overlook Trail Steward Roy Tennant was honored as A Star Volunteer.

For over 10 years, Roy Tennant has spent thousands of hours fervently tending the Overlook Trail, the Montini Open Space Preserve, and Sugarloaf Ridge Regional Park. He regularly posts blogs and keeps us all current on the seasonal changes on the Overlook trail and other goings on.

To read more go to

https://www.sonomanews.com/article/lifestyle/honoring-the-star-volunteers-of-the-valley/

The Sonoma Valley Stars for 2021, at Hanna Boys Center on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (Photo: Melania Mahoney)

Rock Patrol

Posted September 2, 2021

Filed under Safety, Stewardship

The crew, minus Greg Taylor, who had to leave early to open his shop. From left to right: Roy Tennant, Michael Studebaker, Priscilla Miles, Dan Noreen, and SOT Chair “Secret Ranger.”

Today six volunteer stewards gathered at the Sonoma Overlook Trail kiosk/trailhead to do the very first group “Rock Patrol.” Rock Patrol as it has been developed consists of the following:

Filling in holes with dirt for rocks that have already come out of the trail;
Removing loose rocks;
Removing particularly problematic rocks (rocks likely to trip hikers and runners);
Backfilling all of those spaces with soil, following this protocol:
- Wet the hole with a watering can (preferred) or a spray bottle;
- Lay down a thin layer of soil and compact it by stomping on it; and,
- Spray lightly again, lay down another thin layer of soil, compact it, and repeat until the hole is completely flush, or even slightly higher than, the trail.

P1030369 This first time out we were able to complete the beginning section of the trail from the kiosk to the junction with the Rattlesnake Cutoff Trail. Next time (Our Chair proposed doing this once a month for a while), we will tackle the section of Rattlesnake Cutoff from Norrbom Road past the junction with the Overlook Trail.

We were quite pleased with the many nuisance rocks (or worse) that we were able to remove (see picture of three large rocks and the smooth spot where they had been removed — it’s darker since it’s wet).

So if you happen to see a group out there with shovels, buckets, watering cans, spray bottles, and an assortment of other tools, that’s Rock Patrol. If any of the three readers of this blog want to participate, just shoot me an email.

The Art and Science of Stewardship

Posted July 27, 2021

Filed under Land Maintenance, Stewardship, Trail Maintenance

Being a volunteer Sonoma Overlook Trail steward is potentially a very diverse job. It may include arranging and managing fundraising events, organizing weekly hikes, developing, producing, and installing signs and interpretational materials, cutting water bars (ruts to direct water off the trail), writing grants to get funds to re-route and rebuild the trail, pulling invasive species, cutting branches intruding on the trail, or who knows what else. Let’s just say it’s a diverse set of potential responsibilities, and no single steward does them all. We tend to specialize.

Secret Ranger cutting branches with our newly-acquired pole saw.

Thankfully, we have quite a large group of stewards of the Sonoma Overlook Trail, so we have people who bring all of these skills and more to our local trail system. We don’t all swing into action at the same moment; it may be quiet for a while and then a steward or three might step up when their particular skills and talents are needed. We all have something to give.

On this particular day, a steward who calls herself “Secret Ranger,” and who is our current Chair, brought out our recently purchased pole saw to cut some limbs off a low-hanging tree branch to make sure people can safely pass underneath it. On this same trip, we also visited the Montini Preserve to perform the same kind of operation—cutting branches to lessen the weight on an overhanging branch. In the case of the branch on Montini, we saw an immediate result of the branch lifting 4-6 inches right away, and likely more to come as the branch continues to adjust. This is enough to allow those who are 6 feet or under to pass without trouble, and likely some even taller folk. It made a clear difference, without removing the rather large branch entirely (it is easily 14-15 inches in diameter).

These are just some of the jobs volunteer trail stewards do, almost every day.