Join an FBSF Workday - No Experience Necessary
Come experience the joys of nature at one of our workdays. It's a great way to learn about the plants and restoration, while helping to protect a wonderful site. We provide the knowledge and the tools, but we need your hands to help us get all the work done. You do not need any experience to volunteer. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome on all workdays. For more information, contact Friends of the Bluff Spring Fen at bluffspringfen@gmail.com or 847-464-4426.
Workday Schedule
Workdays are on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month year-round. April through August is when we do weed control. We do hand pulling, cutting and controlled herbiciding of aggressive weeds. From late August through November, we do mostly seed collecting. From December through March, we do winter invasive brush and tree clearing and usually have brushpiles burning. Tours are also given on the 3rd Saturdays of the month from May through September. Click Here for more information.
These are the workday dates and times for 2011.
All workdays run from 9 a.m. to lunchtime (approx. 12:30 p.m.) unless otherwise specified.
Winter Clearing and Seeding:
Jan 8 (Cookie Day! 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
Jan 15, Feb 5, Feb 19, Mar 5, Mar 19
Wear natural fiber clothing only (not synthetics), as we will have brush piles burning.Weed Control:
Apr 2, Apr 16, May 7, May 21, Jun 4, Jun 18,
Jul 2, Jul 16, Aug 6, Aug 20Fall Seed Collecting:
Sep 3, Sep 17, Oct 1, Oct 15, Nov 5, Nov 19Winter Clearing:
Dec 3, Dec 17
What to Wear
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER. Wear old, durable clothes, boots or old shoes, and long pants. Bring work gloves if you have them. We always have extras to share. In the summer, bring bug spray. In the winter, wear natural fiber clothing only, such as wool, denim or cotton. Synthetics such as nylon can melt when hit by sparks from burning brushpiles. Click here for more details.
Cookie Day at the Fen
If you missed Cookie Day 2011, don't despair. It will be back in January 2012!
This is a huge, annual workday to celebrate the new year!
Workday activities:
Eat as much food as possible! Bring treats to share - cookies, finger food, non-alcoholic drinks. We’ll provide hotdogs and brats for roasting. Dave Hodge often brings his famous Texas chilli.Cut down and pile invasive brush and trees. Trained volunteers will be operating chain saws, but most people will use loppers and bow saws to cut brush and smaller trees. 2 or 3 brushpiles will be burning to keep us warm.
New folks welcome! We teach you what to do.
What to wear: Natural fiber clothing only. Synthetics are dangerous near fires. Leather work gloves if you have them. (We always have some spares.) Old shoes or boots as the ground gets muddy.
For more information, contact Friends of the Bluff Spring Fen at bluffspringfen@gmail.com or 847-464-4426.