A Restorative Feeling
October 1, 2008
You’ve probably passed them on your way to work. These days they are disguised by concrete banks and drainage ditches. They are diverted and neglected. They are choked with trash and pollution. They are a dying breed in their natural state. They are creeks.
Every year here in Santa Barbara the Creeks Division of our fine city puts on a week long event featuring education, cleanups and restoration of our local creeks. The Horny Toad office happens to be perched directly on the banks of one of the main creeks here in Santa Barbara, so we take it very personally when we see trash floating by.
This past week we were able to do something really special to help restore the banks of the very creek that runs by our building. The office shut down and we carpooled over to a site along Mission Creek that the city is trying to restore to its natural riparian state. The Toads, along with our friends from Simple Shoes, descended upon the banks and went to town ripping out non-native plant species and picking up trash – talk about a cathartic activity! Buh-bye stress.
Once the banks were cleaned up, our friend George from the Creeks Division set out hundreds of native plant species ranging from white and black sage to oak trees that will hopefully live to be 400 years old! It was tough going on the rocky banks, but us Toads persevered and planted nearly all the plants with tender care to their roots. One Toadette, Katina, had this to say about the planting extravaganza, “The idea that an oak tree can live up to 300 to 400 years is unreal to me. It was a pretty spectacular feeling to have planted an oak tree that will hopefully live that long with my good friends.”
Gordon our leader and teammate commented on the good vibes, “It was so terrific to see our team out there making a difference in the community. It is amazing how little it takes to have a positive impact and how good the results can feel.” Our watersheds are just as much a part of our community as any citizen, if not more. They are precious and few and we need to treat them as such. Tami, another creek warrior put it perfectly, “We do not plant for ourselves but to help protect and heal the earth. In the process, I have found that playing in the dirt is fun!”
Get involved in your local community, it feels great and you never know when you might get some free pizza out of the deal.
posted by chaka | tell a friend | leave a comment | 
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Upcoming events for the next 30 days
January 14, 2009
Telluride Mountainfilm Tour
January 16, 2009 - January 18, 2009
Telluride Mountainfilm Tour
January 20, 2009
Telluride Mountainfilm Tour
January 21, 2009 - January 25, 2009
Telluride Mountainfilm Tour
January 22, 2009
Telluride Mountainfilm Tour
January 22, 2009 - February 1, 2009
Santa Barbara Film Festival
January 23, 2009
Chris Pierce at the El Ray Theatre
Los Angeles, California
Chris Pierce will be headlining the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. Goldenvoice and Hotel Café present Chris Pierce Live at The El Rey Theatre with special guests. We will be celebrating the Limited Edition release of Chris Pierce Live at The Hotel Café that was recorded in August. CDs will be available for purchase at the concert only before it hits the stores. This show is ALL AGES. Please help us spread the good word. Advance tickets are available now at ticketmaster for a discounted price while supplies last. Get yours now!
Chris Pierce will be headlining the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. Goldenvoice and Hotel Café present Chris Pierce Live at The El Rey Theatre with special guests. We will be celebrating the Limited Edition release of Chris Pierce Live at The Hotel Café that was recorded in August. CDs will be available for purchase at the concert only before it hits the stores. This show is ALL AGES. Please help us spread the good word. Advance tickets are available now at ticketmaster for a discounted price while supplies last. Get yours now!
January 29, 2009
Telluride Mountainfilm Tour
February 1, 2009
Super Bowl Party
