Tentative Aug.14, 2011: Riverside Paragliding LZ Work Party
Monday, August 8, 2011 at 20:32 Dion Vuk Paragliding Pilots,
Riverside paragliding landing zone has overgrown with blackberry bushes, as is usual this time of year.
Over the years, we have recommended to the West Coast Soaring Club (WCSC) that in the interest of paragliding pilot safety and enjoyment, this landing site should be maintained with regular scheduled routine brush removal three times per season. Doing this will reduce the magnitude of job that occurs when the field is left idle too long.
WCSC members with Riverside landing passes are paying $50 yearly dues to the landowner, to provide a safe paragliding landing site. We believe it is reasonable and in everyones best interest to ensure it is maintained to allow for a high level of passive safety. Ideally that would entail cutting back the blackberry bushes clear to the property line, to make full use of the inherent safety provided by such a large paragliding landing field.
We are calling on all iParaglide students and graduates to volunteer to help clear the landing field of blackberry bushes and make other improvements to the paragliding landing field. The tentative date is Sunday August 14, with the intent that work is done while waiting for rides up to launch, so that all can still paraglide. Depending on the availaiblity of iParaglide pilots, we may reschedule, although we would prefer to do it this Sunday if at all possible.
Work essentials:
- work gloves
- steel toed work boots
- coveralls (save you skin from prickles and bug bites)
- bug dope
- water: lots and lots of it
We encourage all paragliding pilots that have regular landscaping tools to bring them including:
- scythes
- picks
- rakes
- shovels
- wheelbarrows
- chain saws
- hedge trimmers
- brush saws
Please confirm in comments section if you have these and how many you can bring them along. We want to have a count of what tools will be available before we begin clearing up this great paragliding landing field.
Chain saws, brush cutters, hedge trimmers are less common, so we are also proposing to rent three or more of these as needed, so paragliding volunteers can be well equipped to tackle the job more quickly and effectively. Daily rental for each of these items are $50/day plus gas. We will keep receipts and request the WCSC for re-imbursement for these expenses, however, we should be prepared to just share the cost amongst ourselves if the the Club's budget does not allow for reimbursement.
There is a plan in place to mow the major field, with a tractor.
These tools will be necessary to do detailed work in areas not accessible to a tractor to make the paragliding LZ field more like a "park".
Please confirm your attendance by reply to this blog below.
We look forward to doing some good handy work with you so that we can enjoy Riverside paragliding landing field at its best! :)
Reader Comments (12)
Working on some health issues, so I'm going to have to miss the party. :(
I'm in. I have a pruner (20" things), pruning shears (8" things), a mosquito hat, and heavy work gloves. :-)
I can make it and will bring a pruning saw, a lopper and small hand
pruners.
I'm in. I will share Ducky Sherwood's hand tools.
BTW my boots will be paragliding-suitable hiking boots, not steel-toed.
Apparently goats love blackberry bushes, and can clear a thicket very effectively. I plan to investigate whether any local goat farmers offer a brush-clearing service, and let the WCSC know of my findings.
I've one has gas weedeater and a small cordless electric chainsaw that I'll be bringing.
Some other commitments mean I won't be able to make Sunday to help out :(.
I don't have anything to add tool-wise, but I will be there and lend my energy!
Tentative, might be on the morning shift at the office both Sat and Sun. depending how ugly it gets.
Hi all
Ill make it out with Rajeev on Sunday the 14th. I cant make any change to Sat the 13th.
Ill bring some tools including a brush cutter hedge trimmer shears rake shovel small gas powered chain saw
What about fuel to start fires???
Are we allowed to burn ?
Bob,
Will be awesome to see you and Rajeev Sunday at the Riverside paragliding work party!
Tools especially appreciated. :)
Is that one of each? Just trying to decide if/how many rentals we may need.
Burning permit and/or approval for it has NOT yet been cleared by WCSC so NO BURNING until/if we get approval. Have approached the paragliding club on this and will continue to follow up.
We now have a quorum to make the paragliding work party a go, so it's on this Sunday Aug. 14th rain or shine. Some of us will be there as early as 07:30, although if that's too early for you, no problem, come when you can. :)
Anyone available to run down with us to a rental place for power tools fri or sat late afternoon?
http://www.abtoolrentals.com/equipment.asp?action=category&category=110&key=110-0010
We seem short on shovels, rakes and wheel barrows or better means to move trimmings to piles. Anyone have these?
For efficiency we need to work like a train. That is: one pilot on chainsaw/bush cutter/trimmer; followed closely by a raker/shovel/gatherer; and a wheelbarrow/other to keep trimmings moving out of the way so that the power guys can boogie.
While on that topic: remember to bring safety glasses or shades if you are on power tools.
Using that model we have 3-4 paraglider pilots on power tools with 9-12 clearing up the trimmings.
(Other useful items: plywood sheets can be dropped on top of prickle buses to allow someone to walk over top or cut downwards.)
Dion,
I'll look forward to helping tomorrow but I do not have coveralls and I do not have work gloves.
I can use some of my winter gear to keep the pricklies at bay.
I'll assume a rendezvous at Koffee Kettle at 7:30am?
Jeff
Great!
Meeting at the Kofee Kettle 10:00 today.
Anyone who has tools please bring them.
We've got a few extras rakes & shovels under way.
Also from groups list will have two brush cutters, two small chains saws and trimmer.
Bring some beverages and if you want something to grill. I'll be brings in a small barbeque and some burgers...
Don't forget a change of clothes and work clothes appropriate for some rain/drizzle. It will probably just be cloudy most of the day...Come on skies clear up so we can get a few flights in...
Looking forward to seeing you all.