Q: My property really needs your help. Will you do the work for me for FREE?

A: Well, we can get you started… NoFloCo volunteers enjoy helping others. They love to be out in the forest enjoying nature and sunshine. The volunteers have bonded with each other, look forward to meeting and welcoming new people into the group. They are hardworking and thoughtful. They believe in teaching a person to fish, so they can feed themselves. What that means is NoFloCo can help you by providing you with a giant first step toward mitigating your property. Volunteers will teach you about forest health, what needs to be done in your forest, and how to keep the improvements happening. There is lots of good news about fire mitigation. It is great exercise, doesn’t require a lot of special tools, can be done with a spare hour here and there, and improves one’s mental health. There are bacteria that live in forest floors that improve a human’s mood and reduce depression. Mycobacterium vaccea effects last for many days. NoFloCo wants leaders in other neighborhoods to organize and adopt the NoFloCo process. By teaching others to fire mitigate, attract volunteers in their own neighborhood, and to make it fun, more team will get more accomplished. We have gotten calls from folks who tell us they need our help with fire mitigation. They warn us that they cannot help with the work, as they are in their 70s and have health issues. When we ask a few questions, we learn that they have lived on their property for 30 years and have never done any mitigation at all. Don’t be that person. Mitigate now, before you have health issues. Get started and stay after it. A well mitigated 1-to-10-acre partials is beautiful and attracts more wild life. Its trees get more sunlight and moisture and are healthier. Mitigation lasts for a long time with just minor upkeep, so you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor for many years. When it is time to sell, you will get top dollar, as your property will be more lovely and safer than unmitigated lots.

Q: How can I safely burn my slash?

A: People are afraid of burning on their property, and rightfully so. However, if done properly, burning can be very safe.  Burning slash is much easier and cheaper than hauling it away or chipping it. Burning a long, low slash pile can be very safe and even very enjoyable. The key to making these correctly placed piles safe to burn is doing the burn when there is snow on the ground. Burning during a snow event much safer than burning at any other time. The key to making it enjoyable, is covering a portion of your slash pile with tarp well before the snow starts to fall. It is very, very hard to start a fire in snow. If you have not covered the dead, dry material with a tarp, you may not be able to get it to burn at all. Should you feel uncomfortable with your burn pile at any time, you can quickly extinguish it with snow. A shovel of snow has nine times the energy absorbing properties of unfrozen water. Snow has some very unique physical and chemical qualities that make it a very effective fire extinguisher. Remember, all burn piles require a Teller County Burn Permit that can be obtain at the Teller County Sheriff’s Office for $10. The burn permit covers the rules you must follow and requires that you call in before and after your burn. Remember, a safe slash burn requires forethought and planning. Watch the weather forecast, get your burn permit in advance, and protect your carefully placed stash piles with a tarp. The fire will keep you warm as you work and once your snowy burn is complete, your property will be much safer. A Dutch Oven meal is a fine reward for a job well done. Look for recipes online!

Q: What is expected of me if you do a Fire Mitigation Workday at my property?

A: Your property has been selected  out of many requested fire mitigation.  Congratulations!  Thank you for giving us the opportunity to make our community safer, to provide mitigation education, to fill our lungs with the beneficial Mycro bacterium vacae living in your forest floor, to enhance our feelings of being a part of the community and finally to have a lot of fun!  There are several things what we request from you to facilitate this process and make things go smoothly.

Before Mitigation Day:

• • Identify an area for the serving and eating the meal at the end of the mitigation.  Toni and Don will help you identify an appropriate spot.

  • Have a plan for pets so that they are safe during the noisy mitigation and they don't interfere with people working or require your constant attention.  Remember, it is unlikely that they have ever had this many people making this much noise with trees falling on their domain.

  • Advise your neighbors that there are going to be many vehicles parked near your property.  There will be a large number of people making a lot of noise.  Tell them what's happening and invite them to participate or at least come over and observe the activity.  You are a part of our community awareness and education program

On mitigation Day:

• Participate in the mitigation of your property.  Everyone can do something.  Tell us about any personal limitations and we will find something that you can do safely.

• Think about where people can sit to eat.  We don't need chairs. Almost anything that can be sat upon will be greatly appreciated.

• Electricity for crock pots – this is necessary for the months where we can't prepare the food in our burn piles.

• Toilet facilities – Our volunteers try to avoid using your facilities, but may need to.  You might wish to put down a floor covering so people don't track dirt into your home.

•  If you have folding tables for serving food please tell us. Otherwise we will bring our own.

•  A trash container for paper plates etc.

• A recycling container for aluminum cans and plastic water bottles – You will have many environmentally conscious people at your property

• Food contributions are not required but are most appreciated. Communicate with our food coordinator.

• You might wish to be prepared to address the volunteers at the meeting following the meal

Q: What are diseased trees and tree pests?

A: Spring and early summer bring tree pests to our mind, as we suddenly see them and their destructive work. Folks frequently mis-identify pests, which probably doesn’t really matter, but some pests are worse than other pests. Some of the pests you see are invasive, have no natural enemies, and can kill your trees. Others have evolved for this area and actually do minimal harm, feed birds or other animals and won’t kill or displace local flora. To help you as you commensurate about pests with your neighbors, there are photos and descriptions of some of the ones frequently mis-identified.

Bagworm

Webworm - Indigenous pest that is unsightly, but does little long term damage to aspens. taking a stick and opening the web allows birds to eat the caterpillars, eliminating the problem.

Spruce Budworm - worms hatch in the bud of trees and eat new growth, weakening and eventually killing the tree in a few years. 

Mountain Pine Beetle - this pest is hard to see, but it's attack on trees is easy to spot. Trees send a "glob" of sap to push out the pest, leaving popcorn shaped blobs on the bark of the tree. This pest will kill your trees.

Mistletoe - This parasite is usually found in Ponderosa Pines, but can attack other evergreens. It causes a crippling of the tree that will eventually deform, weaken and kill trees. It spreads rapidly through your forest.

Q: Why should I get involved?

A: 

It feels good to volunteer and contribute and it is good for you

“Volunteering increases self-confidence. Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Volunteering combats depression."  Research done at Western Connecticut State University  Benefits of Community Service – Community Engagement (wcsu.edu)

Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy.

“Volunteer activities keep people moving and thinking at the same time. Research has found that volunteering among adults, age 60 and over, provided benefits to physical and mental health, and volunteers report better physical health than do nonvolunteers.”   Mayo Clinic

3 health benefits of volunteering - Mayo Clinic Health System

Meet new people and make new friends (longevity is increased when your network of friend increases

"Social connections ... not only give us pleasure, they also influence our long-term health in ways every bit as powerful as adequate sleep, a good diet, and not smoking. Dozens of studies have shown that people who have social support from family, friends, and their community are happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer. . “  “One study, which examined data from more than 309,000 people, found that lack of strong relationships increased the risk of premature death from all causes by 50% — an effect on mortality risk roughly comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and greater than obesity and physical inactivity”  Harvard Medical School. The Health Benefits of Strong Relationships - Harvard Health

Being outdoors in the woods is very good for you 

“Exposure to forests and trees:

·         boosts the immune system

·         lowers blood pressure

·         reduces stress

·         improves mood

·         increases ability to focus, even in children with ADHD

·         accelerates recovery from surgery or illness

·         increases energy level

·         improves sleep “   New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

           Immerse Yourself in a Forest for Better Health - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation 

Exercise is good for you

“Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lung health improve, you have more energy to tackle daily chores. “  Mayo Clinic Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity - Mayo Clinic 

You will learn things about taking care of your property 

You will get a great free lunch.  Yes there is such a thing at Mitigations!

You will have fun

Q: I don't know anything about mitigation or managing the trees on my property.  What opportunities are available for me to learn?

A:  In the past we have had lessons:

           On DYI spraying for spruce bud worms

       How to use a chain saw

             How to cut down a tree

       How to stay safe at fire mitigation events

How to safely burn slash piles

            Formal training at four day fire Camp conducted by Salida Fire Camp (FFII and S212)