Copperfield Nature Trails Workday05/17/2008 As it get close to summer it gets too hot to have greenbelt workdays along Walnut Creek, but the Copperfield Nature Trails Group has a few fun tasks on their to do list before the heat comes.  The current workday agenda includes:

• Plant mountain laurel and native plums and maybe a few other plants.
• Dig holes and reset two trail markers in concrete so the vandals can't pull them out again
• Dig holes and install two posts and piece of lattice to support cross vines we planted along the storm drain.
• A few areas of the main trail on the way to Yager need someone to take a pick axe to the ruts left by the 4wheelers to smooth the trail. 
• Mow and weed whack along the "scenic loop" trail and the trail at the Shropshire entrance.
• Whack a 1 inch stump out of the trail somewhere near Shropshire (I trip over it when I run, but then I can't find it on workdays!)
• A few areas along the fence line trail need to be widened by lopping back the cedar branches.

 Date: May 17th    Time:  9am-12pm (noon)Location:  dead-end of Blakeney Lane (NE Austin – 78753) Contact:  copperfield-trails@austin.rr.com or 835-2401 

RESTORE: South Austin Green Belt05/25/2008 Emmaus Austin with Keep Austin Beautiful are sponsoring another East Slaughter Lane Clean Up.  We would like to team up with the citizens of South Austin to help make our corner of the City a more beautiful area to live in and be proud of. Volunteers will spend 2.5 hours on Sunday the April 27th cleaning the green belt back in the Crossing at Onion Creek behind the address 1607 Melissa Oaks, please join us in keeping Austin Green! Date: Sunday, 05/25/08Time:  9:30am – 12:00pmLocation:  Behind 1607 Melissa Oaks in the Crossing at Onion Creek Subdivision in South East Austin, off of Slaughter Lane.Parking:  It is in a residential area, so park along the curb, but PLEASE do not block any drivewaysContact:  Mdh1199@gmail.com  & 512.652.8793

Daydreaming about cooler fall weather?  Turn those dreams of fun fall projects into reality by applying for a KAB Neighborhood Beautification Grant.  This is your chance to improve public space: reintroduce native plants to your neighborhood’s creek, remove graffiti, create a habitat garden, showcase local artwork in a pocket park, line your street with trees, and so much more.  Keep dreaming but APPLY NOW, grant applications are due by 5pm on Monday, July 14th.   Click here to learn more about past projects, get ideas, view grant details, and download the grant application. 

Garden at Casa Marianella!06/08/2008 Casa Marianella is an emergency shelter in East Austin and volunteers are putting in a small garden in our lawn so guests will have fresh organic produce. Volunteers are needed to prepare the beds and plant some transplants.Date: June 8th   Time:  8am-noonLocation:  828 Gunter Street (East Austin -78702)Parking:  along neighborhood streets, please be courteous of neighbors and do not block drivewaysContact:  Jenn Svetlik at jennifer.svetlik@gmail.com to volunteerNote:  Bring gloves and a waterbottle 

Weed Beds/Prune Plants Neighborhood Green06/08/2008 Bruning Green is a neighbor-maintained green space that was established in 2001 and has been developed into a beautiful little public space with a butterfly bed, path, stone seating walls, and bench. It is very precious to the neighborhood and needs regular maintenance to keep it in top condition.  Please bring work gloves, a pitchfork if you have one, and bottled water for yourself. Contact keeper@northfieldna.org to sign up for one of the work days Date: June 8th   Time:  9am-10amLocation:  Bruning Green @ 52nd, Evans, and Bruning Avenue (N. Central Austin - 78751)Parking:  along neighborhood streets, please be courteous of neighbors and do not block drivewaysContact:  keeper@northfieldna.org to volunteerNote:  Please bring work gloves, a pitchfork if you have one, and bottled water for yourself. 

Nominate a TreeNow till June 30th   Wanted: Tree of the Year nominationsIt’s time to send in your pick for “Tree of the Year 2008.” Nominations are due June 30th.   Each year, one large and one small tree within the Austin city limits will be recognized. Look for trees that are native, healthy and beautiful.  A nomination form may be found at www.cityofaustin.org/treeoftheyear. A form may also be picked up at local plant nurseries or the Zilker Garden Center. The winners will be chosen by a committee that includes representatives from Austin Energy, Parks and Recreation, Watershed Protection and Development Review, the University of Texas and the community. More information: Check the Web site or call (512) 505-3726. 

Nominate a TreeNow till June 30th   Wanted: Tree of the Year nominationsIt’s time to send in your pick for “Tree of the Year 2008.” Nominations are due June 30th.   Each year, one large and one small tree within the Austin city limits will be recognized. Look for trees that are native, healthy and beautiful.  A nomination form may be found at www.cityofaustin.org/treeoftheyear. A form may also be picked up at local plant nurseries or the Zilker Garden Center. The winners will be chosen by a committee that includes representatives from Austin Energy, Parks and Recreation, Watershed Protection and Development Review, the University of Texas and the community. More information: Check the Web site or call (512) 505-3726. 

Nominate a TreeNow till June 30th   Wanted: Tree of the Year nominationsIt’s time to send in your pick for “Tree of the Year 2008.” Nominations are due June 30th.   Each year, one large and one small tree within the Austin city limits will be recognized. Look for trees that are native, healthy and beautiful.  A nomination form may be found at www.cityofaustin.org/treeoftheyear. A form may also be picked up at local plant nurseries or the Zilker Garden Center. The winners will be chosen by a committee that includes representatives from Austin Energy, Parks and Recreation, Watershed Protection and Development Review, the University of Texas and the community. More information: Check the Web site or call (512) 505-3726. 

Slaughter Creek Trail06/14/2008  Join the Austin Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Club for a rewarding workday on the Slaughter Creek Trail.  Volunteers are currently working on re-routing a portion of the trail.  This re-route is approximately 500+ yards in length and we have about 100 yards of it completed.  The sooner it’s complete, the sooner the trail can open to the public. Date: June 14th Time:  8am-noonLocation:  9901 Camp Ben McCullough Rd. (aka: FM1826) at Slaughter CreekDirections:

• From Austin, go to the Y in Oak Hill.  Continue west on Hwy 290 and turn left onto Camp Ben McCullough Rd./FM1826 (third traffic light after the Y). Drive approximately 2 miles, cross the low water bridge over Slaughter Creek and the property/gate entrance will be on your left.  Drive up the driveway to the parking lot.
• From Circle C and other areas in South Austin, take Slaughter Lane to Camp Ben McCullough Rd./FM1826. Turn left on Camp Ben/1826. Drive approximately 1 mile. Cross the low water bridge over Slaughter Creek and the property/gate entrance will be on your left.  Drive up the driveway to the parking lot.

Contact:  Britt Jones at bikejones2426@yahoo.com  or call 512-423-0889Notes:  Bring: sturdy shoes or boots, sun block, bug repellent, work gloves, eye protection, WATER, & food (i.e., energy bars and/or sandwich).  In the case of rain, please attend the next scheduled trail work day. 

Garden at Maplewood Elementary06/14/2008 & 06/15/2008 Join gardening volunteers to help spruce up Maplewood Elementary School’s garden after the storm and to plant a habitat garden!  Projects will include cleaning up the garden beds, watering, and planting native and adapted plants. Please rsvp. Date: June 14th & June 15th Time:  9am-11amLocation:  Maplewood Elementary School, 3808 Maplewood Ave (Central E Austin – 78722)Contact:  If you are interested, please contact Karen at KLS572000@yahoo.com  

Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve06/14/2008  The second Saturday of every month is Trail Maintenance at Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve. Volunteer work starts promptly at 9am with a brief orientation and safety talk, before breaking up into teams and go out to work on the trails.  Many of the volunteers are master naturalists or have been working at the preserve for years, so this is a great opportunity to pick up some fun factoids about Central TX ecology. Date: June 14th Time:  9am-noonLocation:  805 N. Capitol of Texas Hwy. (West Austin – 78746)More Information: www.wildbasin.org