Taking action for Mother Earth, 3 events (photo spread)
Earth Day Concert & River Clean Up
The Town of Lyons hosted several Earth Day events, beginning with two at Bohn Park on Sunday, April 21, 2024. A snowfall on Thursday thru Saturday, almost cancelled the event. But the sun rose bright and strong on Sunday, and the snow quickly melted away.
The day started with an action plan — people were invited to a community river clean up, at Bohn Park from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. About 28 volunteers joined in, and several bags of trash were collected.
The River Clean Up was followed by an outdoor concert by Jeff & Paige from 11 a.m. – noon, about all things earth-related, with a focus toward the kids in the crowd. They also had art activities for the kids. Families enjoyed the information and freebies offered at the booths. Representatives provided fun and educational activities on how to live more sustainably.
Attendees included Lyons Community Farm Project, Boulder County Parks and Open Space, Go Electric Colorado (with electric vehicles on site), Keep It Clean Project, Longmont Humane Society, Lyons’ Library, Lyons Fire Department, Lyons Garden Club, Rugged Rangers, Square State Skate, Dancing Spirit Horses and more. People could also take a guided tour of the Rocky Mountain Botanic Garden in Lyons.
Tree Planting at Lyons Cemetery
For the second time in a three year period, the Lyons Lions Club organized a spring tree planting at Lyons Cemetery. Many of the trees in the decades old cemetery had died, or were removed due to poor condition, and the park needed refreshing.
This year, April 2024, 85 seedlings of Colorado blue Spruce, ponderosa pine and pinion trees were planted.
“The seedlings were less than one foot tall, with a correctly proportional top size compared to roots,” said Ron Gosnell, Lions Club. “They are grown from seed at the Colorado Forest Service tree nursery in Ft. Collins and distributed by the Boulder Valley & Longmont Soil Conservation Districts. Lyons Lions Club is covering the cost of trees, guards, deer away spray for later and a ticket for a lunch sandwich available to each volunteer planter.
“The seedling trees require a degree of skill and planting care, and we demonstrated the procedure to the volunteers at the event. Planting responsibility was given, in addition to careful procedures, concerning the installation of the tree surrounding surface and mulch wood chips for weed control and moisture conservation. And, installation of a deer/rabbit guard of 360 degree stiff tube netting, with two wooden stakes each, and a good soil watering immediately after planting. A couple years ago at a similar volunteer planting of an eastern red cedar windbreak, that event resulted in 100% seedling survival, still true, and still possible for this year.”
Between Lions Club members and volunteers, 52 lunch tickets were passed out. (St Vrain Market gave discounts to the Club).
Both the Cemetery staff, and families of the deceased, as well as the town people, appreciate the hard work that the Lions and town members put into this earth-friendly endeavor!
Contact Ron Gosnell or Larry Quinn if you would like to learn more about the Lions Club.
Tree Planting at Lyons Community Orchard
The fruit tree planting at the Lyons Community Orchard was a great community event, with at least 60 people showing up to help out. From kids painting rocks to go along the pollinator border, to people digging holes, mixing soil, rototilling, putting fencing around the trees, and the St Vrain Market donating lunches.
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“It really is very rewarding to see so many people getting together,” said coordinator Glen Delman. “Especially with me having an elementary student, I’m happy the kids are getting outside and having interactions and fun in that kind of environment.”
“Some of the trees do have blossoms,” continued Glen. ”They say, in order to get a really strong tree, that you shouldn’t let them fruit for 2-3 years. I think we will let them fruit as soon as they can, and that will bring joy to everyone rather than having to be that patient, and losing interest.
“The next step is getting the watering. The project has six volunteers. They are going to be taking turns riding a bike with a trailer over from the Lyons Community Farm (food forest) at 315 5th Street, where there’s a water spigot. It will be time consuming, but after this first year once the trees are established, we can do the watering a lot less frequently.”
For more information, or if you wish to volunteer, contact Glen at gdelman@comcast.net.
MOVIES / ACTION
The Two movies presented during Earth WEEK, were well attended, at the Lyons Library.
==the Sustainable Future Commission presented “Honeyland” about beekeeping. The Documentary Topic: A woman utilizes ancient beekeeping traditions to cultivate honey in the mountains of North Macedonia vs. a new comer who moves into her valley. Follow by Q&A with a very knowledgeable local about bee habits.
==the Ecology Advisory Board presented the PBS documentary, Western Water and Power. Topic: Every generation struggles to control the fleeting resource of water in Colorado.. Followed by Q&A. This subject is near and dear to our hearts.
==the Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado Parks and Wildlife had an Open House on how to install safeguards to reduce the number of vehicle-related wildlife accidents on US 36 between Boulder and Lyons. The section of US 36 between Boulder and Lyons (with emphasis on Nelson to St. Vrain) has the highest number of accidents in the state. (The Lyons Recorder will have an article on it in the near future).