Tomatoes to the fire station! - Page 2

June 26, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by habitat_gardener

It's a mind-boggling sight and a great site to visit! I toured one of the local transfer stations with a class several years ago. The main dumping area was a huge pit, viewed from a walkway far above it. A constant stream of garbage trucks lumbered in and out, with 6 or 8 trucks on each side dumping at once. In the pit, an earth mover in constant motion moved, smoothed out, and compacted the piles. We were told the stream of garbage trucks was constant all day, from when it opened iirc at 6am until midafternoon.

This transfer station had a separate area for recyclables, yard waste, and construction waste, yet some of the garbage trunks were dumping loads of yard waste and construction materials.

Since the transfer station was located in an urban area (Oakland), the compacted garbage in the pit was transferred to other trucks, which drove it to the dump, miles away.

When I was much younger, I spent a lot of time at garbage dumps scavenging lumber to build things with. I never could believe the quantity of high quality lumber contractors tossed when they completed a job. I don't think you can do that anymore because most dumps have recycling programs.

Ted

Rockporter · June 28, 2012

Unfortunately the fire houses, even in our small town have to stay locked up. There is so much theft these days that most fire dept's just don't have the finances to replace the items stolen from them. Our local Volunteer Fire Dept has no support except by donations and a very small amount that comes from everyone's waterbill each month. They are paid out once per year and they have to share that with four volunteer stations in the area.

Our local station had three generators stolen right off their trucks in the lot. Those generators are used for jaws of life and running equipment in the field.

Worth1 · June 30, 2012

It is wide open in town here most of the time someone is there even though it is volunteer.

Bastrop has a low crime rate and friendy police.

Most of the people are friendly and help each other out.

A really nice place to live.

Worth

June 30, 2012

Worth,

Is Bastrop State Park coming back to life after last years wildfires?

Ted

Worth1 · June 30, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedln

Worth,

Is Bastrop State Park coming back to life after last years wildfires?

Ted

It just reopend but I haven't been there. The place still looks pretty charred.

Worth

zabby17 · July 1, 2012

Worth, I too live in a friendly town where most folks help each other out and the police are helpful. I had a bike stolen once here and it was returned to me through the combined kindness and helpfulness of the bike repair shop owner, his teenaged employee, and a police constable. One of the most heart-warming things ever to happen to me.

But it only takes one jerk to steal something, unfortunately, and heart-warming returns don't always happen. We had a ladder stolen from the backyard while we were buidling the workshop (of course, of the four ladders back there, they took the one that was on loan from my brother, argh). The movie theatre, where I volunteer, had someone break in and take the $1,000 or so of revenue in the cash box after a long weekend.

So if a fire station is sometimes empty I can understand why they'd lock up, much as it's a shame.

On the other hand, it's professional forces that they would need tomato donations most, I'd think, because someone IS there all the time so they have meals there....

Z

Worth1 · July 2, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by zabby17

Worth, I too live in a friendly town where most folks help each other out and the police are helpful. I had a bike stolen once here and it was returned to me through the combined kindness and helpfulness of the bike repair shop owner, his teenaged employee, and a police constable. One of the most heart-warming things ever to happen to me.

But it only takes one jerk to steal something, unfortunately, and heart-warming returns don't always happen. We had a ladder stolen from the backyard while we were buidling the workshop (of course, of the four ladders back there, they took the one that was on loan from my brother, argh). The movie theatre, where I volunteer, had someone break in and take the $1,000 or so of revenue in the cash box after a long weekend.

So if a fire station is sometimes empty I can understand why they'd lock up, much as it's a shame.

On the other hand, it's professional forces that they would need tomato donations most, I'd think, because someone IS there all the time so they have meals there....

Z

We have our share of crime here but it isn't big city.

!
Worth

July 2, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

It just reopend but I haven't been there. The place still looks pretty charred.

Worth

They had a segment on "The Daytripper" television show recently visiting the park. The shows host asked the park ranger how long it will take for the trees to regain the growth the park had prior to the fire. The ranger said it will be at least one hundred years before the park regains the huge trees it had. It will hopefully return to it's former condition in time for your great grandchildren to enjoy.

Ted

Worth1 · July 2, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedln

They had a segment on "The Daytripper" television show recently visiting the park. The shows host asked the park ranger how long it will take for the trees to regain the growth the park had prior to the fire. The ranger said it will be at least one hundred years before the park regains the huge trees it had. It will hopefully return to it's former condition in time for your great grandchildren to enjoy.

Ted

I don't have kids so none will be around to see.

The lost pines are a mystery as to why they are there to begin with.
I just wish peole would realize that the under brush has to go away so this doesn't happen.

Who knows what it will look like in 100 years, it may be an agave forest.

I haven't gotten out and looked around but from the road I see no pine seedlings yet.

Hate to be negative but it may just turn into a weed patch.

Worth

July 2, 2012

Worth,

Any idea how much of "The Lost Pines" Loblolly growth was destroyed. The total growth was only about 6000 acres. Fire is usually beneficial to new growth, but may take a couple of years for new seedlings to germinate. Since the Bastrop growth was isolated from other pine varieties, the seed was pure and has been harvested for many years. The forest service will probably plant seedlings later this year. I know they are felling the dead trees and chipping them for mulch to assist newly germinated and planted seedlings. We lived in the middle of the Angelina national forest for many years and the timber companies would often clear cut large tracts of land. They would replant seedlings within a couple of years to take advantage of the minerals and nutrients released by decomposing underbrush. The seedlings were planted about six inches tall and would be ten feet tall within three years. It was important to get them planted early enough for the growing pine trees to shade out the low undergrowth. If they didn't plant them fast enough the new undergrowth would shade out the seedlings.

Ted

Worth1 · July 2, 2012

I don't know how many acres were lost some places it was total burn out and others it left big old mama trees.

My side of the highway where I live was spared completely.

I think I'll get on my motorcycle and take the complete tour and assess the damage.

I have been waiting for things to cool off a little to show some respect for the people that lost homes.

Worth

June 28, 2012	#17
Rockporter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 3,205	Unfortunately the fire houses, even in our small town have to stay locked up. There is so much theft these days that most fire dept's just don't have the finances to replace the items stolen from them. Our local Volunteer Fire Dept has no support except by donations and a very small amount that comes from everyone's waterbill each month. They are paid out once per year and they have to share that with four volunteer stations in the area. Our local station had three generators stolen right off their trucks in the lot. Those generators are used for jaws of life and running equipment in the field. __________________ In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~

June 30, 2012	#18
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	It is wide open in town here most of the time someone is there even though it is volunteer. Bastrop has a low crime rate and friendy police. Most of the people are friendly and help each other out. A really nice place to live. Worth

June 30, 2012	#19
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	Worth, Is Bastrop State Park coming back to life after last years wildfires? Ted

July 1, 2012	#21
zabby17 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario Posts: 211	Worth, I too live in a friendly town where most folks help each other out and the police are helpful. I had a bike stolen once here and it was returned to me through the combined kindness and helpfulness of the bike repair shop owner, his teenaged employee, and a police constable. One of the most heart-warming things ever to happen to me. But it only takes one jerk to steal something, unfortunately, and heart-warming returns don't always happen. We had a ladder stolen from the backyard while we were buidling the workshop (of course, of the four ladders back there, they took the one that was on loan from my brother, argh). The movie theatre, where I volunteer, had someone break in and take the $1,000 or so of revenue in the cash box after a long weekend. So if a fire station is sometimes empty I can understand why they'd lock up, much as it's a shame. On the other hand, it's professional forces that they would need tomato donations most, I'd think, because someone IS there all the time so they have meals there.... Z

July 2, 2012	#25
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	Worth, Any idea how much of "The Lost Pines" Loblolly growth was destroyed. The total growth was only about 6000 acres. Fire is usually beneficial to new growth, but may take a couple of years for new seedlings to germinate. Since the Bastrop growth was isolated from other pine varieties, the seed was pure and has been harvested for many years. The forest service will probably plant seedlings later this year. I know they are felling the dead trees and chipping them for mulch to assist newly germinated and planted seedlings. We lived in the middle of the Angelina national forest for many years and the timber companies would often clear cut large tracts of land. They would replant seedlings within a couple of years to take advantage of the minerals and nutrients released by decomposing underbrush. The seedlings were planted about six inches tall and would be ten feet tall within three years. It was important to get them planted early enough for the growing pine trees to shade out the low undergrowth. If they didn't plant them fast enough the new undergrowth would shade out the seedlings. Ted