August Restoration Day Recap

We had a wonderful restoration day last Saturday! Thanks to everyone who showed up to support our work!

Wonderlanders and Volunteers clearing the food forest.

We cleared brush, sheet mulched trees and learned all about hand tools under the rain in nice cool weather! We shared stories, laughter and food, and we got to check the amazing work we did during the last restoration day in the wetland corridor back in June. 

Tom Simpson, Senior Ecologist at the MCCD, led a workshop about different hand tools including differences between a Japanese and European sickle and an American and European scythe. One thing that Tom highlighted was that using hand tools means understanding the importance of practicing care and maintenance of these tools. For instance, part of scything means stopping every 15 - 20 minutes to re-sharpen the blade - something that our current lifestyle, meaning the impending sense of urgency to all things, many times seeks to avoid, because it means stopping to care, instead of only producing.

Tom Simpson, MCCD, showing how to sharpen a scythe blade.

We are in conversations about a second hand tools workshop with more emphasis in tool care, including a sharpening workshop!