Earlier this month, Maidu community member Trina Cunningham led a hike with 30+ people on the Heart K Ranch in Genesee.

Check out the photos here .

Trina's ancestors founded the Davis Ranch, where Trina grew up, and her Mountain Maidu ancestors have inhabited Genesee Valley - Hopnum Koyo in Maidu - from the beginning of memory.

Trina also served on the FRLT board that took action to purchase the 884-acre Heart K Ranch (including the Davis Ranch), protecting the land forever.

Trina's walk and talk traveled seamlessly among childhood stories, cultural traditions, and the practicalities of land management, from both ranching and Maidu ecology perspectives. One of the hikers - a neighbor who has known Trina most of her life - was so moved that he went home and wrote this poem:

TRINA AMONG THE REEDS

 

She stands among the reeds in Genesee

Where long her forbears stood for centuries

And picks the perfect stems for basketry,

That ancient craft now weaved in mysteries.

 

Her dreams are filled with legends of the past

That rise from misty shadows of her sleep,

And from these dreams her future has been cast

To be the one their culture is to keep.

 

She roamed these meadows as a little girl;

A part of nature at its loving best;

Among the rocks and trees, a perfect pearl;

A romping daughter of the native west.

 

Now Trina passes on the lore she knows she must

Fulfilling dreams ordained for her and kept in trust.

 

By Sam Catalano, July 19, 2011

 

Big gratitude to Trina and each of you who participated! 

 

Cattle take the first round against yellow starthistle at Heart K Photo by Gabe Miller

Stewardship Coordinator Gabe Miller brokered the creative deal to eradicate yellow starthistle (YST) on the Heart K Ranch.

Targeted grazing with cattle and goats will help control one of the property's worst infested sites and prevent YST from spreading.

Rancher Mark Foster's cattle are on the property now, and with their help, we've been able to knock back much of the YST in its early growing stage. After the cattle have had their fill, we'll allow a short resting period for the plants to re-sprout.

Goats come in for Round 2 against weeds. Photo by Gabe Miller

Then herder Jesse Smith brings in the heavy hitters - 400 goats - to eat most if not all of the flowering head, spines and all. All of this happens before the flower sets seed, which is important, as each YST plant can produce nearly 75,000 seeds. If left unchecked, YST quickly depletes soil moisture and crowds out native species.

This is the beginning of FRLT's long term commitment to control noxious weeds on the property and prevent their spread. The Heart K project is part of a collaborative noxious weed project between Feather River Land Trust , Feather River Resource Conservation District and Sierra Valley Resource Conservation District. With a grant from Plumas County RAC, the partnership will control the spread of noxious weeds on 3 sites in Plumas County:

• Heart K Ranch - 40 acres using targeted grazing
• Feather River College - targeted goat grazing on key infested areas 
• USFS public land in Sierra Valley - varied treatment including targeted goat grazing on Tall Whitetop. 

To learn more about targeted goat grazing, click here .

Pearce Family Ranch Dedication June 25:   Thank you to the Pearce Family, local donors, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and Northern Sierra Partnership!

June and July were event-rich months, to say the least!

Members and friends like you came out with tremendous support:

• Monthly donor lunch 
• Heart K Celebration and Indian Valley Chamber mixer 
• Sierra & Clover Valley tours
• Pearce Family Ranch Dedication. Pictures here.
• Hike on the Heart K with Trina Cunningham. Pictures here.
• Dining A'la Art with Sally Yost at Whitehawk Ranch - You raised $1,200 for FRLT! (Thank you, Sally and Whitehawk!) 

Thank you to each of you who came out to enjoy and show your support. And heartfelt gratitude to our friends and partners who so generously made these events possible. 

 

Such fun enjoying the Feather River country with you. It's so important to experience this beautiful place and to celebrate our successes together. We couldn't do it without. Thank you.

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events!
Call our office at (530) 283-5758 for more details.

August 5:    FRLT Volunteer Thank You Party
August 13:  Lake Almanor House Party
Sept 24:      Heart K Fundraising Event (for stewardship!)

  

With your help, the Feather River Land Trust is working to conserve the most strategically important lands in the Feather River region, and to steward their ecological and cultural values for current and future generations.

 

P.O. Box 1826
Quincy, California 95971
Feather River Land Trust