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+--- Thread: Rake Puna Great Again (/showthread.php?tid=20386)
Rake Puna Great Again - HereOnThePrimalEdge - 11-18-2018
This morning I woke up, excited, energized, ready, willing, and after I finished my first hot cup of coffee, able to join in as part of the solution. Yesterday I discovered, the best way we can remove ourselves from the destructive power of forest fires, is if we march ourselves directly into the woods and start raking.
Here in Puna almost all of us are blessed with trees on our property, but cursed with the danger that lurks beneath them. Trees are clearly no friend to the environment, especially when they burn, so each of us must do our part in minimizing the damage they cause, mostly when no one is looking.
After some initial experimentation I soon implemented a two step approach, first skimming my lawn rake lightly across the surface, then for a deep clean right down along the forest floor, I used a metal garden rake.
My neighbor called "aloha! good morning! as he worked away under his gigantic avocado tree, right near the property line, pretty much worthless as far as I'm concerned because its fallen leaves are nothing but concave rain catchers and breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Oh sure, it's nice when he brings over buckets of buttery avocados one month a year, but what about the other 11 months? That's what I'm talking about. Anyway we both stopped for a moment and he told me about a Scandinavian raking technique he heard mentioned on the radio or TV, highly recommended by the President of one of those small countries up at the North Pole, which supposedly allowed you to Finnish the job faster, or something like that. Later, when I went inside on a break, I Googled it for more details, but the President of Finland said he's never head of such a thing. Later if I have time I'll check if it was Sweden. Or maybe Norway.
Well, if any of you have better suggestions, tips or general advice on how we can do our part here in the deep, thick leaf littered forests of Puna, please let's all help #RakeAmericaGreatAgain.
RE: Rake Puna Great Again - randomq - 11-18-2018
So, you can prevent forest fires by denuding the forest floor? Of the very matter that helps keep nutrients and moisture in the soil, and trees' leaves green and healthy instead of dried out and flammable?
Instead of raking, wouldn't a propane torch be more effective?
RE: Rake Puna Great Again - eigoya - 11-18-2018
Raking only works with forests in Finland. They have a very good, really a great raking system. That is why we got the Camp Fire, no good at raking.
RE: Rake Puna Great Again - ElysianWort - 11-18-2018
I'll rake then gather the material, put it in a wheelbarrow then bring it to one of my various compost sites. I move the sites around and often put them under a tree that I think needs the nutrients most. A few months later I have nice loamy compost. Of course I put other things in the compost besides leaves such as kitchen scraps decayed branches, scoops of dog poop etc.
I have a propane torch but these days it's just a waste of time and propane. Everything is just way too wet this year to burn. Not much worry about forest fires here in the Acres. Nothing will burn with the constant showers and high humidity.
RE: Rake Puna Great Again - Seeb - 11-18-2018
Beyond All the news BS is the idea of good forest management including urban wilderness interface you can find the basics of it at Firewise.org
RE: Rake Puna Great Again - My 2 cents - 11-18-2018
The best fertilizer for any tree is the leaves and fruit that it drops, combined with the bird poop that drops as the birds are eating the fruit. Been that way since the beginning of time but, of course, man always seems to think he can improve on Mother Nature's work.
RE: Rake Puna Great Again - ElysianWort - 11-19-2018
I disagree.
Well actually man can improve on it. The mother nature way is great but increased yields and healthier trees are proof and often the result of man adding to what nature already does.
When we bring in trees that aren't native to the area they often need help from us.
Just waiting for bananahead to come in now and tell us we shouldn't bring in any non-native trees or plants...
RE: Rake Puna Great Again - randomq - 11-19-2018
How many forest fires do you hear about on Kaho‘olawe? They've got it figured out over there!
RE: Rake Puna Great Again - SBH - 11-19-2018
quote:
Originally posted by ElysianWort
Just waiting for bananahead to come in now and tell us we shouldn't bring in any non-native trees or plants...
https://youtu.be/HCgISG1D57Y