A Pitch to Pitch In

April 11, 2024 I By Katie Cox, Executive Director

Hello friends/ soon-to-be gardeners/ lovers of soon-to-be dry trails,

Spring is Springing! 

The other week I was out for a run on the weekend. I had more time than I do during the week so I decided that this was a day for miles. Trails are still drying out and I have a nagging little injury so I chose to do a tour of our awesome paved pathway trails in Dover, Sandpoint and Ponderay. The day was a perfect running temperature, pretty Goldilocks, not too hot and not too cold. 

I witnessed signs of spring as I ran the miles. Everything was still pretty dead and brown but it almost seemed that the sunshine overhead was tugging at the earth saying, “come on sleepy head it’s time to wake up!” I felt the energy of what was coming.

But in a bit of a paradox, as I sensed the excitement for warmer days and the first flowers and grasses to spring forth I also wanted these seasonal changes to wait just a little bit longer. The reason being, as I ran the pathways and near the roadways what was also laying there hidden among the brown dead plants of last year was garbage that flew from the back of a truck headed to the dump, or the empty can that was tossed out the window. All along our pathways was litter that had been hidden from view as snow laid its white blanket on the ground.  

Seriously, every season at this time I get a twitch of anxiety and panic as I drive the roads and run the pathways because I know that soon enough the grasses will shoot up and all of this debris will be hidden from view. I always wish I had the power of Batman and could put the bat signal in the sky that would gather the community together when urgency strikes and say, “It’s now or never! Let’s clean up this place.” 

So, as I ran I formulated a plan. We do have a bat signal! We have our e-news, we have our action-oriented community, we have cities enthusiastic for support. Why can’t we all take a day and get out in our community and pick up this trash before Mother Nature covers it with her spring beauty?  Will you join us? 

It’s not a stretch to say that this effort is symbolic of conservation work. At times there is an urgency with our work (a trail needs clearing after a sudden windstorm) and at times our work is slower and the results take longer (our herd in the meadow is a good example of this slower, methodical process). And no matter if the work is slower or it needs speed and haste, it can be powered by a community that is passionate about this place that we call home.

Thanks for pitching in with us, 

Katie