Feb 4, 2024
February kicks off the campaign throughout Pima county ,AZ to Beat Back Buffelgrass and Save the Saguaros.
Buffelgrass is an invasive grass that is spreading throughout the Sonoran Desert. It grows into large clumps, which makes fuel for fires, and burns hotter than native grasses. These clumps, growing at the base of saguaros, cause them to catch fire and devastate saguaro stands.
There are several organizations that have volunteers going out into the desert and removing the buffelgrass, digging and pulling it out with pick axes and hand picks.
Today, I joined up with about 25 other volunteers of the Catalina State Park Buffel Slayers @buffelgrass.org and tackled 3 patches of buffelgrass. The event was from 8-12. We hiked 1.1 miles into the park. From the parking lot we headed straight up hill, of course. I had not hiked uphill carrying a 5 lb pickaxe in some time, so I stayed toward the back, but it wasn't long before I could breathe normal. For me, it was perfect desert weather, it started off at about 40 degF and I don't think it even got up to 60 by the time we were back at the parking lot. We got alot of rain the day before so digging and pulling was not too hard. There was even water flowing in the Sutherland Wash. Previous Slayers said it was perfect removal conditions. Participants ranged from 20-70 years old and there were also 3 representatives from the US Forest Service that joined the pull. Overall, it was a great experience and I encourage everyone to volunteer.
Being out there today makes me more conscience of what flowers, foliage, and fillers I will be growing. Why? Because I don't think I will be growing any grasses, as fountain grass has also become an invasive species and I don't want to add any other grasses to that list.
