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Tag: Big Sur
Pot Growing in Big Sur
I’ve avoided addressing this subject, as it perpetuates the stereotype that has been in existence since the 1960’s — the pot-smoking, drug culture of Big Sur. If it was ever true in the past, it is a blatant stereotype today. And it reeks of the sensationalism that the local media seems so bent on. However, there are some points I think deserve addressing.
Yes, a rather large pot farm (10K plants reported) were found on the LPNF in Big Sur a few days ago. It was on public lands, and is clearly a large, commercial operation, not the small guerilla operations typically seen. MCSO’s estimation of the value, at least based on past experience, is grossly exaggerated. As a criminal defense attorney for many years, I have seen that it is quite typical for law enforcement to estimate value based on gross weight, including stems, root balls, and dirt. Allows them to make it seem more than it is. I am not minimizing 10K plants, that is a large number of plants, I am just minimizing the claimed value.
These commercial pot farm problems are not endemic to Big Sur, but to large tracts of public lands anywhere in California. Santa Barbara, and many other places, are reporting finding these types of pot farms on their public lands. As long as it is illegal to grow pot — and even though California has a compassionate use statute, the federal government refuses to recognize it — it is a lucrative business adventure. Frankly with a farm this size, I don’t think the declining economy is at fault. This one, based on reported size only, is a well-established commercial cartel, not part of the local economy.
I would like to give my personal thanks to Tom Hopkins, president of the Ventana Wilderness Alliance for volunteering his organization’s expertise and manpower to clean up this site. Kudos to VWA!
Rain finds Big Sur
Around 7:30 pm, rain fell in Big Sur proper. Two hours later, it is still raining. Yippee!! Down here, I’ve had a little drizzle, a few drops, but nothing one could call rain. I’m hoping that changes in the next hour, although … now that I think about it, I think I left my Jeep windows open. Oh, well!
Just before 10 pm the rain found me. I am happy, happy, happy, even if my windows are open!!
Here is a radar shot from about 9:30 pm:
And here is one from about 10:30 pm:
If you would like to see the most current radar shot, you can go to this website:
weather radar
Oh, sh**, I just remembered all the windows in my office — including the window by my desk (and therefore the computer) are open!! And it is really raining!!
Almost midnight, and I am turning into a pumpkin. The rain continues. Happy Day! I cannot tell you how blessed I feel to be dust free for even one DAY!
On a different note: To make it easier to find things on my blog, I have also created hierarchial categories, which are displayed on the side bar to the right, all the way at the bottom. So, if you wish to see photos from the Jade Festival 2008, or weather conditions from last year, you can click on the category and see what I have posted. I haven’t always been good about adding categories, but have done most.
Moon over Big Sur
Ah, the most luscious large moon — the corn moon, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, and Native American Indian Lore.
But what I love about witnessing a beautiful full moon like this? Is knowing that all over the world, where the skies are clear, people of many different nationalities, cultures, and languages, are watching the same full moon with me — different times, yes — but the same full moon.
If this doesn’t prove we are all connected, then nothing will. Enjoy this corn moon, where ever you are!
Sunset Silhouette
And this is why I can put up with all the trespassers, the yay-hoos, and other inconveniences. Who can blame them for wanting a piece of this? This was taken this past weekend.
BSVFB Fundraiser
Some of you may have seen this today, put out by CPOA, but for those who did not, I am reproducing it in its entirety. An evening in Monterey is hard for South Coast folks, but any North Coast folks might be interested. For others, who cannot attend, but would like to donate, the BSVFB makes it easy. Click on their link to the right, and when you get to their home page, there is a donate button that goes through paypal. Takes just a few minutes, or seconds, depending on your internet speed. (Sorry, the pictures did not come through in the copy & paste.)
It’s a Happening!
It’s been a year since the Basin Complex Fire.
Tom and I wanted to do something
so we’re organizing a benefit for the
Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade
5PM – 7:30PM
Thursday, August 6th
at Wave Street Studios
774 Wave Street, Monterey
It’s a reading and an interview
and an art show
and a celebration
Gary is pouring wine (Pinsoni Vineyards & Winery)
and Tom and Nepenthe
are cooking up lots of treats.
Bubbly will flow courtesy of McIntyre Vineyards
Hospitality and service will be provided by Big Sur Food & Wine Festival
You won’t want to miss it!
Tickets are $50 per person.
Make your check payable to Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade.
30% of all art sales go directly to the Brigade, too.
Space is very limited.
Call 831/646-9000 now to make a reservation or to sponsor the event
P.S if you have to miss it, catch it on line at livenetworks.tv from 6PM-7PM.
P.P.S Call Wave Street at 831/ 655-2010 for directions.
Journal excerpt, August 2, 1972
” Yesterday there was big fire at Jack Flat’s. It burned most of it up. It leapt the road and landed on the trees and started up the hill. It burned 3,000 acres. The Rangers say that by the time it stops 10,000 acres will be burned. Today it burned all the Pfeiffer Falls area. About 1,000 people had to be evacuated out of the park itself. Now it is going fast into the mountains where no human lives are in danger. I don’t know but there must be at least thousands of dead animals out there. At Nepenthe Restaurant, thousands of ashes flew on to the terrace. The ashes are gone but its pretty dusty! They have closed off the highway so the equipment can go through. Overhead I can hear the air tankers (planes, jets.) A few days ago we went to a flea market in Moss Landing. I got a doll-flower bowl. Holly got a surprise.”
Well, I was not yet 9 years old when I recorded these first impressions of the 1972 Molera Fire. What I remember now is sitting in the Hopkins pool on Partington Ridge watching the smoke billow up before we knew what was going on. Later that winter, there were terrible mudslides. The river rose up and cars were washed downstream below River Inn. I was in third or fourth grade. I remember we went down to Big Creek and planted trees to replace the ones that had burned. It seemed like they would never grow back.
During the Basin Complex Fire last summer, we talked about how things would be later, when the fire was out, when we were home again. But talking about the way it would be after the fire while the fire was still raging was eerie and unsettling. Would we be able to go home again? Not everybody did. What would we see when we made that drive south for the first time? I know I cried from Molera to Nepenthe the first time I made that drive home, after the mandatory evacuation had finally been lifted.
During that intense period of fire and aftermath, I felt incredibly grateful to the men and women who were fighting the fire. I wanted to do something to thank them. But most of my energies went into getting my life back on track, working on getting my studio up and running in Monterey, Chi’s wedding, helping Emily find a new apartment in Santa Barbara, and finally closing my studio and coming home again. Time passed, life went on.
Now it’s been a year. It’s time.
Please join me in thanking all the men and women of the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade and Auxiliary by attending our upcoming fundraiser for the Brigade at Wave Street Studio August 6th. Come for the reading, the wine, the cause. Stay for the conversation, the connecting, the community-building.
It will be an evening to remember.
Erin
831/646-9000 or 667-2454
CPOA Board
info@cpoabigsur.org
Big Sur Wildfire Protection Plan
Last night’s meeting was attended by about a dozen people.
There was a presentation of the process itself, answering questions along the way. The goal is to produce a planning level document which prioritizes wildfire protection strategies, using finite resources, and protecting targeted resources.
This planning document is to be much more detailed about what is on/under/around “target areas” than the Monterey County Wildfire Protection Plan, but consistent with it, and the later will be incorporated by reference into the Monterey County General Plan.
Thirty-seven “target” areas between Andrew Molera State Park in the north, and the San Luis Obispo County line were identified. These target areas incorporate private property parcels into “blocks.”
“For this level of planning it is conditions within, and adjacent to, these ownership blocks that will be for the focus of the information analysis and prioritization procedure.
With respect to future fuels modification project the focus will be primarily on:
– Ridge tops
-Upper mid-slope positions, and;
-Roads”
The project actively solicits community input,both through public meetings and written comments. If you wish to submit written comments, you may do so to: bigsurcwpp@gmail.com or in writing to:
Big Sur Community Wildfire Protection Plan
s/c Daus Environmental Services
P.O. Box 71058
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
If you would prefer to remain anonymous, you may submit your emailed comments to me, at kwnovoa@mac.com, and I will forward them on after removing any identifying information.
If you have any thoughts you wish to share about the process, the plan, the objectives and goals, now is the time to submit them.
A follow-up meeting will be held for the South Coast on July 29th from 7-9 pm. At that meeting a tentative rough draft as to locations and content will be available.
The Big Sur Land Trust is funding and underwriting these efforts.
Lavender Coast
I have to get my notes together, and write a summary of the Wildfire Protection Plan meeting last night … I have the photos of the Ripplewood/Library garden to upload to my computer … I have to work, but am distracted by the beautiful summer day … but in the meantime, here is a stunning watercolor sent to me by the art teacher at Pacific Valley School, Dave Allen. I am going to use it as my banner for a while, as it is just so beautiful.
BSCWPP Meeting
The meeting is tonight, 7/8/09 from 7-9 pm at the South Coast Community Center. A similar meeting is scheduled for the North Coast tomorrow night.
From Joyce, she writes:
Hi,
There is a meeting here tonight at PV school and one tomorrow night at the state park. I hope that many locals will attend.
My point of view on last year’s fires:
I know that on the second day of what became known as the Basin Complex Fire, Don Case’s house and his daughter’s house burned down on Stone Ridge, along with two other homes. A mandatory evacuation had been enforced.
No one, including the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Department, was allowed up the road. Don’s son and son-in-law got around the road-block and were able to save some photos, some tools, and some of Don’s paintings, before they were ordered off the hill. Everything else burned and melted.
I know that some of our neighbors and friends defied the law and stayed to fight the fire. They saved not just their own homes, but, as a result, the rest of Big Sur. Had they not made a stand and risked arrest and incarceration, the Fire would have won.
The Chalk Fire on the southcoast had different people in charge and they respected the will of the locals and allowed them to fight for their homes.
I urge you all to attend this meeting and have a voice in the way this community responds to disaster. Protect our rights to protect our property!
Joyce
7/6 2008 vs. 7/6 2009
Last year, the road had been closed to all traffic for the 3d day. This year, all campgrounds are full, and there are lots of people visiting establishments up and down the coast. It is so good to see. Keep on comin’ y’all.
I took a couple shots of the gardens at Ripplewood near the Big Sur Library today. Will post one or two tonight or tomorrow.
Personal update: Dakota continues to improve. While there is still a large “gap,” the inside is healing up nicely. No outside off a leash until completely healed. Mom was moved to a rehabilitation center Friday night. So far, she’s happy there. I don’t expect that to last.