| Thanks to Alistair Bleifuss of the Creek Stewardship Program of Santa Rosa for arranging for our official Ours To Protect sign, now on the fence along Spirit Creek, adjacent to our east parking lot. Pictured left to right are Tom Ford; Evan Dow-Williamson, Facility Manager; Michelle Keip, Lead Creek Steward; and Jeanne Murphy.
Have you noticed these signs around Santa Rosa where there are bridges over our creeks? Research shows that people are more likely to care for creeks and other forms in nature if they can name them. What creek watershed do you live in?
You're invited to these Spirit Creek Stewardship opportunities in 2012:
- Sunday March 25 - Spring Equinox Blessing & Creek Care, 1 to 4 pm
- Sat. July 21 - Clean Our Green, 1 to 4 pm
- Sat. Oct. 6 - Sixth Annual Spirit Creek Day, 1 to 4 pm,
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"Clean Our Green" expands our connections with Spirit Creek
 About 20 enthusiastic adults and kids (some of them shown here) showed up to tend Spirit Creek for the "Clean Our Green" event on July 16. Besides our regular creek clean-up, this time the group's first activity was to observe and appreciate the signs of progress of our efforts over the past 5 years stewarding Spirit Creek. This sparked conversation about dynamics between native and invasive plants and animals, wilderness corridors, the joys of being in nature and more. We envisioned a dedicated network of creek stewards in groups like ours, all "adopting" a stretch of creek to care for and together being responsible for the 92 miles of creeks in Santa Rosa. Other highlights of the event were Stephanie Lennox's joyful sharing of environmental education as we worked and Randy Urry's dip with nets into the headwaters which produced lots of bugs and "Surprise!" an abundance of crawdads hiding in the mud. Randy's sifting screens and magnifying glasses extended our lively hands-on inquiry into the macro invertebrates of Spirit Creek. Everyone agreed we want to have more of this kind of learning at our events in the future.
Reminder: Everyone's invited to the Spirit Creek Day Visioning meeting on Sunday July 31, 12:45 to 2pm in room 3. Come to be part of preparing for our 5th Annual Spirit Creek Day on Oct. 1 or contact me, Michelle Keip, if you can't come to the meeting but want to participate at 544-2673 or
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Sunday July 31, 12:45 to 2 pm, Room 3
 Everyone's invited to be part of visioning and preparing for Spirit Creek Day in October. This will be our fifth annual celebration, dedicated to stewarding our "mostly water" earth home. Our Blessing at the Wellspring and Creek Theater were highlights last year. Come help realize Spirit Creek Day 2011 at this catalytic meeting. Questions? Contact lead steward Michelle Keip at 544-2673 or
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| Everyone is Welcome to "Clean Our Green" Saturday, July 16, 1 to 4pm
 Spirit Creek needs our caring attention. Join kindred stewards for joyful collective work: creek clean-up, raking, and weeding.
All ages are welcome. Come when you can.
Stephanie Lennox, environmental educator, will be leading the Spirit Creek Clean-up Walk. She brings a great love and understanding of watersheds and the flora and fauna who reside within. Be sure to bring the children for this hands-on service and learning opportunity.
Bring gloves and water. Bags and trash pickers provided for creek clean-up.
FREE Roundtable Pizza donated for your volunteer efforts.
 Spirit Creek, the headwaters of irwin Creek
Meet in the north parking lot of the
Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa
2075 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa 95401
The Spirit Creek Stewardship is in collaboration with the Creek Stewardship Program of the City of Santa Rosa and the Sonoma County Water Agency.
More info? Please contact
Michelle Keip
Lead Creek Steward
707-544-2673
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| Our Spirit Creek Spring Equinox event happened on Sunday, March 20! The rain was light enough that some brave souls showed up for us to clean the entire length of the creek. Sanna and the Atchisons' started us off with a sweet ceremony with approx 25 participating. When the work began, our numbers dwindled to about 10 and the day ended with 6, pizza included! No one showed up for garden care. We got some weeding done in the demo shade garden and this week Alistair is picking up the pile of limbs that were in the north parking lot for the past several months, with the pile growing from the many limbs blown down by the storm on Saturday.
May you be happy, well and at peace.
Love,
Michelle Keip, RN
Lead Creek Steward
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 Spirit Creek Clean-up and Spring Equinox Blessing
Sunday, March 20, 1 to 4 pm.
To honor the season of new life, we'll enjoy singing with the Atchison family—Pam, Ron, Patrick, and Lila—followed by a sweet blessing ceremony by Sanna Rose, RScP. Stephanie Lennox, eco-educator, will lead our creek walk and clean-up for fun, hands-on learning and service. Pick from a variety of tasks and invite your friends and family. All ages welcome. Volunteers celebrate work well done with treats donated by local businesses. Bring gloves and water. Clean-up supplies are provided. Call Michelle Keip at 544-2673 for details.
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