THE ROOF IS ON FIRE

This week was the experience I had been looking forward to for the past 6 months. This week we were able to conduct controlled burns in 2 locations. Myself, Adam, Alyse and JJ all drove to the Natchez Trace Parkway and worked with them on 4 different burns throughout the week. The other 5 stayed at Noxubee and burned portions of the wildlife refuge. It was an AMAZING experience. We were able to work in all areas of operation for a controlled burn: ignition, holding, and engine. Ignition is the first step to a prescribed burn, as this is the group that puts fire on the ground. Holding is in charge of making sure the fire stays controlled in the area designated, and ensures that the fire does not travel beyond that point. and the engines work to provide water if needed to put out catfaces (holes in trees that begin to burn), snags (dead trees), and other hazards that may be dangerous. It was really fun to learn about fire behavior and the logistical side of burning. This week we may be splitting up again to travel to Tennessee to burn there, but depending upon the weather and other issues this may not happen. The weather here has been beautiful! 70-75 degrees, sunny, and relatively dry. I am currently sitting outside relaxing in the sun on the Mississippi State campus. It's great and I can't believe it's only February. I hope it stays like this for awhile.

Well...here are a few pictures from this past week. More updates to come soon!

PHOTOS

Here are some photos. The fence we built covered in snow, a pet snake, RCW trees, and other scenery

Noxubee Beautiful

Day 155: After 2 weeks of working for the United Way and their affiliates, we have arrived in Brooksville, MS to the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge. It’s amazing here! We are stationed in the middle of a 70,000-acre refuge full of animals, beautiful trees and lookouts, and a cheerful group of employees. Everyone who works here has been welcoming and excited about our stay here. Since being here I have seen a bald eagle, alligator, many deer, rabbit, and many birds. It’s incredible how peaceful and calm it is here. When you walk outside you hear nothing but the sound of nature. At night it is a little creepy, and I can’t say that I’ve left the house to explore at night, but I appreciate the seclusion from the noisy world I’m used to.

At United Way we completed several small projects at many organizations. We painted the interior and sign of We Care, a nonprofit that provides emergency funding for resident sin the area. We also stripped wallpaper and painted a bathroom at the Warren County Children’s Shelter and painted the interior of the Good Shepard Community Center (complete with Winnie the Pooh themed colors “fluff and stuff” and “pooh bear yellow”), which used to be a high school. Overall it was nice to be on campus and work in the community that has been so accommodating and welcoming to us. While on campus we also attended the Chili Cookoff where local chefs cooked various kinds of chili and sold it to raise money for the Children’s shelter. It was fun and great to eat so much yummy food!

The past week at Noxubee was great, as we were introduced to the refuge and got to know the staff. Amber and I worked to retile a bathroom and help out with getting supplies “in town” for various projects we will work out when we cannot work outside. Most of my team worked on raking around RCW (Red Cockaded Woodpecker) trees to get ready for the prescribed burning we will be doing once the weather gets a bit warmer. The RCW is an endangered species in the refuge and by burning around their habitat we will allow for new growth of trees for colonies of RCWs to make. We are all hoping to start burning soon, but are enjoying the other work we have been doing on the refuge. I hope to start hiking every weekend, as Amber and I have decided to challenge ourselves with photography over the next 8 weeks.

Here are some pictures of our housing, and some of the work we have done this week….I’m so pumped to be here!