Concow Rising 2009 Calendar

Support Concow fire survivors by buying a calendar full of information about California foothill native plants and fire prevention.
Calendar is $15 by mail to: CPP, 4096 Big Bend Rd, Yankee Hill, CA 95965.

Email: info@concowphoenix.org

Or make donations and view website at www.concowphoenix.org

Quarterly News & Fundraising

During this season of
thanks and giving,

..
we THANK YOU for your interest
in Concow Phoenix Project.

Some positive things are happening for fire survivors in Concow,

and we want you to know about them.

Concow Phoenix Project is co-sponsoring our
ADOPT-A-SHED program

with the Construction Management Department of CSUChico.

Student volunteers will be building 10 or
more weather-tight, secure, storage sheds in
Concow during the 3rd week of January.

Fire survivors really need a place to store their belongings and tools this winter.

CPP continues to raise funds for more sheds -- let's build another 10! Each shed costs $1500 to build.

Please consider a tax-deductible donation to our ADOPT-A-SHED program:

To donate any amount, make
your check out to : The University Foundation CSU
Chico
Please
mark your check "for" Chico-Concow Rebuild
2009.

Send to:
The University Foundation CSU Chico,
California State University Chico,
Chico, CA 95929-0305

..
( See the press release above for more details: "CPP-CSUC
PR-public title.")

Our BIG SEASONAL FUNDRAISER! In time for the new year -- get CPP's custom wall calendar, full of info about California foothill native
plants and fire prevention...with month by month recommendations and photos by Concow residents.

These calendars are beautiful and useful -- $10. each if picked up, $15 if mailed-- and will directly benefit Concow fire survivors.

Contact CPP at info@concowphoenix.org to order ASAP. Limited
quantity available for sale.

Thanks to our donors and our non-profit partner, North
Valley Community Foundation,
our first fund drive netted us enough money to begin
our efforts to help restore Concow.

We have made small grants to fire survivors to help them
buy construction materials.

We established a free, lending "Tool Bank" with donated tools at the Concow Campground.

Do you have extra tools? We need 'em!

Please contact info@concowphoenix.org.

We continue with local outreach and fun events.

Eat ice cream for Concow!

…
through the end of February. Bring the gang!

(See
the "BenJerryflyerwCoupons" attachment for Ben & Jerry's
coupons.)

Concow Phoenix Project always wants
volunteers. We will hook you up with a project you like to do, whether it's an hour a month or one day.

Contact
Tina at surfgirl@jps.net
to discuss,

CPP supports the Title 25 Citizens' Working Group, which has been
working with Concow citizens and several county departments.

We are planning a pilot program using a special building code for "Limited Density
Owner-Built Rural Dwellings".

Our hope is that this new code will allow residents to rebuild in an
affordable, creative and green way.
You may find yourself in the position of wanting to make charitable donations before year's end for tax
purposes -- or you may know someone in that position.

Please
remember Concow
Phoenix Project now.

Fire survivors are struggling to clean up their lands -- virtually no one has been
able to rebuild yet.

(See
the end of this email for how to donate.)

We're in it for the long haul, and we invite you to follow our progress and that of the land and community of Concow. Our web-site is a good
place to see images and read reports.

Check out www.concowphoenix.org

BIG THANKS to Morgan and Dawn of Las Tejedoras Web Design

for donating their work on our beautiful website.

>>>>>>>> EACH ONE REACH ONE !! <<<<<<<<<<

The best Christmas present you could give fire survivors would be to
become a donor -- or spread the word to others.

You can contribute to our general fund, which funds all CPP fire survivor
assistance other than the CSUC shed project.

You could talk to your neighbors, your work mates or to family and friends
about local folks who are now homeless or displaced due
to the destruction of their homes.

You could say that the gift you'd like this season is a contribution by them to
Concow Phoenix Project.
Tell them they can help. Tell them how.

Pass it on!

Here are two ways to make a
tax-deductible donation:

(1) To avoid the processing fee, YOU MAY SEND A
CHECK :

MAKE check to:

North Valley Community Foundation ..
!!! IMPORTANT
!!! Please write on your check:

.. .. ..
"for Concow Phoenix Project Fund."

MAIL check to:

North Valley Community Fund

3120 Cohasset Rd., Suite 8

Chico, CA 95973 ..
A receipt will be sent to the name and address printed on the
check.

..

(2) TO DONATE ONLINE, please enter this
URL in your browser:

http://nvcf.org/donate&list=..f452:0

Online donations are secure through Pay Pal.

A small processing fee will be
assessed per Pay Pal transaction. CPP/NVCF will mail you
a letter for receipt/tax purposes within 30 days.

All contributions are generous, regardless of
their size!
All contributions will go to help the good people of Concow rebuild their lives.

All contributions made to us through
North Valley Community Foundation are tax-deductible.

Thank you ..
CONCOW RISING!

Concow Adopt-a-Shed

Concow Adopt-a-Shed Project
Now, and thru February 2009, the Concow Phoenix Project is seeking tax-deductible community donations to assist with a CSUC/Concow Phoenix Project program to build secure, weatherproof storage sheds for Concow fire survivors. Construction starts in January 2009 by CSU-Chico Construction Management students . Adopt-a-Shed for $1500, or any donation you can afford. For more information check out www.concowphoenix.org, or contact us at info@concowphoenix.org

12-9 Concert to Benefit Concow

On December 9, 2008 is a benefit concert supporting:

• Butte County FSC - chipper program (Concow benefits)
• Seedlings to plant in burn areas (Concow benefits)
• Sawmill Peak Lookout for staffing and maintenance (Concow benefits, especially Laurel who staffs it on occassion)
• Paradise Performing Arts Center

The band is: The Christmas Jug Band and special guest Norton Buffalo. Norton owns a home in Paradise and was on tour with the Steve Miller Band during the fires. He wanted to participate in an event that would benefit our communities.

Please share this information and encourage folks to come out and have a great time in addition to supporting a worthy benefit.

Doors open at 6 pm and the shows starts at 7 pm.

Tickets are $25 - $35, there is an after party for an additional $20
For tickets go to: www.paradiseperformingarts.com

Butte College Horticultural Club - Seedlings and Plants

From Jim Hart, who also lost his place in the fire. He is in the horticulture club at Butte College and they are looking for donations and materials to grow seedlings for planting in spring 2009. Some plants are available now from the Horticulture Club.

I am in the horticulture club at Butte College and with the generous help of a local nursery, we have started a program to help replant Concow. So far we have propagated Coffeeberry cuttings and seedlings and next week we are going to start Cedar trees. We are going to try and have as many plants and trees as possible to give to fire victims by spring 2009. If all goes well and I can drum up funds and donations for supplies, it will be on an ongoing basis. If you find any nursery supplies (i.e. coffee cans, pots, soil, fertilizers, tools, etc) or people that would like to help plant when the time comes.

Butte College Horticulture Dept. has many plants, redwoods, conifers (pines) for very very cheap (almost cheaper than someone would pay for the pot that it is planted in). Someone is always there Mon-Fri 8-5.

We are growing coffeeberry plants, they're a good native, fire and deer deterrant and privacy bush. They shoould be ready by spring. Next week we are going to start some cedar trees. We are doing this at Spring Fever Nursery on Wendy Way near Lunt road and hwy 70. The owners name is Dave Warther and his nursery is open by appointment. His number is 534-1556. If anyone makes an appt. they are more than welcome to see what we have going in the green houses as well as have the opportunity to see or purchase hardy exotic plants that grow here. (mine are still alive and that is saying alot).

Butte College has 6-8 ft Jeffery Pines & Redwoods That are very cheapThere are many other conifers as well. There are many many landscape, and house plants. There is someone glad to help anyone from Concow, Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00, ask for Heather or Tip. If you mention that I sent you and that you were in the fire, they may give you a good discount. (it depends on how mad I make them that day or if my homework is late).

Jim Hart

12-11 Community Meeting - Wildflower seeds, seedlings, Title 25

COMMUNITY MEETING

Thursday, December 11th 7 p.m.

at

Yankee Hill Grange

4122 Big Bend Road

· Update on Title 25 Owner Built - Limited Density Rural Bldg code

· FREE Wildflower Seed – get your free one pound bag

· Learn how to prune returning vegetation to become trees vs. bushes.

· Update on Seedlings – we hope to hand out seedlings at this meeting, however, if the order is not ready in time, we’ll announce when we’ll have a tree give-a-way.

Needs Assessment for Construction Project

Construction project ’Needs Assessment’

To: Concow Fire Survivors Who Lost Buildings in the Fire
From: Concow Phoenix Project
Deadline: November 15 - 5pm

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN RECEIVING FREE HELP

FOR A SMALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ON YOUR PROPERTY?

Concow Phoenix Project (CPP) is planning a collaborative program with CSUChico (CSUC) to provide a limited number of ALL-EXPENSES-PAID (FREE), SMALL construction projects to eligible Concow fire survivors. CPP wants to know what type of projects survivors are interested in.

YOU MUST BE A CONCOW RESIDENT WHO LOST BUILDINGS IN THE JULY 2008 CONCOW FIRE.

Your response will help to make this program possible. ttt

Please reply, if interested !!!

(see where to reply, below)

Please take a moment to inform at least one friend or neighbor about this program.

Please respond by 5pm, Saturday, NOV. 15

re. your interest.

Your reply is not a commitment from you or from CPP or CSUC to build the project.

Please supply the following info when you reply:

1) I am interested in the following construction projects, in order of preference (1=most preferred). If you are not interested in a particular structure, do not give it a number.

(draw a line thru it if responding by mail).

___ a secure, lockable, weather-proof tool shed, no larger than 10'x12'

___ a shelter for your animals, no larger than 10'x12'

___ a retaining wall, not to be used for future residential building

___ other small construction project _________________________________________________

2) YES / NO: I would be willing to fill out a Concow Phoenix Project application later in November, giving some personal, confidential info about my needs, resources, address, and property losses. This info will not be shared with any group other than CPP & will be used only to analyze applications.

3) YES / NO: I lost buildings in Concow due to the Butte Lightning Complex Fire on July 7-14.

4) Name: _________________________________. Tel. or other way to contact you _________________.

YOU CAN RESPOND BY:

email to: info@concowphoenix.org -- include all info requested in 1-4 above

mail to: 4096 Big Bend Rd., Yankee Hill, CA 95965

OR

telephone to: 342-1034, press 3 –- if no one answers, please leave your name, tel. , and the info in 1-4 above, as well as the best time to contact you.

Concow Phoenix Project is a grassroots organization dedicated to the recovery of the community and land of the Concow basin after the Butte Lightning Complex Fires of July 2008. Our mission is to facilitate and support sustainability, rebuilding, community and fundraising. Our goal is to maximize resources for fire survivors who need them. Please see our web site for other fire recovery info: www.concowphoenix.org

once this was home

things NOT to say to a fire survivor

These remarks have actually been made to fire survivors from Concow. 

They vary, of course, in their degree of egregiousness, but all should be avoided if you want to keep your compassion quota high.

*I know it doesn't seem like it right now, but often the house you build after one is destroyed is better.

 (what could be "better" than the simple little cabin you built with your own hands where you birthed your baby 31 years ago; that had cool old windows dragged out of a dumpster in San Francisco 35 years ago, a big cedar deck that your friend designed and made and where you delighted to sleep..summer or winter, a tile counter you designed and made yourself in the kitchen, an old clawfoot bath tub on the back porch with water you piped half a mile down the mountain side, heated by an on-demand water heater? where nearly everything was gathered second-hand and had the personality and sometimes the personal memories to go with it; except of course, for the poles you felled and stripped yourself and the sugar pine shakes you split yourself and laid up just so? where every plank and every stone had a story and that story was of your youth and your maturing?)

*Oh, well, it's all in here (cue gesture of hand to heart)

 (this said to a woman who had lost all her photos of herself and her 2 daughters growing up along with everything else)

*At least the fire cleaned out all those pot farmers.

(this said to a retired woman of 65 who had lost her only home of 35 years)

*It's time to move on

 (Who says?) (also:DUH?) (not to mention: has this person not heard of how important grieving what is lost is to doing just that?) 

*Fire is cleansing

*It will all come back.

 (this referring to the forest) 

Obviously this person did not study succession, nor do they even know how long it takes conifers to reach 100 feet and more in height. Of course, nature springs eternal, but no one reading this will ever see Concow as it was before 6 July, 2008..none of us will live that long.

Contact Concow Phoenix Project

www.concowphoenix.org
Email info@concowphoenix.org

home mani padme home

this is from Sarah and Cal's site, when they decided to come home from China after finding out about the Concow fire...

home mani padme home

The title of this post is a pun on the Buddhist chant OM MANI PADME (paymay) HUNG,

which translates something like: the jewel in the heart of the lotus.These lotuses are blooming in 4 pots on the rooftop terrace of our hotel in Beijing.

I took these photos the morning of the evening that I found out that the fires that had been threatening my home land and which had been considered 100% contained had kicked up again, carried by strong winds.
It is unknown at this time whether any of the cabins on our 50 acres still stand. It is unlikely.
So, we are heading home.
The thing about the lotus is that it is this exquisitely beautiful flower that grows out of the mud. Thus the imagery. Even mud can give rise to beauty. Even catastrophe can give rise to...?

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