HALF-DAY Weed Trimmer and Mower Workday

NOTE:
THIS WORKDAY STARTS EARLY at 8 AM and ENDS EARLY at 12 PM to avoid some of the HEAT.

Help tame Falls Lake Trail's summer overgrowth Saturday, July 12th, 2025.

The MAJOR GOAL of this workday will be to run weed trimmers and DR mowers on sections of the trail known to have excessive overgrowth during the summer months.

Enjoy a complimentary biscuit and coffee before a short safety and organizational briefing after which we will disperse to tend to various sections of the trail.

MEETING LOCATION: Meet at the outside edge of the Food Lion parking lot at the intersection of Sherron/Patterson Road and Highway 98. The address is 121 Sherron Rd., Durham, NC 27703. GPS: 35.974617,-78.793

RSVP: Please RSVP to **jdbrewer104@gmail.com** or 919-900-0483 by July 9th for this event.

BAD WEATHER POLICY: If the workday is cancelled due to bad weather a mass email will be sent by 11:00 PM the night before the workday to those who have RSVP'ed as described above.

If your MST/FLTF weed trimmer needs maintenance please contact Dan Jonsen ASAP! (dejonsen@gmail.com FLT Section 11E Task Force Leader, Weed trimmer maintenance/repair)

Teams of 3-4 volunteers will be assembled for these tasks with 2 weed trimmers on each team. You are welcome to bring your own weed trimmer from home, however, anybody using a weed trimmer will need to wear safety glasses, wear long pants, gloves and have hearing protection.

If you are new to trail work please let us know and we will pair you with an experienced volunteer.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO PROVIDE:
Work clothes and solid shoes or hiking boots.
Proper Clothing for the Weather
Plenty of water
Work gloves, if you have them (If not, we have some)
Safety glasses and hearing protection if you are going to operate or be near a weed trimmer and/or mower.

We have the tools that will be needed except for WEED TRIMMERS. Bring your own.

WORK SAFELY: This is the most important thing, and our main goal.
In particular:

• Use tools carefully. If you do not know how to use a particular tool, or what to do in a particular situation please ask. Do not work too close together and be careful with rakes, shovels, and mattocks to avoid hitting the person next to you. When walking past another volunteer, please say something so they know you are there. Do not lift anything heavier than you can comfortably lift.
• Know you own limits. This is not a race. We will be working on and maintaining this trail for years to come. Take plenty of breaks. Make sure to drink plenty of water.
• Beware of hazards. There are holes in the ground to step in, branches to trip over, thorns, wasps, poison ivy (fortunately not too much of that on these segments of trail), ticks, chiggers, and other hazards. Please remain alert and be cautious.

Have a good time. This is a scenic area. There are box turtles, heron, woodpeckers, hawks, deer, beaver, and other wildlife in this area as well as scenic views of the lake.

Thanks to:

• Great Outdoor Provision Company for sponsoring our breakfast from Chick-Fil-A for our Saturday workdays.
• Starbucks off Falls of Neuse Road and Durant Road for the coffee.
• REI Co-op, whose stewardship grants support FMST volunteer trail crews, add new miles of footpath, and improve signage helping more people find and follow the MST.

To be added to the official MST email notification list to receive Falls Lake Trail's workday announcements and details email bbrown@mountainstoseatrail.org.