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Planting for Success: 2021 Recap

by Rick Forrester
FLMSP Reforestation Leader

With all the issues in our world this past year, it is nice to know we were able to safely work and socially distance down on the trail to accomplish our 2021 goal of planting over 300 native Ohio trees and shrubs. Nineteen different species were planted this year and the total number of volunteers hours logged on reforestation was 143. Trees and shrubs were purchased early in the year from Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and FLMSP also received a generous donation of oak trees from the Ohio Valley Forestry Fellowship. Trees and shrubs were potted up April 11 for planting late in the year. Four areas were targeted for planting: Corwin (32 mile marker where a large number of dead ash trees had been removed), north of Grandin (36mm), south of Fosters (38 mm), and south of Beech Road (46 mm). Planting took place over thirteen fun work sessions which included home-made cookies and occasional railroad and sea shanty music.

The following tree and shrub species were planted: 2021 tree planting partially loaded truck 400

Buttonbush -3	Ninebark – 8
Black Cherry – 25	Oak, Burr – 5
White Flowering Dogwood - 32	Oak, Red – 35
Elderberry – 25	Oak, Swamp White – 47
Hazelnut – 5	Redbud – 35
Honeylocust -5	Shadblow Serviceberry – 25
Maple, Red – 3	Spice bush – 3
Maple, Silver – 40	Sycamore – 4
Maple, Sugar – 3	Tulip Poplar - 5
Nannyberry- 5	Total trees and shrubs - 313

As always, the species planted were in accordance with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Guidelines for Native Ohio Tree, Low-growing Tree and Shrub, and Grass Species Suitable for Planting within 1000 feet of State Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers.

Safe Trails: Thank You, Friends!

by Erick Wikum

Flashing stop

On November 14, the Friends of the Little Miami State Park held its 2021 annual meeting at the Christian Waldschmidt Homestead Museum in Camp Dennison, in sight of the Little Miami Scenic Trail. President Steve Murphy displayed a list of the Friends’ priorities, a list topped by safety. Murphy recounted several of the Friends’ recent safety-related initiatives including installing flashing, solar-powered stop signs to warn trail users approaching a few high-risk intersections.

The progress that FLMSP has made to make the trail safer, especially over the past two years, is hard to miss. In addition to the aforementioned flashing stop signs, the Friends contributed to trail crossing signs to alert motorists and to reflective paint “ladders” across intersecting roads. The Friends also introduced a trail sentinel program. Sentinels patrol the trail, identifying and reporting dangers and helping trail users who need assistance.

By supporting FLMSP, you can play a role in its ongoing trail safety effort. Here are three ways you can help.

Join: Click here to become a member of the Friends and to donate towards its mission.
Volunteer: Click here to volunteer to assist the Friends, whether on or off of the trail.
Give thanks: Email a thank you note to the Friends at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We are so fortunate to have a resource like the Little Miami Scenic Trail. The Friends’ mission is to ensure that we not only can enjoy the trail, but can enjoy it safely. Thank you, Friends!

November 2021

Okay to not be Okay

People

Image source: https://www.globalmentalhealth.org/

by Erick Wikum

Let’s take a step off of the Little Miami Scenic Trail (we’ll return soon enough) to consider a critically important topic—mental health. During this past summer’s Olympic Games, Simone Biles’s very public withdrawal from most of her gymnastics events highlighted the pressure that she and all athletes face. Her issues led Michael Phelps, the winner of 28 Olympic medals who has experienced mental health struggles of his own, to remind viewers that “it’s okay to not be okay.” In an interview after winning a gold medal, swimmer Caeleb Dressel fought back tears as he noted that the past year had been very difficult.

Let’s face it; the pandemic has been hard for all of us. Our “new normal”—whether working or attending school from home or limiting social engagements and family visits—is anything but normal. News of more dangerous variants and fresh outbreaks coupled with concern for our friends and loved ones takes a real emotional toll. We wonder when and even if this plague will end.

The UK Mental Health Foundation has published a pamphlet (available at this link) that includes the following 10 tips for looking after your mental health:

1. Talk about your feelings
2. Keep active
3. Eat well
4. Drink sensibly
5. Keep in touch (with family and friends)
6. Ask for help
7. Take a break
8. Do something you’re good at
9. Accept who you are
10. Care for others

Perhaps number 6, asking for help, is the most important of these tips and the most difficult to do. Admitting you need help is not easy, but doing so is a sign of strength and not weakness. It is okay to say you’re not okay; it is okay to admit you cannot go it alone.

The record more than 2 million people who availed themselves of the Little Miami Scenic Trail last year know the importance of number 2, keeping active. Exercise is good medicine, as is enjoying the sights and sounds of the river, vegetation and wildlife. The trail can play a role in your overall mental health plan. Be safe and be well!

October 2021

Safe Trails: Close Shave

cyclistwalkers 600

by Erick Wikum

When I get ready in the morning, I value a close shave. When using the Little Miami Scenic Trail, though, a close shave is one of the last things I want to experience.

I recently rode my bike through South Lebanon and east through Morrow. In Morrow, I decided to take the road rather than the trail. I stopped at a stop sign before rejoining the trail at the bridge. A sixth sense told me to check very carefully before proceeding, and it is a good thing I did. A bicyclist emerged from the bridge at a very high rate of speed and blew through the stop sign. I hate to even think about the collision that would have resulted had I continued without pausing.

Shortly thereafter, I went for a hike on the trail. As I approached two walkers going in the opposite direction, first one and then two bicyclists queued up behind the pair of walkers, waiting for me to clear before passing. In the meanwhile, a third bicyclist approached, passed the first two bicyclists and squeezed through the narrow gap between the walkers and me at full speed. The two bicyclists who had slowed had a few choice words for the other cyclist, and with good reason.

What’s the lesson here? Close calls can happen to anyone at any time, so when using the trail, be alert and expect the unexpected. Slow down when approaching others and wait to pass until it is safe to do so. Adjust your speed to avoid passing more than one other party at a time.

I feel fortunate that these two close shaves were just that, close shaves, and not accidents. Stay safe on the trail and save close shaves and other such activities for your morning routine.

Just Tooling Around: Foster Cache Makeover

Over the course of several weeks, FLMSP's tool cache at Foster got an Extreme Makeover!

Before: Leaky, moldy walls
2021.10 FosterCacheMakeover moldy walls before 600

First step was to take everything out:
2021.10 FosterCacheMakeover everything out 600

Next, two coats--6 gallons--of masonry paint:
2021.10 FosterCacheMakeover painting 600

The old falling-apart shelving unit was replaced with a stainless steel five-rack unit, old railroad electrical cables were cut off at ground level (trip hazard), rocks were removed from the old gravel, and pea gravel was added to make a nicer walking surface.

Here's Carl rewiring the solar panel light fixture:
2021.10 FosterCacheMakeover rewiring solar light 600