Greenfire News: July, 2001
By July 12, the grass at Greenfire was waist-high in places, so the pivots were shut down. The hand-and wheel-irrigation lines continue to operate, but the irrigation program in general clearly demonstrates that a natural, self-sustaining system is far better for all involved: WWP, wildlife and natural systems.

Resistance to Greenfire is keen in some corners. Livestock interests have attempted to block WWP's grant proposals. Inflammatory signs have been posted on Greenfire fenceposts. Opponents have even resorted to littering the driveway with nails, resulting in a rash of flat tires. I think some interests fear we're going to open the eyes of the public. With any luck, we may do just that.

 Stew and Willow

internsFor years, WWP has fought to have exclosures established to demonstrate the potential for watersheds and uplands recovery. With the Greenfire preserve, we have an ideal opportunity to show what can happen to public lands when livestock grazing is eliminated. And with all the allotments tied to the Greenfire property, we can show the same results on nearly 50,000 acres of federal lands.

In Greenfire, we also have the authority to acquire more grazing permits and attach them to the preserve for retirement.

Our long-term goal at Greenfire is to create a living model that we and others can learn from. For this to happen, we need only to look to our name for inspiration and guidance in our restoration decisions.

Greenfire. May it always remind us to think like a mountain.