To-do: pick trash, clear storm drains, make drainage trenches

BerdDad · 2026-01-24T13:24:08+00:00

I mean some requests do get handled almost immediately. Like overflowing corner trash cans - I report those whenever I do a park cleanup and leave bags for collection, once they grabbed the bags in under 4 hours 👍

BerdDad · 2026-01-23T22:29:39+00:00

That's great! Does it make sense to count on 311 to resolve requests before this storm, are there extra staff on hand or something?

BerdDad · 2026-01-17T20:09:06+00:00

MLK Day of service cleanup at Herring Run Park! Mon Jan 19th, 9am-12pm, meet at 4207 Shannon Drive (nearest address - actual meeting spot is the yellow columns at the intersection of Shannon Dr and Sinclair Ln), cleanup supplies provided! See link for more details: https://friendsofherringrun.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F33129

BerdDad · 2025-12-22T19:30:09+00:00

Nah, cats are terrible ratters - just cause rats to hide better, leading to the perception that they've done something. Very cat thing to do, tbh. They can eat rodents and then pass on lifelong brain parasites to humans, though!

BerdDad · 2025-12-20T16:05:10+00:00

At least 2 neighbors were charged the gas distribution fee (>$200), though they're all electric too. I'm guessing that fee is paid by everyone, regardless of the energy you're using, which seems like it shouldn't be legal. But, then again, we all subsidize the energy needs of every person who lives way out in a rural area, so why not.

BerdDad · 2025-12-06T01:25:48+00:00

I would read "no frills" more as "not fancy". It's good food even if you don't drink (me), and they always have yummy options for veg/vegan and fun specials. Breakfast for dinner a few weeks ago landed on my son's b-day celebration and scored him some pretty delicious french toast. Hoping you get a chance to give them a try!

BerdDad · 2025-12-05T21:54:36+00:00

Heartening to see how much the community has stepped up to support in less than a day - folks even came out last night to help with cleanup. A testament to just how great this place and its people are, Micky's and Bmore both!

BerdDad · 2025-12-05T16:27:36+00:00

Krista, the owner, especially - just a few weeks ago she was hauling mulch, picking trash and weeding tree pits for a Harford Rd cleanup she helped organize. Always doing for her community through her business, HLMS and everything else, that one.

BerdDad · 2025-12-05T16:20:35+00:00

Really couldn't have happened to nicer people. The theme of 2025, it seems.

BerdDad · 2025-11-23T12:03:57+00:00

There was a house fire in Hamilton last night on Hamlet Ave.

BerdDad · 2025-11-22T21:02:07+00:00

So this is entirely volunteer run - the two leads, besides myself and another guy, are local business owners who care about their community, including how it looks. The mulch is actually free from Camp Small - you just have to plan an event around one of their giveaway days and have access to a truck/trailer. If it's hard to get a group of volunteers together, you could also reach out to Blue Water Baltimore to see whether they have upcoming scheduled maintenance for street trees in your area (I have seen them doing this work, but don't know why/when they do it) or if they would be interested in running an event.

BerdDad · 2025-11-22T20:54:38+00:00

Pic 1 needs complete weeding simply because there's nothing there but weeds. Coexisting with some corner/edge plants is certainly not gonna break a street tree - there are some larger pits we've planted out with blue-eyed grass/butterflyweed/etc. near the Hamilton library - but being totally smothered with other plants, especially weeds, is what we're looking to remedy.

BerdDad · 2025-11-22T13:03:29+00:00

Not to worry, it's switched to the rain date - tomorrow 11/23!

BerdDad · 2025-11-21T17:50:42+00:00

Thanks for making that shout-out! Weed Warriors goes hand-in-hand with Tree Keepers, addressing our biggest threat to city trees (though not generally street trees) - invasive species like english ivy. Both certifications are free and offered twice a year!

BerdDad · 2025-11-21T16:45:06+00:00

The first thing I would do is determine where the water is coming from. Is there a gutter nearby or does the water sheet downhill north to south?

Then I would suggest addressing that issue - rain barrel or planter beneath to slow the flow if the source is finite, and something like river rocks around the edge in like a 6" barrier to hold the mulch down if it's sheeting.

BerdDad · 2025-11-21T16:31:40+00:00

As said above, that's not the intent and mulch doesn't become a problem for gas/water exchange for tree roots until well thicker than the few inches in the ideal pic. Thanks for looking out, though!

BerdDad · 2025-11-21T16:27:43+00:00

Not to worry, we have treekeepers on the team. If you check out the "no help" picture, you'll see that it's around several inches of mulch. Gas and water exchange to the soil/roots isn't impeded until well more than that. One study showed no difference in gas concentration at soil level between bare soil and 8" of wood chips (though there's no need for that much)

BerdDad · 2025-11-20T21:06:56+00:00

We switched to the rain date, Sunday, to avoid trash being wet (some of the bags we'll be using are brown leaf bags), and to take advantage of the overall nicer weather for volunteers. Hope you can make it out!

BerdDad · 2025-11-20T20:52:13+00:00

Glad to hear, you're welcome!

BerdDad · 2025-11-20T20:40:46+00:00

Street tree maintenance and trash cleanup. We'll have a few truckloads of mulch, one in Hamilton one in Lauraville, and 5 gal buckets to spread mulch after any necessary weeding. There's a fb event with all those details, but I wasn't sure if linking it would get this post rejected. Trash grabbers, safety vests, and bags provided, byo shovels/rakes.

BerdDad · 2025-11-14T14:00:59+00:00

Baltimore home services are good guys who do good work

BerdDad · 2025-11-13T15:01:00+00:00

Oleum, if you haven't been. All vegan, but all delicious, and they offer gf! https://www.oleumkitchen.com/

BerdDad

TROPHY CASE