After a great hike in New Mexico, exploring the Gila Cliff Dwellings, we stopped to get some delicious homemade ice cream and a few postcards. Whilst we were slumping in the shade we met a couple and got to talking. We told them about TGQ and looking for volunteer opportunities and they immediately recommended the Appleton-Whittel Research Ranch. Luckily we were heading to a spot close by, so it fitted in nicely with our route. We are so happy that we managed to call in and stay for a few days, helping out, because this is a very special place.
Cristina, Suzanne, and Ben, along with Ben's nephew Cody, and his horde of kids, made us feel very welcome.
Over two days Tris was able to help by reducing, dead wooding and reshaping a large Juniper tree, and two smaller ones, making a huge mess which Ben and Cody had to clean up for me (haha).
Zora broke out her mad marine skillz, dusted off her experience with fresh water habitats, and helped by identifying and researching algae and pond grasses, transplanting grass plugs onto bare parts of the bank, and assisting with the set up for a conference starting on the weekend.
It was great working here, and you should all check out the website link below, or better yet go there and volunteer, and find out for yourself how fun these people are, how beautiful the 8,000 acre grasslands are, and how important their research is!
