The Valley Fire was not only unprecedented in its speed and wildness, it was also unusually hot. So hot, in fact, that most of the pine and fir trees that would naturally re-seed themselves after a typical forest fire, simply aren’t doing that. The seeds that would be activated by an ordinary fire were destroyed by this one; and in some areas, the heat scorched and depleted the soil as well. If Harbin’s forests are to regrow, therefore, they need to be physically replanted – and that is a huge, unpredictable, labor-intensive, and expensive undertaking. But with your help now, we can bring back our forests as soon as possible. | |
The Valley Fire burned so much more than Harbin’s buildings and infrastructure: it also destroyed huge swaths of our landscape. Over 11,000 acres of Harbin forests were burned – an estimated total of more than a half-million trees! Many familiar vistas were affected, including whole hillsides and watersheds, and virtually all the big, beautiful shade trees around our pools and Mainside area. It’s heartbreaking, really. But the truth is that vast areas of Harbin today bear little resemblance to the lush, leafy landscapes you may remember and love; and these areas need help to regrow. | |
Fortunately, help came to us early, in the form of a professional consulting forester. This gentleman angel is a long-time Harbin guest who has been generously donating most of his time and considerable expertise to help us better understand the full ecological impact of the fire, and to create a comprehensive plan, and strategy, for the repair and renewal of our forests and other natural resources. | |
For the past year, we’ve been following his advice and working diligently – and quite successfully – to begin repairing and restoring Harbin’s environment. Already we’ve cleared most of the dead wood from around our Mainside area, and begun to cut trails into Harbin’s steep, surrounding hillsides to give us easier access to more and more of the burned land. We’ve purchased and planted 20,000 new Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine trees along Harbin Springs Road, and 30,000 trees on our Diamond D property. And quite remarkably, we’ve done – and will continue to do – all this new planting without using the chemical herbicides that virtually all large-scale reforestation relies on. It’s a more labor-intensive and expensive process, but it’s also the only way that makes sense for Harbin: restoring our trees while preserving the wellbeing of our soil, our groundwater, and our entire biome | |
The environmental work we’ve done around Harbin so far is significant – but really just the beginning of a much more extensive and perhaps decade-long process. And so we’ve created a new campaign to help fund the restoration of Harbin’s environment: Harbin’s Project for the Land, Water and Trees. The purpose of this 5-to-10 year project is to help us fully restore the safety, beauty, and sustained viability of Harbin’s beloved natural environment. Reforestation is one of the most significant steps of this project (it directly impacts both the land and our precious water) – and it’s the step we’re inviting and encouraging you to take with us now. | |
Click here to learn how you can help. You’ll find a form that allows you to support the planting of new Harbin trees. Whether you sponsor a single seedling or a whole acre of new Harbin forest (or more!), your loving donation will help us to re-tree Harbin’s landscape, maintain its clean air, protect its soil and water, support its wildlife, and preserve its safe, peaceful, beautiful ecosystem for decades to come. Please click here to donate. | |
| Water, Power, Food, and More | Our major rebuilding news this month – and good news it is – focuses on Harbin’s water system, its power supply, and new County permitting that allows us to offer food service when we reopen. Click here for the details. | |
In our two most recent newsletters, we introduced you to Julie and Sajjad, the long-time Managing Directors who are overseeing Harbin’s redesign and rebuild. Today, we begin introducing our four newer MDs. These are the managers who are tasked with overseeing Harbin’s daily operations, preparing for our opening, and guiding Harbin into its future. Here, meet Will Erme. | | |
On Track To Open October 4! | It’s the question on everyone’s mind, and the answer is: Yes, we’re still anticipating opening Harbin to guests on October 4. That date is dependent, of course, on many factors falling into place, and could therefore still change. So be hopeful, but don’t make firm plans. And please resist the urge to call us to ask questions or make reservations: we know you’re eager, but we’re not ready for that yet. When we are, we’ll let you know through e-mail, our website, and social media. What we are ready for, right now, is your help reforesting our hillsides. Please click here to find out how you can sponsor new Harbin trees. | |
Harbin Hot Springs, P.O. Box 782, Middletown, CA 95461 | | |
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