Giving Back to Our Canyon—One Branch at a Time
One of the things I love most about living near 32nd Street Canyon is having this beautiful natural space practically in my backyard. So when I heard about a volunteer cleanup to help reduce wildfire risk, I was genuinely excited to spend my weekend pitching in.
The event was organized by the Greater Golden Hill Fire Safe Council, in partnership with the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department and the Wildland Urban Interface Fire & Rescue team. It took a tremendous amount of planning to pull everything together, and Greater Golden Hill Fire Safe Council Chair Susan Swisher, along with the Environmental Services team, deserves a huge thank-you for making it happen.
The mission was to create defensible space by removing invasive, highly flammable plants from the canyon under the guidance of a Restoration Ecologist. Defensible space is the buffer around natural areas that helps slow the spread of wildfire, giving firefighters a better chance to protect nearby homes and neighborhoods. Just as importantly, removing these invasive species creates room for native plants and wildlife to return, helping restore the canyon's natural ecosystem.
We spent the morning cutting, dragging, and stacking everything from poisonous castor bean and Brazilian pepper to one-eyed wattle and koelreuteria. It was definitely a workout—but the kind where you go home tired in the best possible way.
By the end of the event, volunteers had removed an incredible six tons of invasive vegetation. Seeing those massive piles ready to be hauled away made all the sore muscles feel completely worth it.
More than anything, though, I loved working alongside neighbors who care just as deeply about this canyon as I do. It's easy to wonder if one weekend can really make a difference—but when dozens of people show up, work hard, laugh together, and leave the canyon a little safer and a little healthier than they found it, the answer is a definite yes.
It's such a cool way to meet great people, spend time outdoors, and help protect one of Golden Hill's greatest treasures. I hope to see even more neighbors out there next time!