Mike Farmer Gearing Up for The Ride to Conquer Cancer

Update from Mike (August 18th):

Thanks you to everyone who has supported me with their encouragement and donations. I am now riding up to 150+ miles a week: a lot of early morning rides due to heat. I bought a RCC bike jersey and am having survivors sign as well as in memory of loved ones. I rode from downtown up to Floyd Knobs and back. Major hill climb, but a great view.

Long-time Fisherville resident Mike Farmer is training for the 2010 Ride to Conquer Cancer to be held on September 25-26, 2010. This is a 1- or 2-day bike ride through beautiful bluegrass country benefiting the Norton Cancer Institute.

Mike and his fellow participants have already been training for months to prepare for the physical and mental demands of such a challenge. He will be completing over 100 training miles on his bike just this week. However, all of his long hours of peddling will be rewarded with the beautiful scenery, new friends, the cheering fans, a feeling of accomplishment, and the satisfaction of knowing he has helped a great cause.

Being a two-time cancer survivor himself, Mike would like everyone to help with this great cause and remember those who have been touched by cancer. He is asking everyone, including his Fisherville friends and neighbors, to help him in his mission.

Mike Farmer unites with other cyclists for "Strength in Numbers", this year's motto for the 2010 Ride to Conquer Cancer. Pictured in the background is one of the many beautiful homes in "downtown" Fisherville, KY.

Mike says:

I'll be participating in a major cycling event called The Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting Norton Cancer Institute. I'll be cycling through the scenic bluegrass country with thousands of other Riders. All the proceeds will go to Norton Cancer Institute. I've agreed to raise at least $1200, but I've set my personal goal to $2,000.

I RIDE to help Conquer Cancer for my family and friends and in memory of those who we have lost to Cancer.

I RIDE because I am a two time Cancer survivor!

I ask for your help to Conquer Cancer by donating for your friends and family members who have been touched by Cancer.
I am proud to represent you and your loved ones by participating in this years 2010 Norton Ride to Conquer Cancer - RIDE ON !

So, yes, this is a request for your financial support. Please contribute to this history-making event with a donation. The funds you raise through The Ride to Conquer Cancer will generate the funds necessary to ensure that everyone in our community who needs cancer care will find the help they need at Norton Cancer Institute.

Lets all help Conquer Cancer together!

You can donate online or from the Ride to Conquer website or the application on my Facebook.

DONATE NOW
My Participant ID: 445015-9

or you can download a donation form from the website.

If you know anyone else who you feel might be interested in making a donation to help Conquer Cancer please send them to my donation website.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Good Luck, Mike!

Ride to Conquer Cancer graphic and You Tube video are ©COPYRIGHT 2010 THE RIDE TO CONQUER CANCER.

If you live in the Fisherville area and would like to be featured in our Local Spotlight, please send an email to FishervilleKY@gmail.com.

(Originally posted March 22, 2010)

Lynda's Grill

Tonight's field trip was to Taylorsville to Lynda's Grill. It was decent food if you like the grill. I had an excellent grilled cheese sandwich, mashed potatoes, and wonderful spiced beets. They had a mysterious, happy taste that made me think of Christmas. Cloves?

This is a good place to go when nothing but a comforting, fried meal will do! I am anxious to go back sometime for breakfast as the menu looked fantastic.

This place is TINY so don't miss it. It's on Jefferson Street.

Hatmaker's/Circle K - Public Hearing - July 14th @ 1pm

Notice of Public Meeting Case Number: 14453

You are invited to attend a review of a proposal for Amendment to Condition of Approval #5 from DRO-1-98 to allow signs to be attached to the building on the front and east facades.

Subject Property: 14000 TAYLORSVILLE RD 40299-0000;
Case Manager: CHRISTOPHER BROWN

This case will be presented to the DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE.

Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Time: Meeting will begin at 1:00 PM and continue until all cases are heard.
Place: 514 W. Liberty Street

Visit http://www.louisvilleky.gov/PlanningDesign/ for:
* Case information
* Public comment opportunities

A list of adjoining property owners notified of this proposal is available in
the case file at the address listed below. Persons who desire special
accommodations should contact the Planning Commission office at 574-6230
at least one week prior to this meeting. (TDD users please use the
Relay Service, 1-800-648-6056.)

Louisville Metro Planning and Design Services
444 S. 5th Street - Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40202-4313, (502)574-6230
Serving the Board of Zoning Adjustment, Planning Commission, Land Development and
Transportation Committee, Historic Landmarks and Preservation District Commission, and Overlay Committees.

Reminder: Floyds Fork Creek Sweep

19th ANNUAL FLOYDS FORK CREEK SWEEP

2010 FLOYDS FORK CREEK SWEEP by CANOE
June 5, 2010 (Saturday)
8:30AM – 1:00PM
Floyds Fork Park*

**Breakfast, lunch and refreshments provided & Picnic Lunch **
Some canoes provided free to use with life jackets and paddles.*
Those who have canoes & kayaks are encouraged to bring them.

Sponsors
Floyds Fork Environmental Association
Councilman Robin Engel & Councilman Stuart Benson
21st Century Parks
Division of Solid Waste Management
Canoe Kentucky

8:30am Registration and free light breakfast
9:00am Councilman Stuart Benson & Councilman Robin Engel
Announcements: assign clean up on foot areas
Canoe & Cleanup Instructions (short run or long run)
9:30am Transport to canoe launch sites (two places)
Noon – 1pm You arrive at take out point where Metro Louisville officials will assist with the proper disposal of the debris and bags.

Volunteers are transported back to Floyds Fork Park Outdoor Shelter for a free picnic lunch.

*Direction to Floyds Fork Park: Go behind Hatmaker’s Gas Station – now called Circle “K”/Shell. (Note: Hatmaker’s address is 14305 Taylorsville Road). If headed toward Fisherville on Taylorsville Road, turn RIGHT onto South Pope Lick Road off Taylorsville Road. Follow the signs and meet at the shelter in Floyds Fork Park.

Please call or email if you plan to be there June 5:
267-6883 or teenahal@aol.com
Also let us know if you are bringing a canoe or kayak or if you want to reserve a free canoe, paddles and life vests – first come, first served.*
Event sponsors are not responsible for any injury or damage incurred during the event.

Living Lands and Waters: MillionTrees Project

Living Lands & Waters (LL&W) is a non-profit organization based in Illinois that participates in Community River Cleanups, Big River Educational Workshops, Tree Plantings, Riverbottom Forest Restoration and an Adopt-a-River Mile program. It was founded by a young man named Chad Pregracke, who as a teenager decided that if the government wasn't going to clean up the trash lining the Mississippi River, he was going to do it himself. So he founded LLW in 1998 to spread his proactive approach to protecting our lands and waters.

Part of LL&W's mission is the MillionTrees Project. This project was started in 2007 in an effort to restore hardwood tree bioversity along the country's major waterways. According to their website, LL&W’s goal is to grow 100,000 trees within the next 2-3 years and 1 MILLION trees within the next 5-10 years. A percentage of trees are returned to their contributors to be planted in local communities after reaching 1-2 years old and the rest are planted along the shorelines and islands of our nation's major waterways. Trees have many benefits including erosion control, wildlife shelter and support, water and air filtration, canopy rain collection, and shade for animals and people. The root system of water bank trees also help control algae build up in the water.

The biggest challenge for the MillionTrees project is collecting the tree seeds. This is where you come in. Follow their guide (shown below) and send them your tree seeds collected from your own trees. You can even receive some of your baby trees back if you wish after they have grown in the nursery.

Follow these steps to help collect seeds:

1. Print out the Acorn Collection Guidelines. This will tell you what kind of seeds we are looking for, how to separate and bag the acorns, what you should bring with you while collecting, and other helpful tips.
2. Print out the Oak/Acorn Identification Guide. This will outline the types of acorns to collect and will help identify those that you find.
3. Print out the Acorn Collection Form. This form will need to be included with the seeds, after collection. This sheet requests your contact information so that we can get in touch with you after we have grown the trees and they are ready to be delivered back to the community (1-2 years after acorn collection).
4. Print out Bag Tags (2 to a page). These tags need to be attached to each bag of acorns and indicates the day of collection, species, collection location, number of acorns in bag, etc.
5. Either send acorns to LL&W or arrange pick up. Details of this step are outlined on the Acorn Collection Form.

For more information on LL&W and the MillionTrees Project, visit their website: Living Land & Waters.

I have 3 acres of forest on my property in Fisherville and it contains many of the species of trees that they wish to collect seeds from. I figure my forest can spare a few acorns for the sake of restoring wildlife and security to our nation's waterways. Please consider doing the same! This would be a great project for local youth organizations as it is both helpful to our community as well as educational.

One of the Many Beneifts of the KY Derby

If you have read many of my posts, you will know that I am on a personal mission to keep Fisherville clean and minimize the litter that lines our streets. Yesterday, I came home and the state/city mowers had chopped up the litter that was remaining on our major throughfares into thousands of tiny pieces. I was SO ANGRY!! Yeah, they finally cut the grass, but now there was 20 times more trash to pick up and it was blown all over the place.

Today as I sat in the rush hour traffic coming into the watershed (that is another topic for another day), I was determined to get home and get out there with a rake to at least clean up a few of the worst spots. To my surprise and extreme excitement, the mowers had returned and cleaned up every piece of litter that they had shredded! It looks spectacular!! There is the beautiful, green, clean scenery for which Fisherville is known.

This takes me back to the KY Derby. This city will look near immaculate when the hundreds of thousands of people travel into and through Louisville to attend the KY Derby and all of its festival events. It is one of the perks of the KY Derby that many people probably don't even notice or appreciate. I personally would like to commend the mowers and litter collectors for the job that was done in this area and everywhere.

I hope that people realize how great our city looks and, hey, why don't we work harder on keeping it that way? The KY Derby only comes once a year afterall, so don't expect this service again until next April. It is up to us to keep our trash under control and make sure it ends up in the proper places. None of which are along Taylorsville Road.

Book Review: Let It Rot - by Stu Campbell

One of my many projects this summer in my quest to be more self-sufficient and environmentally friendly was to start composting. Something about the rural outdoors of Fisherville makes me feel like reducing my footprint and consumption. Our soil is plagued with heavy clay, weeds, disease, and poor nutrients. While it might be easy to dump several bags of Scott's on it and call it a day, I find that method too dangerous for the creek that borders our property. I would much rather take a more natural, albeit slower, approach and gradually work in compost each year.

After scouring Amazon for a book on composting, I finally settled on a short, but informative little book called Let It Rot . Written by Stu Campbell, this was an easy read that made collecting garbage and playing with worms sound like a joy.

What I liked about this book was that it took what is actually a very complicated biological process and convinced me that it is very simple and even fun. That it is ok to mess up because I'll probably still end up with something useful. The author presented a multitude of options on how to build a compost pile, ranging from the basic pile in a sunny spot to investing in an expensive compost tumbler to building an indoor worm farm.

The passion of the author on the subject of composting is refreshing. The book reads like someone telling you the most interesting story they have ever told. At one point, he explains how he got so excited about composting that he would be on constant lookout for things to add to his pile even if it meant jumping out and taking it from someone's yards. Well, I may have exagerated a little bit there, but it was that sort of passion that draws you in and makes you want to start composting immediately.

I would recommend this book for any level of composter. It is simple enough to instruct a beginner without overloading them and complex enough to help even an advanced composter learn to improve their compost methods. There are wonderful, straight forward lists and drawings to follow to get you started. Most importantly, the author does a wonderful job convincing you that you can do this and you will love it!

I am still deciding which method of composting I will try. While I would like to invest in the compost tumbler that can make it in as little as 21 days, it might be best to go the free pile route in the beginning. I also am interested in collecting the compost tea that results from water pouring through the compost. I have found some composters, like the Envirocycle Composter, that collect this valuable tea while composting. Compost tea would be an easier way to get nutrients into my lawn.

...The Cleanup Continues...

Spent an hour and a half out on Taylorsville Lake Road last night picking up litter in front of our neighborhood. Came home with 5 large bags of trash and huge pieces of water logged cardboard!

I have a theory that the reason we see more beer cans, alcohol bottles, White Castle boxes, and Taco Bell bags is because people are more likely to litter in the dark when no one can see them and they can't see the litter hit the ground. White Castle and Taco Bell are typically open later than other fast food places.

At this rate, it will take me weeks to cover Taylorsville Lake Road from the county line to Routt Rd. If you are bored or need some exercise or just good karma, please get out there and help me!

Keep it Clean, Fisherville!

FANA/Brightside/UPS Cleanup Photos

This past Saturday, 3/27/2010, roughly 20 volunteers came out to help cleanup the Fisherville area with the Fisherville Area Neighborhood Association (FANA), as they participated in the 2010 Brightside/UPS Community-wide Cleanup.

The weather was beautiful, the volunteers went to great lengths to clean our community, and overall, the area is noticeably much cleaner! Thank you everyone for you help!

Here are some pictures from the event taken by Bryan Siders:

Within the first hour volunteers has already filled many bags on Taylorsville Road.

A volunteer reaches for debris in one of the many drainage ditches alongside Taylorsville Road. Unfortunately, a lot of the litter in these drainage ways will end up in Floyd's Fork, harming sensitive aquatic life, if nothing is done to remove it.

First time I've ever been on the ground next to the Trestle as a train rolls by.

Many volunteers took on the dangerous task of cleaning along side Taylorsville Lake Road where traffic is often going over 70 mph. Many, many fast food bags, cups, and cartons were removed from this area. I just don't understand the people who throw these items out of their windows.

Stop! Littering, that is! As you can see, we filled up quite a few bags in 4 hours, as well as collecting larger debris. Thankfully, Metro Solid Waste removed the pile within 4 hours!

I encourage everyone to clean up anytime they see litter accumulating. If everyone would just clean the sections of roadway around their residence or business, the area would stay clean all year long!

Thanks again to all of the volunteers who devoted their Saturday to help make Fisherville green again!

If you are interested in participating in litter cleanup events in this area or donating to the cause, please email FishervilleANA@gmail.com.

2010 FLOYDS FORK CREEK SWEEP by CANOE

19th ANNUAL FLOYDS FORK CREEK SWEEP

2010 FLOYDS FORK CREEK SWEEP by CANOE
June 5, 2010 (Saturday)
8:30AM – 1:00PM
Floyds Fork Park*

**Breakfast, lunch and refreshments provided & Picnic Lunch **
Some canoes provided free to use with life jackets and paddles.*
Those who have canoes & kayaks are encouraged to bring them.

Sponsors
Floyds Fork Environmental Association
Councilman Robin Engel & Councilman Stuart Benson
21st Century Parks
Division of Solid Waste Management
Canoe Kentucky

8:30am Registration and free light breakfast
9:00am Councilman Stuart Benson & Councilman Robin Engel
Announcements: assign clean up on foot areas
Canoe & Cleanup Instructions (short run or long run)
9:30am Transport to canoe launch sites (two places)
Noon – 1pm You arrive at take out point where Metro Louisville officials will assist with the proper disposal of the debris and bags.

Volunteers are transported back to Floyds Fork Park Outdoor Shelter for a free picnic lunch.

*Direction to Floyds Fork Park: Go behind Hatmaker’s Gas Station – now called Circle “K”/Shell. (Note: Hatmaker’s address is 14305 Taylorsville Road). If headed toward Fisherville on Taylorsville Road, turn RIGHT onto South Pope Lick Road off Taylorsville Road. Follow the signs and meet at the shelter in Floyds Fork Park.

Please call or email if you plan to be there June 5:
267-6883 or teenahal@aol.com
Also let us know if you are bringing a canoe or kayak or if you want to reserve a free canoe, paddles and life vests – first come, first served.*
Event sponsors are not responsible for any injury or damage incurred during the event.

2010 4-H Roy Strange Golf Scramble Seeking Sponsorships

Every year the 4-H Roy Strange Golf Scramble brings in 1/4 of the annual income for Kentucky 4-H programs. This year they are struggling to come up with sponsorships. If your company can help, please do. Sponsorships start at $100 and prize donations start at just $15.

While 4-H is a nationwide program, there is a 4-H Horse Club right in Fisherville, based out of the new Louisville Equestrian Club. Also, the 4-H has been operating community gardens, one of which is located right up the street at Blackacre Nature Preserve.

To register for sponsorship, complete the Sponsorship Registration form (page 3) and fax it to 502-569-3958.

For more information, Call 569-2344 extension 106 or send e-mail to Rnorris@uky.edu

Visit the KY 4-H Website: Kentucky 4-H Youth Development. Be sure to check out all the valuable information they have on gardening!

4H graphics © copyright 4-H and Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service

Floyd's Fork Area Study Plan - New Draft Released

The Floyd's Fork Area Study plan is a design document for the Southeast corner of Jefferson Co., including Fisherville, parts of Jeffersontown and Fern Creek, and other areas along the Floyd's Fork River, that will be adopted by Louisville Metro Planning and Development. The document dictates the "framework" for the area and the future plans for development such as parks, commerce centers, and residences.

Several versions have been done already and through feedback from local organizations and interest groups, it has been constantly revised to reflect the concerns of residents. Among those concerns are planning for appropriate infrastructure improvements, preservation of rural character, protection of sensitive waterways, smart development that conserves green spaces and old growth trees, protection of existing and new agriculture, and preservation of the dark starry skies.

Executive Summary
"Louisville’s challenge, and the purpose of this plan, is to balance projected population growth and economic development opportunity, the natural and recreational resources of the Floyds Fork Greenway, and the rural and visual character of the Floyds Fork area that residents have come to cherish. The plan recommends higher density development to occur in strategically located, mixed-use, and pedestrian-friendly “centers”, thus encouraging rural character and natural resources to be maintained in surrounding areas."

The plan was developed by Wallace Roberts and Todd, a consultant group working closely with Louisville Metro Planning and Development. You can download this document until April 7th at: Floyd's Fork Area Study Draft. After that, it will still be available here.

The current timeline is for public feedback via the Limehouse Consultation Tool to begin on March 30th. Next, the plan will be presented to the Planning Committee, loosely set for April 22nd. Then in June, there will be a public hearing to discuss the plan.

Please send any feedback of the plan, good and bad, to FishervilleKY@gmail.com. Your comments will help local organizations and representatives best represent those that live in these areas to those involved in developing the plan. Also, voice your concerns on the Limehouse Consultation site starting March 30th.

Check back here over the next week as I will read through the plan and highlight some of the major features.

Clark Station Road to Close April 5th to early November

Read Article on Courier-Journal.com

Detour to Connor Station Rd or Gilliland Rd/Echo Trail/English Station. Also, look for heavier traffic on Hwy 148 (Taylorsville Road) as many residents south of I-64 on Clark Station will be going that route. Expect delays as Hwy 148 is already significantly congested during rush hour.

Rolleigh Peterson Educational Forest - a State Forest Right in Fisherville!

In the far eastern area of Jefferson County lies a 98-acre parcel of land that has recently become a KY State Forest. On this property lies a nearly 50-acre grove of black walnut trees that have been growing since the early 1970's. While this might not seem like a a very large area in rural Fisherville,KY, this grove is the largest known walnut plantation east of the Mississippi River.

Nearly 6,000 black walnut trees were planted on this land by Rolleigh and Patricia Peterson as an investment. Patricia sold the property to the Commonwealth and Louisville Metro in 2008 after he husband and daughter had already passed away. By making it a park, it will serve as a legacy of her family for many generations to come.



Making this property even more interesting is that it is located on the beautiful Floyd's Fork River which is the centerpiece of a new greenway plan that will include many new common greenspaces and parks, as well as new town centers and villages. As a result, the portion of the Fork bordering the property has now been permanently protected. The forest will also be connected to the forthcoming Louisville 100-mile Loop Trail that will encircle the entire Metro area. It is intended that this property be used for research and educational purposes, a public park, and remain a working walnut plantation.

Black Walnut trees are valued for their wood and nuts. They are large trees that grow to be 50-75' tall with a spread of equal size. The wood is dark, heavy, and extremely strong, but is easy to work with as it splits easily. Nuts are processed and sold commercially for consumption. One large walnut tree can sell for lumber for thousands of dollars making it a good long term investment if you don't mind waiting 40+ years. Black walnuts are also toxic to many plants and also horses.

If you are interested in planting trees, visit Arbor Day for information and to purchase tree saplings.

For sources and to learn more, visit: Kentucky Division of Forestry and Kentucky Personnel Cabinet.

Wikipedia says...

Here is some very basic historical information regarding the area according to Wikipedia:

Fisherville is a neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky centered along Taylorsville Road & Finchville Road. It was originally named Curreys after Edward Currey, who opened a post office in 1833. In 1847, it was renamed after Robert Fisher who had died two years earlier and operated a mill on Floyds Fork with his father, John. The area became more commercial in the late 1800s and early 1900s due to the opening of railroad tracks and the discovery of a mineral water well. Visitors came for the therapeutic value of the mineral water, but when the well went dry in 1914 the area began its reversion to being a primarily residential area.

Here is a recent picture of the Fishers House:

Photo by Mike Farmer.

Visit the Wikipedia page for Fisherville,KY for more information. It would be great if people could add to the article there for a more complete and up to date snapshot of our community.

Brightside/UPS Community-wide Cleanup - FANA Event

The snow has melted and there is trash everywhere! Please join the Fisherville Area Neighborhood Association (FANA) on March 27, 2010 as they cleanup roadside litter in the area as part of the Brightside/UPS Community-wide Cleanup.

When: 3/27/2010
Time: 8am - 12 noon
Where: Fisherville Baptist Church - Please park near front of lot near Taylorsville Rd. Watch for children!

Volunteers will be divided into areas primarily along Taylorsville Road and Taylorsville Lake Road. Please plan to bring gloves and wear bright clothing. Trash bags will be provided. Free snacks and water will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you are interested, please email Cindy at FishervilleANA@gmail.com by March 24th so we can provide enough supplies and parking. Everyone is welcome and you do not have to be a member of FANA to help us beautify Fisherville!

Check out the event flyer here: Join FANA for the Brightside/UPS Community Cleanup

Congratulations to Nicholas Donner of Fisherville

Nicholas Donner of Fisherville,KY took home the trophy at the 2009 MidFirst Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Competition.

We all love our balloons in Fisherville! Congratulations, Nicholas!

Photo

Louisville Area Event: Great Food Growers Workshop at the Green Building

I received this event notice from 15Thousand Farmers:

In support of our Farmers here's an event that I'd be at if I could- looks like wonderful food and great info! only $25

Learn how to create a clean food garden
for optimum health and enjoyment!
Beginner and veteran growers welcome!

Saturday, February 27
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The Green Building, 732 East Market Street, Louisville, KY

Attend our workshop and discussion forums and
get great advice from Kentuckiana professional chefs,
farmers, and national expert nutritionists.

Jeneen Wiche, Home Grown Host
Jerry Brunetti, Agri-Dynamics
Ivor Chodkowski, Field Day Farms
Dave Keal, Field 51 Produce
Sherry Hurley, Farm to Fork Catering
Mark Williams, Brown-Forman Executive Chef
Blair Leno-Helvey, Entomological Solutions

Reserve your spot today!
Call (502) 442-7883 or
email alice@freshstartgrowers.com

Here's the online flyer link:

http://www.facebook.com/l/59be5;us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=f78afda22e1a407cdc4720874&id=9a498198b1&e=[UNIQID]

Rural Louisville

Fisherville is the southeast corner of Louisville, KY.  Located just minutes from east Louisville, Taylorsville Lake Recreation Area, and Shelbyville, KY, Fisherville is an ideal location for those who love the space with city amenities.  Fisherville's prime feature is Floyd's Fork which winds through much of the area.  At night, the skies are starry and dark, something that is hard to find close to a major metropolis.   The rolling hills are full of farms, large lot subdivisions, forests, and wildlife. 

Recently, this area has become the cornerstone of a new award winning greenway plan that will contain many new parks, conservation areas, hiking trails, horseback riding areas, canoeing, and much more.  Connecting the system will be Louisville's new 100-mile Loop Trail.  While we are excited by the prospect of such a nice development, many of us are working with planners to make sure that the health and characteristics of the area are preserved.  We do this by encouraging responsible development with adequate roadways, protection of Floyd's Fork, preservation of old growth forests, minimal light pollution, and proper management of drainage and sewage treatment.

I have created FishervilleKY.com in an attempt to bring together the residents that are spread so far apart in this countryside.  While we live out here to enjoy the natural beauty, I feel many of us really live in the city and this is just where we sleep at night. My goal with this website is to help Fisherville become a place where we can not only live, but work and play as well!

Keep Fisherville Green and Clean!