Mary Jo Wallen moved to Moriarty, New Mexico in 1998 from Indiana. In 2005 she and her husband built a log home in the Timberlake Ranch, which is 11 miles north of Ramah in the Zuni Mountains. Mary Jo always loved living in the woods. She had a log home out in the country south of Indianapolis, Indiana; but the call of the West was always in the back of her mind since she camped and jeeped in Colorado and other western states for over ten years every fall.
Mary Jo has been active in the community by being a Timberlake Board Member for three years, Neighborhood Watch Group Coordinator and prepared Emergency Evacuation procedures along with a Phone Tree about eight years ago. The development has 743, 5-acre lots with 82 full time residents, 21 part-time and 65 recreational. There are over 38 miles of sideroads.
After the Paradise, CA fires she and four other neighbors formed a Forest Restoration & Wildfire Mitigation Sub-Committee with the approval of the Timberlake Ranch Landowners Association. Over the first year many goals and activities have materialized. Major achievements include:
Preparation of a Forest Stewardship Plan.
Approval and early implementation of three FHI applications.
Submission of twelve more FHI applications for consideration this fall.
Treatment of approximately 13 miles of side roads with ladder fuel reduction and fuel breaks.
Approval of a State Farm Grant for $500 to support a Chipper Day to support the Wildfire Preparedness Day in May.
Preparation of a brochure specific to our area.
Mary Jo received and completed an FHI grant for wildfire mitigation on her property a month ago. Here are a few pictures from the project.
The whole area between the tree and metal building was thinned. Brat (horse) and Kai (dog) checking everything out.
Area after trimming/chipping
Mary Jo and Ron Schali became FAC Leaders a couple of months ago and are continually promoting the idea of forest health and proper fire mitigation techniques to Timberlake landowners. Mary Jo has indicated that one of the greatest benefits to being a FAC Leader is the opportunity to network with others. Learning and sharing with others has always been important to her. Since humans cause 44% of fires and there are a lot of irresponsible people living or camping in and around the forest, it is even more important to educate the public. Climate change is also a topic of discussion, which more people should pay attention to in order to save our environment.