Regrowing the Trees, Renewing the Land, Fixing the Streams

 

From being the mill site for the Banfield mine, (look it up) logged and not replanted, burned in the Stouts creek fire, and the site of                           one of the largest illegal pot grows in Southern Oregon for over three years running, this land needs love.

                                 An Ode to my life in the timber industry, my apology to the native people who lived here.

Before                                    Drew Creek & East Fork of Drew Creek

Before clean-up began. March 2022

After

March, 2025

Mine Lake is a four acre pond on the ranch. The lake was used as a log pond for the mine sawmill in the 1920s. 

The east and main forks of Drew Creek meet at the NW corner of the ranch.

This East fork of Drew creek runs approximately one half mile along the West property line before meeting Drew Creek. It then flows six miles before reaching Elk Creek. Another five miles to the South Umpqua River. Fires and logging have decimated the overstory and understory. Dozens of siphoning lines have been removed.  With greenhouses at least disassembled, our focus can now be on the water.

Drew Creek runs five miles to Elk Creek. The valley has remained isolated for 100 years. Except for the fire.

                      Track hoe welcomed to the family in June!

 

Thanks

Karen, Family, neighbors Ember, Ray and Raven, All my friends who make it possible for me to share this story.

And the Great Spirit

                           The Drew Creek Ranch Crew

Mission Statment for Drew the Creek Ranch

 

Nestled high in the Cascade mountains is the 160 acre Drew Creek Ranch. Originally the homestead and sawmill for the Banfield Mine, patented in 1914. The mill operated continually until 1956. The mine produced  silver, copper and gold.

Basically abandoned, the property  was logged, sold, burned, logged again, not replanted, and the sight of one of Southern Oregon's largest illegal marijuana plantations.

The mission? Bring the land back to what it may have looked like 200 years ago. Ideally, the beautiful camping and recreation can finance such an audatious  operation. 

Goals for Drew Creek Ranch

Bring friends and family together. To foster young people and their parents from inner cities and expose them to a different lifestyle and culture. To give the timber industry some good press. Repair this land. 

For adventure and camping info.  go to    www.drewcreekranch.com