The 2015 Eagles of Excellence
Award goes to…
Robbie
Bos and his wonderful wife Christie Walker moved
to the Big Bear Valley in 2002. The Bos’ wedding ceremony took place in their own front yard, with 140
family and friends all dressed in renaissance peasant attire. Hiking, snow skiing, bowling, movies, and
drinks and dinner in town became the norm
life-style.
As
a graphic artist, Robbie kept a few choice clients from L A and Orange
counties. Over the years, that experience helped with many local businesses in designing
and printing program books, posters, brochures, rack cards, and logos.
Robbie
has worked at Snow Summit as a lifty and security, mostly to enjoy the benefits
of free skiing with family and friends. To increase his experience and knowledge
of first-aid and survival techniques, Robbie became a Sierra Club hike leader,
as well as, he joined the Big Bear Sheriff Search & Rescue Team. Map reading and compass, issues, learning local
mountain areas and trails, medical-aid, native and medicinal plants, desert and
winter survival, all became part of his experience and journey in life.
A
thirteen-year committee member of the Award Winning Annual Xeriscape Garden
Tour, Robbie has become aware of the valley’s native plants and the present water conservation needs. Robbie started a
Help-You-Landscape business, specializing in helping homeowners landscape
with native and drought tolerant plants, all at an affordable costs. Plants and
landscape design have been major passions of his since grade school.
Robbie
Bos has spent a few years in the conservation department at the City of Big
Bear Lake Department of Water (DWP), further enforcing his conservation
beliefs. He is quoted as saying, ‘Plumbing has allowed man to become the worst
water-waster, ever’! While working with
the DWP, he secured a location for the Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens. Robbie
designed the demo gardens, and with the DWP staff, and many plants donated by
Hunter’s Nursery, the all landscaped and demo gardens, is now a native and
drought tolerant plant highlight on Fox Farm Road, to the south of CVS Pharmacy.
Having
a vegetable garden at his home in Big Bear Lake, appropriately, he has
inherited the title of Mountaintop Master
Composter. Thinking composting must
be difficult at this altitude, Robbie found, it is not! Same everywhere! After a few presentations about growing food,
it became obvious we needed a community garden.
Another
friend and friend Jean Sweet, Robbie, and many volunteers from the community
repaired and resurrected the beds, with start-up money from The Lighthouse
Project.
With
the school well along on it’s growing season, Robbie pulled away to concentrate
on the community gardens for the citizens of Big Bear Valley. With cooperation
and help from the City of Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Parks and Recreation
Department, The Lighthouse Project, Butcher’s Block, and a committee of
dedicated people, a Community Garden on Fox Farm Road was created. Since then,
additional gardens have been established in the valley. Currently Big Bear
Parks and Recreation Department and the Big Bear Valley Community Gardens Project
are working on a five acre site in Erwin Lake, called The Ranch Community
Gardens. The dream is growing!
Robbie
and Christie purchased a few acres in Baldwin Lake, designed and built an eco
friendly home on what they call Pinyon Hill. Their all electric home is powered
by an egg beater wind turbine and an array of solar panels. These days Robbie
is landscaping his property, growing a family owned and operated booming
business, and enjoying playing guitar with friends at open mic nights in town. Plus
you can catch him playing in the dirt at any of the community garden locations
in our valley. Robbie encourages you, ‘Come
out and be a part of the vegetable garden growing experience!’