Orange County Cactus Planting

A group of Pomona Center Corpsmembers use tongs to carefully plant prickly pear cactus along the side of State Highway 133 in Laguna Woods, CA.

They may be called cactus pads, but to CCC Pomona Corpsmembers they’re more like cactus patties—as in hamburger patties.

After all they are using barbecue tongs to grab them—but instead of fresh off the grill, they’re fresh into the ground. Rather than feeding people, they’re being used to fend off wildfire.

It’s a unique project putting prickly pear cactus back into its native habitat, while also protecting Orange County communities.

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