Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Lack of peace

Although this is a little off topic but I thought I should say something: WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO SELECT CUTTING? This is ridiculous, when I walk through public land I see young live trees cut for lumber but never harvested and dead trees are still standing because it isn’t the same quality. The clear cutting has also made for an endless sea of briers where it turns a nice leisurely walk into a very painful ordeal. It ruins that walking in the leaves to an old foundation for a farmhouse that’s in the middle of nowhere and you feel like you’re the only one that knows about it and it’s your own place. Or sitting on a cliff looking across the forest, across the valley, by yourself, it’s amazing. But clear cutting ruins this, to see a barren patch in the woods or loud machinery ruining your peace. Although the logging roads do make the walk easier.

4 comments:

Tamra Jennell said...

You have issues.

MHanson said...

I don't know much about forestry management, but I do know that foresters tend to push for clear cutting instead of selectively cutting trees. Perhaps it is just easier or it costs less to do so.

Either way, I agree, I don't like the look (or feel) of a barren landscape due to our machinery.

Unknown said...

The cost of progress. Do we want affordable lumber for homes or do we want forest land harvested with the least amount of inconvience to us? I'm guessing that clear cutting the land is cheaper and easier. I'm guessing our demand for lumber outweighs our desire to have our forest land appear untouched. Still, it bothers me too.

I remember living with my grandparents on their farm in the summer. The farm was small and you could walk it from one end to the other without getting tired. (I could then anyway - I'm not sure about now.) There was a lot of wooded land on the farm and some of the best times I had were wandering around just enjoying the feel of being in nature. Feeling like I was a part of it. Feeling like I was the only person on Earth. Feeling like if I walked long enough, I could solve any problem I had.

There was an old abandoned farm house on their farm. It was run down and falling down. The kids were never to go near it. It was covered in vines and you could barely see it for all the trees and brush that had grown up around it. I'd walk to it and just imagine what it must have been like to have lived in it. To wonder what it would be like to open the door and see nothing but the woods and the open fields and wild animals.

I think being out in the woods, all alone, helps put things in perspective and helps us all realize how, in the scheme of things, our problems are insignificant.

Olivia said...

I love Trees!! I like a roof over my head too but I hate when trees get cut down. I feel bad for them and they are living!!!!