Having just interviewed a local sugaring farmer in Warner, NH it would seem there are many, many views on the chance climate change is affecting sap and trees. There is little question that the business of sugaring itself has changed so much that the use of heaters, filters, pumps, and plastics has links back to fossil fuel burning processes. Thus, even the act of harvesting from the "staff of life" -a tree- has come to be a compromise.

Sent by J.D. Saunders | 11:39 PM ET | 10-29-2007

I too am big on forests, but probably more deciduous ones what you find in Oregon. Growing up on the East Coast in a house at the front of a little wooded valley made me grow to love the shelter of close-in spaces and the mentoring company of trees. I like the open sky of my current home in Ohio, and I love the majesty of gigantic mountain ranges in the west, but if I really want to feel *at home* I find a forest.

Sent by Rebecca J. | 8:20 AM ET | 10-30-2007

Being an Angeleno, forests are not part of my life. What connects me with the natural world are the rolling hills I can see from my office window. I love to watch the seasons pass through those hills (and I say Fie! to anyone who doesn't think that Southern California has seasons!) and I can always find a little pocket of serenity looking them.

They are green, and even greener, and golden, and silvery grey, and even occasionally black. Those hills are always there and they are always beautiful to me.

Sent by Lauren Uroff | 11:19 AM ET | 10-30-2007

I'm an ocean gal, born and bred in New England and never too far from the sea. I try to run daily and, you guessed it, a favorite run is along the beach, given the right tide. The light off the water, the sun rising over the offshore islands, the rocks glistening in the first light (I run in the early AM) - what a wonderful way to start my day. As far as keeping my beaches glorious, I tend to be a litter patroler. On a weekend afternoon I've been known to grab a trash bag and take a walk. It's amazing what people will toss out the car window. I feel so fortunate to live in a beautiful place; it's important to me that it stays that way.

Sent by Kathleen D'Abre | 10:22 AM ET | 10-31-2007

Just 15 minutes from where I live is a park called the "Indian Caves", anyway that's what I've called it my whole life. It is my "sacred" place. I can remove myself from the busy, noisy world for a period of time and feel fully refreshed.
www.pictographcave.org

Sent by Sondra from Montana | 11:46 AM ET | 10-31-2007

From where I sit right now, Sondra, I'd think Montana would be one big haven.

Litter patrol always a good default plan for us folks.

Anybody got local orgs doing great work?

Sent by Ketzel Levine | 11:54 AM ET | 10-31-2007

How about rolling hills of tallgrass prairie? I also like our open, semi-sunny, Oak Groves, too... :)

Ok...I'm also a fan of the dark North Woods!

Sent by Bob Vaiden | 12:31 PM ET | 10-31-2007

My upbringing was in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. My folks would take us out for Sunday drives in the country sometimes - to the Blue Ridge for seasonal Stayman winesaps, to the Catoctin Mountains in Maryland-Pennsylvania for Early Red Havens or Sunhighs (there was a billboard on - I think - Rte. 15 listing all 20-30 peach varieties and the DATES of their harvesting!!). In the back seat when on boring highways I'd gaze out at the passing woodland, imagining myself in the mocassins of native peoples living and walking on that land before the coming of the Europeans... so, when home on college summer vacation from architecture school I would drive 5 or 10 minutes from our suburban home out to a nearby crossroads, part of the vast stretch of North America known as the Piedmont, still totally rural farmland of split rail fences and fields of straw and its thick summer air filled with setting sun softly illuminating barn swallows after darting dragonflies, mayflies, Lady Bugs, buzzing bumblebees and all their companions.

(That crossroads was called Tyson???s Corners. Look at it now... but further south it is the land of Joel Salatin???s truly organically integrated Polyface Farm - so there???s hope!!)

In addition to native tribes this land fed our European ancestors, too. As they arrived in east coast ports and headed west to settle they crossed this rich rolling land (formerly tidal in eras of higher ocean levels?). Its rich soils, wild fruit and nut trees & berry bushes, fresh water and moderate climate provided haven for settlers passing through.

I realize that this is my land, in my soul, and I fight to save it through CSA subscription (community supported agriculture), "buying local", working to increase urban densities without cars (urban ecovillage development), and obviously reducing our carbon footprint through my architectural efforts (building consume the vast majority of fossil fuels through use of coal-fired electricity and by being accessible only by car-truck travel) and advocating via political pressure on behalf of all of these, and more.

Reaching toward sustainability -
USGBC, Earth Charter's Alliance for a Sustainable Future, Relocalization Network and the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies.

Sent by Bill Marston, AIA & LEED-AP | 12:39 PM ET | 10-31-2007

Wonderful thoughts, Bill. Thanks.

I can think of two outstanding local groups here in the PNW, both of whom are in my office bldg: Gifford Pinchot Task Force http://www.gptaskforce.org/
and Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center
http://www.opalcreek.org/

Anyone in the Portland area who doesn't have media ties and therefore can't give money (sigh!) should check these folks out.

More?

Sent by ketzel levine | 12:48 PM ET | 10-31-2007

I can never spend enough time in the desert of West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. I am not even sure yet what really gets me, but I keep going back, and everytime I leave I feel like its been too short.

Sent by Jason | 2:02 PM ET | 10-31-2007

Can I relate to your commentary..."The forest works for me because I need the relative silence of the woods to shut me up, shut me down, help me connect to what I think matters (that is, the forest itself). That's why I prefer hiking alone unless I'm with an equally willing silent partner (the dogs do nicely)..."

How true it is. My place is the Eastern Sierras, the area between June Lake and Mammoth to be exact. I spend every minute I can glean from my way-to-hectic life and run from the California coast to the Sierras every chance I get. I also perfer my "alone" time there and yes the dog is my preferred companion.

I belong to several NGOs in the area, the Eastern Sierra Land Trust, The Mono Lake Committee. There is always the threat of the major ski development complany Interwest pulling off some deal with the Forset Service or smaller towns with new tax revenue as the snake oil they are peddling. All this at the expense of the Forest, meadow or other open space. These organizations keep them in check, often participate in negotiated solutions and keep me informed.

With the global climate change and reduced snow pack each year, I don't know how much of a threat new ski development will continue to be. The changes in the forest and associated moasic of birds and mammals we see as the seasons change are my primary concern. I'm concerned that we (us humans) have fragmented habitats and migration routes to the extent if populations of plants and animals were to survive climate change, they could not move into temporal regions where the climate is better sutited to their survival. More to think about....

What wild places keeps you sustained, sane, balanced? And what are you doing to help protect them?

Sent by Kathy Kefauver | 6:00 PM ET | 10-31-2007

I have a spot that I have been hiking in since high school just north of us called Eden Valley. In the middle of the beautiful Iowa fields and prairie is this place that if filled with limestone bluffs and forests. I love to go at least once a week and escape. I find no matter what is going on in my life that going here and reconnecting with nature and calming my mind gives me a whole new perspective on things. To do my part in giving back I volunteer at their nature center during the summer so I can educate people about the park and maybe teach them to love what a special place it is. Hopefully this will allow Eden Valley to become a special place for generations to come.

Sent by Laura Ahrens | 12:30 PM ET | 11-01-2007

One thing we can all do: teach the children, regardless of race, economic status, religion, that this is OUR planet, and that OUR species can be just as creative and good as it is silly and fearful, but one way or another, the earth as it is "now" is our home, and we as a species need it to stay more or less this way. Man, talk about being earnest.

When we lived in Arizona, I found that planting local seeds in pots and growing trees and bushes was so easy. So I grew trees and bushes, and then redid (or did) mamy of my neighbors front yards with those plants. We visited our street after 10 years away, and I couldn't believe what 10 years growth could do to an urban street in the desert.

Sent by DWM | 9:15 AM ET | 11-04-2007

In Epping Forest, Essex, England where I live, the autumnal oranges and reds of the luxurious tree tops linger over the crisp grass. The colours have gone from a summer green to a autumn red. The trees that have stood in this vast Epping Forest have stood there for hundreds of years and every fall they fill the sky. The leaves are just starting to shed off the trees and now they create an exquisite crispy pink carpet. It's a pleasure to walk past and stop to breathe in the sweet smell of the trees and the fresh air.

Sent by Emma Pewsey | 1:28 PM ET | 11-08-2007

I am a Funeral Celebrant in Canada and I am preparing a Funeral for an Austrian man who was one with trees. He had an amazing knack of growing Chestnut Trees here - not something we see these days in Canada. I found your comments as I was searching for a fabulous photo of a Chestnut tree and I read your blog and was inspired by your love and passion for trees. As well, I am preparing a talk for a 'Tree Planting Memorial' on Sunday which I am the keynote speaker. I am using the following poem and I thought you might relate to it. There is something so magestic about trees - I am very fortunate to live in the middle of a city with a very large yard with at least 50 trees!

"The Presence of Trees" by Michael S. Glaser

I have always felt the living presence
of trees
the forest that calls to me as deeply
as I breathe,
as though the woods were marrow of my bone
as though
I myself were tree, a breathing, reaching
arc of the larger canopy
beside a brook bubbling to foam
like the one
deep in these woods,
that calls
that whispers home.

I am going to leave you with another poem. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Regards,
Jacquie

"Think Like a Tree" By Karen I. Shragg

Soak up the sun
Affirm life's magic
Be graceful in the wind
Stand tall after a storm
Feel refreshed after it rains
Grow strong without notice
Be prepared for each season
Provide shelter to strangers
Hang tough through a cold spell
Emerge renewed at the first signs of spring
Stay deeply rooted while reaching for the sky
Be still long enough to
hear your own leaves rustling.

Sent by Jacqueline Hoare | 10:53 PM ET | 05-28-2008