Notes From the Farm #2:

This time of year, in this part of the world, one's attention is drawn
(if one is paying attention at all) to the essentials. Even with all
of the modern conveniences, even with electricity, forced air
furnaces, refrigeration, internal combustion engines, supermarkets,
television.....and free libraries.....life can sometimes still be a
pretty harsh business in northern latitudes between the tail end of
one year and the maturation of the next. It is a time for reflection,
not only of the blinding low sunlight off of the windshields other
cars on the freeways and the city streets, but also on methods and
reasons for continued existence, albeit most people in the developed
world take both for granted.....a fundamental error for which we all
do, or eventually will, pay dearly, both as individuals and in larger
aggregations. But that's later.....in the future.....with which we
don't deal much, because we can't.

Well, actually, that's not all that true. In fact, we can deal with
the future, as is obvious to those who take the time to look at the
past. And that's what we do at this time of year. Or, should,
anyway.....those of us with the time, inclination, and means. And
most of us have the former and the latter in spades.

Here in Cheeselandia, those of us with the time, inclination, means,
AND an interest in the world outside the front door (well, o.k., and
basic literacy), can hardly help but bump into John, Aldo, and Gaylord
when looking at the past and the future.....but mostly Aldo. And
Aldo, more and more, with each passing year and decade, brings us slap
up against the truth in all its unfathomable truth and complexity.
Take the Riley Game Cooperative, for example.

Happy hunting!

Wolfgang

On Nov 29, 5:57*pm, Giles wrote:
This time of year, in this part of the world, one's attention is drawn
(if one is paying attention at all) to the essentials. *Even with all
of the modern conveniences, even with electricity, forced air
furnaces, refrigeration, internal combustion engines, supermarkets,
television.....and free libraries.....life can sometimes still be a
pretty harsh business in northern latitudes between the tail end of
one year and the maturation of the next. *It is a time for reflection,
not only of the blinding low sunlight off of the windshields other
cars on the freeways and the city streets, but also on methods and
reasons for continued existence, albeit most people in the developed
world take both for granted.....a fundamental error for which we all
do, or eventually will, pay dearly, both as individuals and in larger
aggregations. *But that's later.....in the future.....with which we
don't *deal much, because we can't.

Well, actually, that's not all that true. *In fact, we can deal with
the future, as is obvious to those who take the time to look at the
past. *And that's what we do at this time of year. *Or, should,
anyway.....those of us with the time, inclination, and means. *And
most of us have the former and the latter in spades.

Here in Cheeselandia, those of us with the time, inclination, means,
AND an interest in the world outside the front door (well, o.k., and
basic literacy), can hardly help but bump into John, Aldo, and Gaylord
when looking at the past and the future.....but mostly Aldo. *And
Aldo, more and more, with each passing year and decade, brings us slap
up against the truth in all its unfathomable truth and complexity.
Take the Riley Game Cooperative, for example.

Happy hunting! * *

Wolfgang

Just back from a spin on the East Coast. Cambridge/Boston, New
Hampshire/Exeter, Manhattan/NYC, Amtrac/Jetsetc.. Enlightening.

10 years for me since the last Big Apple rendezvous. Amazing place.
Staring down into the World Trade hole from 16th floor reveals both
the truth of the anthill as well as it's complexity. A reconnecting
dinner and apt on Park Avenue raises speculative fantasy of life
routes traded for heading West. The Museaum of Modern Art, dispositive
proof that not all art is equal nor is any such notion sustainable.
The Eastern Rail Corridor, a be-grudged achievement by any standard
not doomed by the Rightard death wish. New England, as pretty,
claustrophobic and brown-gray as ever. Good food in a nephew built
salt box, and creaky soccer legs later. Boston, continuing
intellectual capitol and Cambridge, a challenge to a Silverback's
dream of re-anchoring a family in the Pacific NW. And that always
reassuring point on the flight home when the screen if not the night
sky or the Northern lights says the Rockies or the Cascades are
below.

All of which is to say that I am reassured that for me at least, the
opportunity and work ahead for me and my trees is where I am supposed
to be and what I am supposed to do.

Dave

On 2010-12-03 15:41:38 -0500, DaveS said:


Just back from a spin on the East Coast. Cambridge/Boston, New
Hampshire/Exeter, Manhattan/NYC, Amtrac/Jetsetc.. Enlightening.


You were in Boston, New Hampshire and didn't call/connect with me.
Shame on you.

Dave

On Dec 3, 12:57*pm, D. LaCourse wrote:
On 2010-12-03 15:41:38 -0500, DaveS said:



Just back from a spin on the East Coast. Cambridge/Boston, New
Hampshire/Exeter, Manhattan/NYC, Amtrac/Jetsetc.. Enlightening.

You were in Boston, New Hampshire and didn't call/connect with me. *
Shame on you.

Dave

I will most likely be coming Back East sometime this Summer/Fall to do
some work on my kids' place. As plans jell this Spring Ill let you
know and we can hook up one way or the other. As i recall you are
somewhere out in Western Mass right?

If not trout, then some bass or Chain pickerel on poppers, hey?

Dave

On 2010-12-03 16:49:16 -0500, DaveS said:

On Dec 3, 12:57*pm, D. LaCourse wrote:
On 2010-12-03 15:41:38 -0500, DaveS said:



Just back from a spin on the East Coast. Cambridge/Boston, New
Hampshire/Exeter, Manhattan/NYC, Amtrac/Jetsetc.. Enlightening.

You were in Boston, New Hampshire and didn't call/connect with me. *
Shame on you.

Dave

I will most likely be coming Back East sometime this Summer/Fall to do
some work on my kids' place. As plans jell this Spring Ill let you
know and we can hook up one way or the other. As i recall you are
somewhere out in Western Mass right?

Thirty miles west of Bean Town.


If not trout, then some bass or Chain pickerel on poppers, hey?

Sounds good. Maybe a day or two on the Rapid?

Dave
Dave

On Dec 3, 2:20*pm, D. LaCourse wrote:
On 2010-12-03 16:49:16 -0500, DaveS said:





On Dec 3, 12:57 pm, D. LaCourse wrote:
On 2010-12-03 15:41:38 -0500, DaveS said:

Just back from a spin on the East Coast. Cambridge/Boston, New
Hampshire/Exeter, Manhattan/NYC, Amtrac/Jetsetc.. Enlightening.

You were in Boston, New Hampshire and didn't call/connect with me.
Shame on you.

Dave

I will most likely be coming Back East sometime this Summer/Fall to do
some work on my kids' place. As plans jell this Spring Ill let you
know and we can hook up one way or the other. As i recall you are
somewhere out in Western Mass right?

Thirty miles west of Bean Town.



If not trout, then some bass or Chain pickerel on poppers, hey?

Sounds good. *Maybe a day or two on the Rapid?

Dave

*Dave- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yes, I would enjoy that.
Dave

On Dec 3, 2:41*pm, DaveS wrote:
On Nov 29, 5:57*pm, Giles wrote:





This time of year, in this part of the world, one's attention is drawn
(if one is paying attention at all) to the essentials. *Even with all
of the modern conveniences, even with electricity, forced air
furnaces, refrigeration, internal combustion engines, supermarkets,
television.....and free libraries.....life can sometimes still be a
pretty harsh business in northern latitudes between the tail end of
one year and the maturation of the next. *It is a time for reflection,
not only of the blinding low sunlight off of the windshields other
cars on the freeways and the city streets, but also on methods and
reasons for continued existence, albeit most people in the developed
world take both for granted.....a fundamental error for which we all
do, or eventually will, pay dearly, both as individuals and in larger
aggregations. *But that's later.....in the future.....with which we
don't *deal much, because we can't.

Well, actually, that's not all that true. *In fact, we can deal with
the future, as is obvious to those who take the time to look at the
past. *And that's what we do at this time of year. *Or, should,
anyway.....those of us with the time, inclination, and means. *And
most of us have the former and the latter in spades.

Here in Cheeselandia, those of us with the time, inclination, means,
AND an interest in the world outside the front door (well, o.k., and
basic literacy), can hardly help but bump into John, Aldo, and Gaylord
when looking at the past and the future.....but mostly Aldo. *And
Aldo, more and more, with each passing year and decade, brings us slap
up against the truth in all its unfathomable truth and complexity.
Take the Riley Game Cooperative, for example.

Happy hunting! * *

Wolfgang

Just back from a spin on the East Coast. Cambridge/Boston, New
Hampshire/Exeter, Manhattan/NYC, Amtrac/Jetsetc.. Enlightening.

10 years for me since the last Big Apple rendezvous. Amazing place.
Staring down into the World Trade hole from 16th floor reveals both
the truth of the anthill as well as it's complexity. A reconnecting
dinner and apt on Park Avenue raises speculative fantasy of life
routes traded for heading West. The Museaum of Modern Art, dispositive
proof that not all art is equal nor is any such notion sustainable.
The Eastern Rail Corridor, a be-grudged achievement by any standard
not doomed by the Rightard death wish. New England, as pretty,
claustrophobic and brown-gray as ever. Good food in a nephew built
salt box, and creaky soccer legs later. Boston, continuing
intellectual capitol and Cambridge, a challenge to a Silverback's
dream of re-anchoring a family in the Pacific NW. And that always
reassuring point on the flight home when the screen if not the night
sky or the Northern lights says the Rockies or the Cascades are
below.

All of which is to say that I am reassured that for me at least, the
opportunity and work ahead for me and my trees is where I am supposed
to be and what I am supposed to do.

Dave

Nice. Very nice stuff.

Connection to place (and thus, often enough, to one degree or another,
to a way of life) has always been among the best reasons to go on
living. Of course, there are many other best reasons to go on
living.....but how many does one really need?

giles

On Dec 4, 5:49*pm, Giles wrote:
On Dec 3, 2:41*pm, DaveS wrote:





On Nov 29, 5:57*pm, Giles wrote:

This time of year, in this part of the world, one's attention is drawn
(if one is paying attention at all) to the essentials. *Even with all
of the modern conveniences, even with electricity, forced air
furnaces, refrigeration, internal combustion engines, supermarkets,
television.....and free libraries.....life can sometimes still be a
pretty harsh business in northern latitudes between the tail end of
one year and the maturation of the next. *It is a time for reflection,
not only of the blinding low sunlight off of the windshields other
cars on the freeways and the city streets, but also on methods and
reasons for continued existence, albeit most people in the developed
world take both for granted.....a fundamental error for which we all
do, or eventually will, pay dearly, both as individuals and in larger
aggregations. *But that's later.....in the future.....with which we
don't *deal much, because we can't.

Well, actually, that's not all that true. *In fact, we can deal with
the future, as is obvious to those who take the time to look at the
past. *And that's what we do at this time of year. *Or, should,
anyway.....those of us with the time, inclination, and means. *And
most of us have the former and the latter in spades.

Here in Cheeselandia, those of us with the time, inclination, means,
AND an interest in the world outside the front door (well, o.k., and
basic literacy), can hardly help but bump into John, Aldo, and Gaylord
when looking at the past and the future.....but mostly Aldo. *And
Aldo, more and more, with each passing year and decade, brings us slap
up against the truth in all its unfathomable truth and complexity.
Take the Riley Game Cooperative, for example.

Happy hunting! * *

Wolfgang

Just back from a spin on the East Coast. Cambridge/Boston, New
Hampshire/Exeter, Manhattan/NYC, Amtrac/Jetsetc.. Enlightening.

10 years for me since the last Big Apple rendezvous. Amazing place.
Staring down into the World Trade hole from 16th floor reveals both
the truth of the anthill as well as it's complexity. A reconnecting
dinner and apt on Park Avenue raises speculative fantasy of life
routes traded for heading West. The Museaum of Modern Art, dispositive
proof that not all art is equal nor is any such notion sustainable.
The Eastern Rail Corridor, a be-grudged achievement by any standard
not doomed by the Rightard death wish. New England, as pretty,
claustrophobic and brown-gray as ever. Good food in a nephew built
salt box, and creaky soccer legs later. Boston, continuing
intellectual capitol and Cambridge, a challenge to a Silverback's
dream of re-anchoring a family in the Pacific NW. And that always
reassuring point on the flight home when the screen if not the night
sky or the Northern lights says the Rockies or the Cascades are
below.

All of which is to say that I am reassured that for me at least, the
opportunity and work ahead for me and my trees is where I am supposed
to be and what I am supposed to do.

Dave

Nice. Very nice stuff.

Connection to place (and thus, often enough, to one degree or another,
to a way of life) has always been among the best reasons to go on
living. *Of course, there are many other best reasons to go on
living.....but how many does one really need?

giles- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thank you. I read the WHS article on Aldo/Game Association, and that
one on spatial theory, . . . both very interesting and relevant to the
mixed cover, river course I am working with. Colder than usual Winter
as predicted setting in here. We don't do real cold here very pretty.

Dave

On Dec 5, 3:01*am, DaveS wrote:

Thank you.

De nada.

I read the WHS article on Aldo/Game Association, and that
one on spatial theory, . . . both very interesting and relevant to the
mixed cover, river course I am working with.

Haven't looked at the latter, but found the former both fascinating
and revealing.....especially in light of further reading. What
sparked the whole affair was references to the Riley business in the
prefatory material to "For the Health of the Land: Previously
Unpublished Essays and Other Writings" by Aldo Leopold, Edited by J.
Baird Callicott and Eric T. Freyfogle.....none of which would likely
have produced a lasting impression in most people. Nor in your
correspondent.....except for the fact that coincidence is the
fundamental organizing principle of the universe. Growing up in
Curdistan and embracing the out of doors makes unfamiliarity with
Leopold virtually impossible......well, except for the illiterate and
aliterate, which, granted, comprises the vast majority.....but that's
a whole 'nother lament. In any case, I have, in the past few decades,
spent a great deal of time in Leopold's company, never tiring of his
oft repeated (which is to say, reread) stories.....see "Good Oak" for
a sterling example.....and, in the past couple of weeks, gone past his
property several times. Unbeknownst to me, at the time, I had also
(not surprisingly, under the circumstances) passed by the Riley
property a number of times. Well, these ARE "The Sand Counties" after
all.....so what? So, it turns out that Callicott is also a
disturbingly familiar name. Hm.....where have I heard that before? I
don't know. But Google does!

Turns out that J. Baird Callicott, who, according to Wikipedia, "is an
American philosopher whose work has been at the forefront of the new
field of environmental philosophy and ethics" and who is currently
"University Distinguished Research Professor and a member of the
Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies and the Institute of
Applied Sciences at the University of North Texas," also once "held
the position of Professor of Philosophy and Natural Resources at the
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point from 1969 to 1995, where he
taught the world’s first course in environmental ethics in 1971." etc.

AHA! I KNOW that guy. Well, I met him a couple of times anyway.
Turns out that Callicott and I have a mutual acquaintance, through
whom we were introduced. My old friend, Gail, once worked for
Callicott (a work/study job as general secretary/factotum/gopher/
amanuensis) while the three of us shared tenure (of one sort or
another) at UWSP back in the early 90s. Visiting Gail in her (his)
offfice from time to time, it was virtually inevitable that Callicott
and I were eventually introduced to one another, and we engaged in a
bit of polite conversation on a couple of occasions. So?

So, I had completely forgotten him and (it is virtually certain) vice
versa (well, there IS the distinct possibility that an unusual name
would ring a faint bell, even if heard decades later).

In any case, one dare not (if one has anything resembling good sense)
ignore such convergences. There is meaning somewhere in there.....or
should be.....or we can manufacture it if need be.



Meanwhile, Aldo. Leopold's impressions, convictions, attitudes, and
methods evolved over time. The Riley business serves as a good enough
example of how Leopold departed from his (and his mentor's) earlier
convictions and goals. None of which might be interesting (and
certainly none of it is.....to most people) except for that all
important connection to place.

Colder than usual Winter as predicted setting in here. We don't do real cold here very pretty.

The difference between there (climate) and here, or near enough,
anyway (weather)......you don't do cold very pretty there, and cold is
clean, clear to the bone UGLY here (or near enough, anyway).

+2 F. at the tree farm at 10:17 p.m (CST).....and doubtless much less
pretty 5 or 6 hundred miles to the northwest.....and the BEGINNING! of
winter still three weeks or so away.

Wolfgang
whose recent experiments with a leaf blower to control snow in the
immediate environs of the house proved remarkably successful.....for a
very short while.

On Dec 5, 8:28*pm, Giles wrote:
On Dec 5, 3:01*am, DaveS wrote:

Thank you.

De nada.

I read the WHS article on Aldo/Game Association, and that
one on spatial theory, . . . both very interesting and relevant to the
mixed cover, river course I am working with.

Haven't looked at the latter, but found the former both fascinating
and revealing.....especially in light of further reading. *What
sparked the whole affair was references to the Riley business in the
prefatory material to "For the Health of the Land: Previously
Unpublished Essays and Other Writings" by Aldo Leopold, Edited by J.
Baird Callicott and Eric T. Freyfogle.....none of which would likely
have produced a lasting impression in most people. *Nor in your
correspondent.....except for the fact that coincidence is the
fundamental organizing principle of the universe. *Growing up in
Curdistan and embracing the out of doors makes unfamiliarity with
Leopold virtually impossible......well, except for the illiterate and
aliterate, which, granted, comprises the vast majority.....but that's
a whole 'nother lament. *In any case, I have, in the past few decades,
spent a great deal of time in Leopold's company, never tiring of his
oft repeated (which is to say, reread) stories.....see "Good Oak" for
a sterling example.....and, in the past couple of weeks, gone past his
property several times. *Unbeknownst to me, at the time, I had also
(not surprisingly, under the circumstances) passed by the Riley
property a number of times. *Well, these ARE "The Sand Counties" after
all.....so what? *So, it turns out that Callicott is also a
disturbingly familiar name. *Hm.....where have I heard that before? *I
don't know. *But Google does!

Turns out that J. Baird Callicott, who, according to Wikipedia, "is an
American philosopher whose work has been at the forefront of the new
field of environmental philosophy and ethics" *and who is currently
"University Distinguished Research Professor and a member of the
Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies and the Institute of
Applied Sciences at the University of North Texas," also once "held
the position of Professor of Philosophy and Natural Resources at the
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point from 1969 to 1995, where he
taught the world’s first course in environmental ethics in 1971." etc.

AHA! *I KNOW that guy. *Well, I met him a couple of times anyway.
Turns out that Callicott and I have a mutual acquaintance, through
whom we were introduced. *My old friend, Gail, once worked for
Callicott (a work/study job as general secretary/factotum/gopher/
amanuensis) while the three of us shared tenure (of one sort or
another) at UWSP back in the early 90s. *Visiting Gail in her (his)
offfice from time to time, it was virtually inevitable that Callicott
and I were eventually introduced to one another, and we engaged in a
bit of polite conversation on a couple of occasions. *So?

So, I had completely forgotten him and (it is virtually certain) vice
versa (well, there IS the distinct possibility that an unusual name
would ring a faint bell, even if heard decades later).

In any case, one dare not (if one has anything resembling good sense)
ignore such convergences. *There is meaning somewhere in there.....or
should be.....or we can manufacture it if need be.

Meanwhile, Aldo. *Leopold's impressions, convictions, attitudes, and
methods evolved over time. *The Riley business serves as a good enough
example of how Leopold departed from his (and his mentor's) earlier
convictions and goals. *None of which might be interesting (and
certainly none of it is.....to most people) except for that all
important connection to place.

Colder than usual Winter as predicted setting in here. We don't do real cold here very pretty.

The difference between there (climate) and here, or near enough,
anyway (weather)......you don't do cold very pretty there, and cold is
clean, clear to the bone UGLY here (or near enough, anyway).

+2 F. at the tree farm at 10:17 p.m (CST).....and doubtless much less
pretty 5 or 6 hundred miles to the northwest.....and the BEGINNING! of
winter still three weeks or so away. * * *

Wolfgang
whose recent experiments with a leaf blower to control snow in the
immediate environs of the house proved remarkably successful.....for a
very short while. * *

I will graze Callicott as well.
The Riley/Aldo stuff rings home to me because as a kid, hunting in NJ,
we were taught lots of the game cover practices that were applied at
Riley. NJ is a small state and the ag landscape offered a similar mix
of wood, cultivated and fallow field, corn/soy/mixed farming, brush,
etc as that described at Riley. Personally my understanding evolved
into a simple "pleat" analogy; ie in a given space, increase the
number and intersection of "pleats." So for example, add missing upper
and lower stories of flora. Add more secure and foul weather places
for fauna. Create more edges between cover types. etc.. As red-neck 14
year olds we knew this stuff because as hunters we had direct evidence
that these practices yielded more and different game for our
shotguns.

Obviously this was before the day that the NRA shifted its focus from
conservation and safety, into protecting my rights to buying and
carrying unregistered thug guns I might need to rob a store or defend
the Republic against the threat of universal health care. And of
course, creaping suburbanization didn't help our brush piles much
either.

2 degrees? Are you kidding? We get very squirrelly when things move
into the 20s. Except when we are skiing in the Mtns. But then
flatlanders are not much fun to watch driving in the Mtns either.

Dave