Marking Timber, Summer 2008 Issue of Northern Woodlands Magazine
Written by Alex Danczyk
January 13th, 2011
A woodland hermit is what I may one day become. The woods are abundantly alive, even when you may not think so. The bitter cold winter days that are as calm as a sleeping baby have more life than you think. The trees may appear seemingly dead, but as a storm moves in and the trees sway back and forth creaking, it's as if they are speaking. There is so much going on that if you do so much as blink, you might miss something. Becoming deeply in touch with what nature has to offer never ceases to amaze me. A few weeks ago while ice fishing on a backwater slough of the Wisconsin River I encountered on the shoreline a shrew scurrying amongst the leaf litter left uncovered by the snow. I listened and then I watched as it was most likely searching for food. I watched the small gray rodent without any intentions of disturbing it's lifestyle and so it continued on living as if I was never there. During the time of the encounter, it was as if I could feel the flow of energy between us. A flow of energy that contains trust and respect.
This article happens to address a deep connection not with man and animals but with man and trees. It goes in depth into the life of a forester as he marks trees to be cut or not to be cut in a future timber harvest. Many foresters may just see their job as... well... just that, a job. Bob Perschel, the author, does not see it that way. He is not the typical forester. However, he does get his job done in an efficient manner with great quality, but in such a way that allows him to see the individuality in each tree. Every tree has an identity unique to all others. An identity that serves as the personality of the tree. Bob has the ability to pay great attention to this detail and respect each tree as equally as the other. He treats trees as if they're alive and have fully functional minds, but he also looks deeper into the situation. He looks into the future health of the forest to depict which trees to mark. After all, he does control the fate of the tree within his own hands. This relationship amongst man and tree is another example of a deep unified connection between the two. Unfortunately in this relationship the tree gets cut down, but an old tree dies and a young tree lives.
The next time you're in the woods, take time to really appreciate what is there. There is a lot of beauty provided by nature that is there to be shared by all inhabitants. We are fortunate to have such intricate and complex minds that allow us to connect to the natural world with such great emotion. Pay attention to all the little details out there or else you just might miss something spectacular.
6 comments:
Alex,
The very reason I am here today studying forestry and soils is summarized in your post. It is true, at least with me, that there is a deep, underlying connection between man and the land that provides. All to often this connection is ignored, the land exploited and taken for granted. A terrible sin in my eyes.
I know of this connection that you feel with nature, I have felt it as well. It is quite amazing to see all that nature has to offer us. I feel that we are too preoccupied in our busy lives to realize what is out there, but when we do it is quite an uplifting and awe-inspiring feeling. We should all take the time to stop and smell the roses and really see what the forests have to offer us. I do hope that we can keep sustaining our forests in a way where future generations can enjoy them as we can now. I really like to article that you based this off of, I will have to look it up because you have sparked some curiosity about reading it all.
Brian,
I couldn't agree with you more. Long ago people had no choice but to relate with nature. Presently, we are becoming increasing apart from the natural world. There are very few places left that still represent true wilderness. It's hard to get away from any type of disturbance from humanity any more. An awful sin indeed, and things are only going to continue to get worse.
Sarah,
I'm glad we can relate on such an important subject. Even the ugliest things in nature are still quite beautiful. It is the constant interaction with your surroundings as soon as you take step into the woods that keep you coming back for more. I pleasantly hope you are right in that our forests be maintained for future generations. It is an increasingly scary thought as the world population continues to rise at alarming rates. Urban sprawl will continue to have it's effects. Every problem that exist in this world has been because of humans, and every day we continue to try and mop up our mistakes. People are just too afraid to admit it.
I just did a timber cruise on land that our Township owns, to help them plan a reasonable harvest without wrecking the plot. While I'm doing a cruise, I feel like I'm trying to nurture the property to better growth. I SO agree with you, Alex, about seeing the critters and the connection between trees and the healthy forest.
Hey Alex,
rightly respectable post! I have had similar "nature moments" before. I believe this connection must be remembered and often reflected on by a forester. Having moments like those in the woods, being able to see the strength, simplicity, etc... in small moments is what compells me to be a forester. In my experience of working with foresters, that understanding remains but is often buried below alot of other beuricratic stuff. Hold that understanding sacred like Bob does!
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