Midweek Musings...How does your garden, farm, forest

I have been carrying around a one page piece of writing by my Father. I ran across it some time ago in one of his many files we continue to sort through. We have it down to about fifty boxes...

I never know when I am going to come across a random gem among his years as an expert witness as a forestry economist. Thoughts on one of his children, forests, God, his current decisions or conflicts he was wrestling with...he was a beautiful writer.

Wesley Rickard was Weyerhaeuser's first Forestry Economist. He was at the helm of groundbreaking work as it relates to what he called "Target Forestry." It was later renamed "High-Yield Forestry" - which he opposed for the obvious reason - it would mislead the public as to the true intention behind his work.

He eventually resigned and started his own consulting company and practiced for 50 years. One of the best in the world, I am told by those who know his work.

This piece he wrote is a wonderful example of how we were raised to think about our place in the natural world. Interactors, stewards, a part of the landscape - with a responsibility to protect the health of the forest. I don't know when he wrote it, but it by the "to do" notes on the back of the page, my best guess is at least 30 years ago.

Dad often used the farm and the garden as microcosm examples. You weed your garden, you fertilize, you rotate crops, you manage the population of animals on your farm, you propagate for resiliency. Why should the approach to the forest exclude the same practices?

A large amount of my father's career was spent working for Native American Tribes across the country. He often sat across from government lawyers and gave them the bill for the mismanagement of tribal lands and treaty violations.

He was keenly aware of the tenants of tribal forestry - which stem from the core belief that we are part of the land. He understood that forests serve many purposes - not just one. A mutually inclusive landscape of conservation, recreation, sacred, foraging, wild spaces, and consumption/production.

Thus, he always started with the phrase,

"What do you want from your forest?"

Place a small group of young animals say calves, chickens, in a limited space with water where suitable food grows; and leave them entirely alone. They grow larger and require more of the available food and water. Then the reproduce and require even more space and water. In time more food, water, and space is sought than is available. The animals are no longer vigorous and healthy. Disease increases and no action is taken to control it. You now have crowding with stunted growth in unhealthy animals that are not very healthy, even for enjoyable observing.

The purpose, or goal, in having these young animals wasn't acknowledged and pursued. Crowding and stunted growth could be avoided by thinning out the group with the relocation of the healthy animals that are removed. The remaining selected as best for the goal, would be vigorous, healthy, and resistant to disease. Going forward any disease that arises would be treated.

The result would be healthy animals that are very useful, in this case for meat, eggs, soil health, and enjoyable interaction. The management is constructed to serve the goal, i.e. the purpose in having animals.

Now, take a forest stand of trees in a limited space but with ample water and suitable soil nutrients. Initially the trees grow large and reproduce. The canopy provides sunlight to the forest flow benefiting a variety of plants and animals.

Over time, the trees require more of the available food and water. The stand becomes crowded, growth is stunted, loss of sunlight prevents vigorous regeneration and companion vegetation. Animals are pushed out by lack of food and space. Biodiversity is lost. Water becomes scarce and soil health diminishes. Available resources are depleted and wasted on trees that will die. The ecosystem is out of balance. Risk of insect infestation, disease, and wildfire damage is imminent. Carbon sequestration is lost.

But with the goal identified, good stocking density can be secured thorough thinning and good reforestation - followed by appropriate harvesting for a stand objective whose structure - with protection against hazards - will secure the goal - future health of the forest.

As I transcribed this piece and made a few edits - I started to hear a song. Happens to me a lot. It is a song I have sung for years with kids and adults. I love it because although it is about gardening - which is one of my passions - it is about why gardening feeds my soul. It is the connection to the land and the "nurturing with nature" to care for the gifts that come from earth, air, sun, and water.

And that, of course, brings me back to the man that made up songs as he wheeled me around the yard in a wheelbarrow, showed me how to listen for the birdsong ride across the landscape with the sunrise, and taught me to - respectfully - take my place in nature - and rejoice in being human.

Garden Song
David Mallett, 1975

Inch by inch, row by row
Gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe
And a piece of fertile ground

Inch by inch, row by row
Someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below
Till the rain comes tumblin' down

Pullin' weeds and pickin' stones
Man is made of dreams and bones
Feel the need to grow my own
'Cause the time is close at hand

Grain for grain, sun and rain
Find my way in nature's chain
Tune my body and my brain
To the music from the land

Plant your rows straight and long
Temper them with prayer and song
Mother Earth will make you strong
If you give her love and care

Old crow watchin' hungrily
From his perch in yonder tree
In my garden I'm as free
As that feathered thief up there
Inch by inch, row by row

Gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe
And a piece of fertile ground

Inch by inch, row by row
Someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below
Till the rain comes tumblin' down