Everything's Connected
An oft heard phase from ecologists and biologists is that it is all connected. It was Rachel Carson that said, “Nowhere on the shore is the relation of a creature to its surroundings a matter of a single cause and effect; each living thing is bound to its world by many threads, weaving the intricate design of the fabric of life.”
A new day represents hope and new beginnings
Hope
We see and celebrate interconnectedness every day on the farm. It thaws a little and the bluebirds show up. The warmth of the sun can be felt and chickadees start singing their “feebee” song. Barred owls are thinking about starting families. The daylight increases and the buds on the magnolia trees grow larger. On a warm day and where branches have broken off the maples, precious sap leaks down the tree and attracts the sapsuckers. If you look for it, you can see connections everywhere.
One place you do not often see connections is in government. A bill intended to protect farms and small business has millions of dollars of unrelated spending. But this week I saw connections.
As farmers that rely on the timeless cycle of nature and the spring climate of warming days with cold nights, we are extremely interested mitigating and stopping climate change. We recognize there is not just one thing to do but that there are many actions to take and they are all interconnected. So it was with great interest that we read the climate initiatives that came out this week because they recognized these connections. Climate impacts, and is impacted by, biodiversity, farming practices, social issues, and even our national defense. It has been heartening to see that we are finally addressing what we have been seeing for a long time; fewer bugs, birds, and bats; hotter days; less snow; and less rain. I feel hopeful that we can solve some of our most pressing problems. If we all work together, I know we can meet this challenge.
Winterberries make for great winter pictures and food for wildlife
Help in the Woods
Speaking of working together, we were joined this week by Clay and we welcomed Abby back before the holidays. We have an experienced hand and an aspiring farmer to help us get through our most important time on the farm. Abby and Clay, under JP’s careful tutelage, added 148 new taps last week. We are eagerly anticipating sugaring season. Some days are harbingers of the impending season and then days like today remind all three of us of our time living in Alaska.
We put in 148 new taps last week. Off we grow!
Stay warm, enjoy what winter brings, and watch for those connections.
The only thing to do on a day this cold is to rest up for the long days ahead, stay warm, and have some cocoa.