Walden and Skinny Places
Walden
There is a prevailing thought in conservation that people won’t save what we don’t love; therefore, the community is always looking for ways to connect people with nature. You don’t have to go outside or farm to feel connected; some people feel a deep connection to nature through the stories of others. Certainly, Walden connected generations to a small parcel of land just outside of Boston. The other night, I was at a lecture by historian and author Doug Brinkley, who was recounting the environmental movement of the '60s and '70s. What I thought would be a lecture mostly about Rachel Carson turned out to be a story of the political players of the 1960s and '70s. As Brinkley worked through the timeline, he discussed the role of the Kennedy family during the beginning of this phase of the environmental movement. Rose Kennedy loved the outdoors and grew up exploring around and swimming in Walden Pond. It would be fair to say that she was entranced by Walden as well as the works of Thoreau. Many years later, she and her children would make annual trips to Walden Pond to explore and study. I was aware of the elder Kennedy’s influence in the politics of the time but learned they were also very engaged in conservation. Interestingly, JFK was initially not much of an environmental president, despite spending much of his youth outdoors. To transform him into an environmental president, the conservation thought leaders of the day set out to find JFK’s Walden. As many may recall, JFK loved to sail and loved oceans, and because of his deep connection, he created a number of National Seashores; the sea was his Walden Pond.
“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.
”
Skinny Places
Thinking about what my Walden caused me to remember a story a friend passed along about skinny places. I have since learned that this is an old Irish fable of sorts. The story goes something like this (with creative license invoked): A young couple was driving in the country, searching for a lake they heard was beautiful. They were hopelessly lost when they saw a local person walking along the road. They asked the local if she knew where this lake was. She replied that she did and exclaimed that it was a skinny place. “What is a skinny place?” they asked. “A skinny place is where the distance between earth and heaven is very skinny,” the woman answered.
A full moon in Alaska in winter is magical
I like the idea of skinny places because unlike finding your Walden, there seems to be potential for many skinny places, and I personally have a few. One stands out as a magical experience that occurred out the back door of our house in Fairbanks. It was a full moon in February with lots of snow covering the spruce trees (there is historically no wind in Fairbanks, and the snow is so light that it can sit on the trees for weeks). I was skiing with our dogs of the time, and I turned the corner into full moonlight (the moon was bright enough that I did not need a headlamp). The moonlight sparkled off the snow on all the trees and lit the field below. I had to stop in awe; it was breathtaking, and I still feel that sense of awe when I re-experience that night in my mind's eye. Kelly’s skinny place is Wonder Lake in Alaska. If you have ever been or seen the iconic picture of Denali reflected in Wonder Lake, you understand why. Kim’s skinny place is in the total opposite direction – underwater at Palmyra Atoll because it was like swimming in a rainbow. We each experienced awe at the beauty before us. It made me feel part of something larger and gave me a deeper appreciation for nature.
Holiday Wishes
The farm has some skinny shoes to fill and provides that daily gratitude and connection to nature for each of us. I am not religious, heck I am not even sure that I am spiritual, but I do know that I find peace and fulfillment in those places that some call Walden, some call skinny, and I call home.
Wishing you, your family, and loved ones peace and happiness this holiday season.
Come See Us
We actually do have one more market this year. We will be at the Berkshire Grown Winter Market in Housatonic at the Housy Dome on Dec 16th from 10-2. Come see us.