Monday, March 3, 2014

Through the Eyes of a Naturalist

“There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.”
 - Aldo Leopold,
A Sand County Almanac
Observing Tree Rings on a fallen American Beech.

TLC kicked off the Community Read Initiative on February 22nd with a nature hike through the snow-covered grounds of Bucktoe Creek Preserve. This first program was focused on the chapter "February" from A Sand County Almanac.

The chapter begins with the quote stated above and continues with a historical look at the sand counties in Wisconsin from the perspective of a fallen Oak. As Leopold's saw cuts through each tree ring, he reflects on the significance of that year and the idea that, we as humans cannot become disconnected from the land that continues to support and nurture us.

Our hike was focused on telling the story of tree rings at Bucktoe Creek Preserve. By looking at the size of each ring in the sapwood layer, we were able to determine the years of significant hurricanes or droughts from a recently fallen American Beech.

As we described the changes this particular beech tree had seen over the years, we recall what the land has to offer and how the balance between the man and land must proceed in unity. If left unbalanced, we will continue to see the large scale effects of degradation and destruction.


Taking in all the beauty of winter.
Read with us Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac and explore the topics of a Land Ethic. Next up:


Community Read Speaker Series: 
"How the Red Clay Greenway is an Integral Part of the Land Ethic." 
Thursday, March 6th @ 6:30pm at the Bayard Taylor Library. Learn how walk-able communities like the Red Clay Greenway tie into Leopold's Land Ethic. Follow up with the talk by traveling the Red Clay Greenway on Saturday, March 8th from 10am - 12pm to see the growing trail connectivity in Kennett Square. Both the walk & talk will be led by Gwen Lacy, Executive Director of The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County. Free to attend. RSVP by clicking here!


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