Pardon my snarkyness and probable ignorance but time is seemingly short and I still have a few thoughts to share. You see, the Green Mountain National Forest was founded April 25, 1932 and according to Wikipedia it was founded "due to uncontrolled overlogging, fire and flooding." The GMNF and the White Mountain National Forest make up the whole of National Forests in New England.
Stay with me if you please as I take you down this trail of another sorts.
"It was built across two ridgelines in the Towns of Searsburg and Readsboro and it went into operation in late 2017."
"The turbines were built within some of the largest concentrations of bear scarred beech remaining in southern Vermont." VTF&W Deerfield Wind Black Bear Study
I implore my readers to investigate VF&W's latest posted update on the black bear study dated 2018 . Many, including myself have asked for updates on this study. We are impatient and have a genuine interest in what the overall impact of this project has been.
Though it doesn't feel right to me, I don't actually know if the turbine project was good or bad. Different entities have their goals and sometimes they conflict. I did read that there had been a trade off of land as way of a compensation for the loss in GMNF. Three smaller parcels of land that were of conservation interest in other states and VT were conserved in that deal. Does it make sense to sacrifice one large interconnected wilderness area for turbines and three disconnected parcels of desired land?
That's a big question.
I have come to the mindset that looking towards policy for answers is much too long of a wait to get the job done. I'm not saying that policies, laws, zoning, special interests and the like are a bad thing, they do after all tend to move things in an agreed upon direction. But with times and challenges being what they are, I'm convinced that a small network of motivated and informed citizens can more readily generate positive results, it fact we may hold the key to getting the job done. I call these networks- neighbors.
Let's face it, there isn't much land left that isn't interrupted, altered and owned. So what's a critter to do if he can no longer go from here to there and there to here? How does he find the resources that he requires for survival and partners which contribute to ah-hem genetic diversity? If he loses his beechnuts, do you suppose he will go in search of a drive through window or better yet, the all you can eat buffet provided by your neighborhood? I sincerely hope so. For while we as a nation continued debating policy, the Monarch Butterfly became endangered. In sad fact, the EPA reports that over 1,300 species have been identified as endangered and threatened in the US.
Wayne knows all about compromise, he has lived through the alarmed comments of Vernon residents as I put my rewilding notions into practice. In my defense, allow me to inform you that I wasn't even the first in the Village to have this idea. Vernon Village used to have a covenant in place stating that fences were not allowed. Knowing this tidbit, do take a lap around and see that most lots still have tree lines making up their property boundaries.
"Have you noticed all of the bugs coming from your tall grass?"
" It's a little late to start weeding now isn't it?"
"Things have gotten a little ahead of you."
"I see, you must have an English garden."
Five distinct heights of plants, shrubs, and trees; open spaces, a thicket, a brush pile, stacked wood; water with bubbling sounds, deep water, shallow water, frequently changed water; never rake always mulch; avoid green lawn chemicals; plant native! cut at level 9 with the mower but tell Wayne it's level 8. commence with battling invasive plants, BIO- DIVERSITY, take a deep breath when the dogs are sprayed, expect unruliness (from squirrels mostly); plant all kinds of nut trees even though you are allergic to nuts; plant berries, apples, cherries, lawn flowers; plant for bees, birds, butterflies...and be grateful when they setup shop; allow a swath of plants to grow that you cut only once a year, make your own dirt, without telling your neighbors create hidden paths to their yards, don't become too attached to your native NJ Tea (deer like it too). Expect mistakes, try again!
Post a sign asking for forgiveness "Pardon the weeds, I'm feeding the bees"
Rejoice and compliment when your neighbor asks questions and then plants a pollinator garden. Work together to build upon each others backyard corridors, now there are two acres instead of only one. Make sure to share pictures and stories of wild inhabitants!
Porcupine
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