Mary And Nature Interpretation

To be quite honest, I was very hesitant about taking this course because of my lack of nature experience and non-existent relationship with nature while growing up. However, I am so grateful that I did because this course changed the way I look at nature in many ways by introducing me to new things that I never would have discovered I had a passion for. Although the majority of the people enrolled in this course probably had a relationship with nature previously, this was never the case for me because of my upbringing in the city of Toronto with an indoor-loving family. For this reason, the greatest gift this course gave me is the encouragement to discover my love for nature and realize the positive impact it has played in my life. I always enjoyed nature and my limited time outdoors while growing up; however, I never truly found my “sense of place” in nature or developed a relationship with nature before this course (Beck et al. 2018, p. 10). 

A picture of my father during our trip to Kelowna, British Columbia. This was one of the first trips that we spent the majority of the time outdoors by going hiking, swimming and canoeing. Photo credits: Myself :)

Through writing these weekly blog posts, I was able to sit down and take the time to really think about all of the good thing’s nature has to offer and I was able to find my “sense of place” in nature. Nature has become my escape and is one of the main parts of my life that makes me excited because it always has something new to offer, which is especially important during the times that we are currently living in. Throughout this pandemic, nature truly helped me maintain my emotional and physical health as it was the only driving factor that would get me out of the house on most days. After taking the time to truly reflect on the role nature has played in my life (especially within the past year), I learned that nature isn’t important for humans, it is essential. It’s essential to sustain the species of this Earth including ourselves, it’s essential for our physical well-being, it’s essential for our mental well-being and it essential for our overall quality of life because nature is everywhere, and it is a part of everything. 

This is a picture of my two roommates and I on our first spring hike the other day in The Elora Gorge. This trip was very necessary for our mental and physical well-beings, as we used it to de-stress from a hectic midterm season. Photo credits: Us :)

As we have learned in this course, nature interpretation plays a role in many aspects of life including music, art, history, science, technology, environmental sustainability, etc. As mentioned in our course notes, although it can be discouraging to teach and learn about the environment due to the abundance of issues occurring in this world such as climate change, food scarcity, malnutrition, biodiversity loss, etc., the meaningful experiences and impact that nature can have on people makes it all worth it (Wals, Brody, Dillon, & Stevenson, 2014) (Hooykaas, 2021). 

Before this course, becoming a nature interpreter was never a career path I ever considered because I wasn’t knowledgeable enough about the topic and I never took the time to learn about it. I suppose this was the case because I never truly discovered my relationship with nature until enrolling in this course; however, I am so glad that I did because I found a new passion that I never would have discovered without the guidance and encouragement from this course. 

As a nature interpreter, I believe my responsibilities include being an advocate for nature, building a trusting connection with my audience through authenticity and doing my best to ensure I have the correct knowledge that I will eventually be sharing with others. Whether I am interpreting the role nature plays in music, science or other important aspects of my life, it is my duty to deliver and translate this knowledge in a way that is effective for my audience and demonstrates my true passion for these topics. I know it is my responsibility to be authentic and enthusiastic with my audience, no matter who it is, to ensure that I leave them with a fond, meaningful and long-lasting memory. It is my responsibility to give my audience the information and support they need to make their own personal interpretations that will help them make positive connections within their own lives. 

This is a picture of my brother, my 2 cousins and myself during one of our first interpretive adventures at The Ontario Science Centre that i still remember to this day. Photo credits: My dad :)

I believe that, as an interpreter, it’s extremely important to consider the different cultural backgrounds/ethnicities, socioeconomic status, education levels, age groups, sexual orientations genders, people with physical disabilities, people with learning disabilities and religious beliefs of our audiences. As a mixed woman of colour, it is extremely important to me that everyone is mindful and respectful of the diverse social identity groups that exist in our world. Being aware of the diversity that is present in the audience will allow everyone to feel included and have an enjoyable experience. As mentioned in our textbook, one of the recommendations for inclusive interpretation is to hire more minority and bilingual interpreters (Beck et al. 2018, p. 135). It is important to have staff with diverse backgrounds and bilingual staff because it will allow visitors of all backgrounds to feel more wanted, included, welcomed and encouraged to partake in interpretative activities (Beck et al. 2018, p. 135). 

An approach that is important to me as an interpreter is to present my knowledge in a way that accommodates for all learning styles and types of intelligences. Personally, I am a visual learner who has strong intrapersonal, musical and spatial intelligences (Beck et al. 2018, p. 110, 111). After attending university, I realized that everyone learns in different ways because no two brains are alike. I’m a science student that doesn’t learn just by being told information or physically touching/doing; however, there are many people that can learn through these methods and that’s perfectly fine. There is no “right” way to learn because everyone is different, which is why it is the role of the interpreter to ensure that their audience feels included and accommodated for to the best of their abilities. 

I’ve learned so much about myself and my abilities throughout the duration of this course. I’m grateful for all of the lessons I’ve learned, and I will continue to use them throughout my journey in nature! 

What’s the greatest lesson that this course has taught you? 

Thank you, for the last time, 

Victoria :) 

References: 

- Beck, L., Cable, T., & Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore-Venture Publishing. 

- Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 10: Nature Interpretation’s Role in Environmental Sustainability [Course website]. University of Guelph CourseLink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca 

It is so nice to see someone who had been skeptical of this course find value in it! It’s always so amazing to hear about someone falling in love with nature. Nature really does provide an escape for so many people, I know it certainly does for me. I think the benefits of nature on mental health are often overlooked, but a few minutes outside can make a big difference. I completely agree that nature is essential, not only for the reasons you listed but also for the goods and services they provide! Your passion growing for nature is a perfect example of what the role of a nature interpreter is, as one gains knowledge they also allow their passion to grow! I’m curious if you have been practicing your new interpretation skills on your family? I see that they were similar to you in their comfort indoors, and I think it would be amazing if you could “convert” them to be nature lovers like the us! I am so excited for this class to move on and teach others about all aspects of nature.

Best of luck in your future!

Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?

Growing up in a rural area surrounded by woods instilled in me a deep love for nature, and a fierce desire to protect it. I hope this is something which you, the reader, have been able to feel through reading my writing. There is nothing more I could ask than for these short forays into interpretive writing to have given you a spark of curiosity, or some sense of awe about the world around you. After all, these feelings are what inspire people to protect the places I love (Beck et.al. 2018, pp 11, 21, 471-2).

I still remember the first time I saw the Rocky Mountains in Banff, Alberta. My brother had recently moved out there to pursue a career in mountain guiding, and we flew out to visit him. It’s such a strange experience, approaching the park. The land around Calgary is completely flat, with nothing but grass and farmer’s fields spanning from one horizon to another, and it was hard to imagine how just an hour’s drive from the airport could take us to some of the most massive mountains in Canada. But sure enough, as we drove, I could just see the smallest bumps appear on the horizon. 

(Image: Driving on the highway, the Rocky Mountains in the distance. By Sarah Morton)

In ten more minutes they grew. And in another ten they grew. And by the time we reached the park itself I was contorting myself around our luggage so I could take messy photos out the car window, because all thoughts in my head had been simplified to: Oh. BIG. It’s almost embarrassing the number of pictures I took on that trip, at one point I ran out of space on my phone, but it just goes to show what an impression that environment made on me. If there is anything I can do to share those amazing experiences I had with others, and to protect awe-inspiring places like this, then I want to do everything I can.

(Image: Driving through Banff National Park. Pictures can’t really convey the sense of size of these mountains. By Sarah Morton)

It is this love of nature which is the soul of nature interpretation. We have all learned from many teachers in our life; think back on which ones were your favourites. Which ones were the worst? I’m willing to bet that among those you found the least helpful there were many whose greatest failing was a lack of passion. Indeed, passion is often a large part of what determines the quality of a teacher. After all, if the teacher doesn’t care about the topic - if they’re bored, uninterested, just saying the lesson because it’s their job - why should you care either? But if a teacher is passionate about what they teach, if they genuinely want to show you what they find fascinating about the subject, then they can make anything interesting. I’ve had teachers who made learning statistics interesting, and I’ve never liked math! Regardless of the topic, if an audience has come to learn, then there are ways to present the information so that it remains interesting. For instance, this particular statistics teacher treated the class as more of an improv comedy act, and even if the topic was bland the class never was! It’s this same passion and enthusiasm that I strive to bring when teaching people about nature. This is part of why it is one of the founding principles of interpretation (Beck et.al. 2018, pp 85). Like many others, I consider nature interpretation more of a passion than just an occupation, and I want my work to reflect that (Beck et.al. 2018, pp 42).

In the act of interpreting nature to others, on a basic level I take on the responsibility of giving accurate, relevant information. But beyond that, I have to convey this information in a way meant to teach. By this, I mean that it would be easy to talk your ear off about how much I find animal behaviour interesting, but unless I convey that information in a way that is meaningful to you, you most likely will find withholding any of that information difficult. It is the responsibility of the interpreter to present well-designed interpretation programs to their audience, created with different learning styles in mind, and suited for the audience (Beck et.al. 2018, pp 110-3, 450-1). Additionally, it is the responsibility of the interpreter to seek to improve their presentation of the material through self-evaluation, evaluation from peers, and evaluation from managers (Beck et.al. 2018, pp 424). Although this kind of critique can be uncomfortable to receive, it is essential in achieving the goal of delivering the best presentation possible. And how can you really seek to improve if you’re unaware of what needs improvement in the first place? This is one of those cases where it’s better to “rip off the band-aid” for the sake of progress.

As this final entry comes to a close, I would like to thank you for reading this far. If you have read all of my other posts, thank you even more! Writing these posts has been an interesting experience, and I think a method of self-evaluation on some levels. Nature has always been such a huge part of my life, I never stopped to consider why I cared about it, or what made me care in the first place. But, these questions are important to ask when you’re in the business of trying to start others on the same path of acting as environmental stewards. Becoming more informed about the ways in which past nature interpreters have inspired and motivated people has given me the tools by which I can craft nature interpretation programs that suit the audience I’m interacting with, and give them the opportunity to form meaningful connections with the world around them. In the future, I hope for more opportunities to stretch my nature-interpreting muscles! Until then, I’m staying safe at home and waiting for spring to fully arrive.

Where do you see nature interpretation playing a part in your future? If not in a career, do you think you will pursue it as a personal interest?

-Sarah

References:

I always find it interesting reading about where people from our course were raised. It’s remarkable to be that even if we come from the suburbs, the country or the city, we all managed to find a sense of place in nature. I also think that the impact that Banff had on you is such a universal feeling, you feel humbled to be staring at such magnificent beauty. Passion really is the key to a happy life and successful career; people strive to do better for things they care about. I know that I personally have been able to continue to grow my knowledge on insects because my passion has made me determined to know more. You stated that nature interpretation is more of a passion than an occupation, and I think that those two things must go hand in hand to have a fulfilling career. My personal hope is to become a park ranger, I love the idea of being surrounded by nature, while knowing I am doing my part to protect it. I also think that being a park ranger allows for preparation in being a nature guide/ interpreter. I see my life being consumed by nature, both as a career and as a personal interest. Knowledge can be gained in so many ways, and I want to experience them all!

Thank you!

Sometimes, we need a reminder to reach for the top and grow to our full potential, but trees don’t! Trees that grow taller than the surrounding trees are known as “super canopy” trees, and once you notice one, you’ll start to notice just how many there are!

When you look at the tops of trees, or the canopy, in a forest, you may notice there are some trees that grow noticeably above the canopy created by the rest of the trees. These trees, that grow so much high than the others, are known as super canopy trees, and can be seen circled in red in the image below:

A photo I took of a view along the trail while hiking in Algonquin park. Spot the trees circled in red growing above the canopy!

Super canopy trees are usually White Pines, which can grow up to 30 meters tall (Kershaw, 2001). To be a super canopy tree, the tree must be at least 24 meters tall (Laughlin et al., 2017). In comparison, many common trees like sugar maple and silver birch grow to be around 20 meters tall (Kershaw, 2001).

These super canopy trees are very important for ecosystems, and are important to both old growth forests and second growth forests (Latremouille et al., 2008). Specifically, large birds like ospreys and eagles like to nest in super canopy trees (Latremouille et al., 2008). This way, the nests are protected from predators, and since ospreys and eagles build big, heavy nests, they need to select large trees like super canopy White Pines (Latremouille et al., 2008). These trees are also important for black bears, since super canopy White Pines often become hollow and these hollow sites make excellent dens for black bears (Latremouille et al., 2008). Not only are super canopy trees super impressive, but they are incredibly important for maintaining forest biodiversity and providing habitats for different animals!

Now you know all about super canopy trees, let’s test your powers of observation! How many super canopy trees can you count in the photo below?

Another photo I took while hiking in Algonquin Park. How many super canopy trees can you find in this photo?

Scroll down to below my references to see how many I counted!

Thanks for reading!

References:

Kershaw, L. (2001). Trees of Ontario. Lone Pine Publishing.

Latremouille, C., Parker, W. C., McPherson, S., Pinto, F., Fox, B., & McKinnon, L. (2008). Ecology and Management of Eastern White Pine in the Lake Abitibi (3E) and Lake Temagami (4E) Ecoregions of Ontario. Ontario Forest Research Institute. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294723982_Ecology_and_management_of_eastern_white_pine_in_the_Lake_Abitibi_3E_and_Lake_Temagami_4E_ecoregions_of_Ontario#pf17

Laughlin, M. M., Olson, E. R., & Martin, J. G. (2017). Arboreal camera trapping expands Hyla versicolor complex (Hylidae) canopy use to new heights. Ecology, 98(8), 2221-2223. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.1843

             I really enjoyed reading your post, as this is something I had no idea about! Of course I have seen these trees that grow higher than the others, but I did not realize they played such a valuable role or that they had a specific name! If you had asked me before reading your post I would have said that these “super canopy trees” would cause a problem for the ecosystem. I would have assumed that because those individual trees were succeeding than they were hindering other trees, but i see now that that allows for further diversity within the forest! I also didn’t realize that tree height was a selection trait for such a large range of species, you think that after a certain point all trees seem the same! I am curious about how much higher than the canopy a tree must be to be considered a super canopy tree. WIthin your photo I counted 4 super canopy trees, but I also was looking for obvious changes in height. 

Thank you for your post!

As I’ve mentioned in many of my previous blog posts, the relationship I have with nature did not come naturally to me and I never found a “sense of place” in nature while growing up, as it began to develop during my time at the University of Guelph. That being said, I believe that this course plays a major role in the constant development of my relationship with nature and the way in which I interpret it by encouraging me to learn about topics I never would have taken the time to learn about on my own. After working on our podcasts this week, I learned a lot of new and fascinating information about my species from all of my research, which was the Mottled Duskywing Butterfly. Today, I have decided to share some of this interesting information about butterflies with all of you!

This is a picture of the endangered Mottled Duskywing Butterfly (Erynnis martialis). Photo credits: https://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/121-mottled-duskywing

I decided to discuss the butterfly species as I slowly begin my nature interpretation journey to love the creatures that live in nature. The naturalistic type of intelligence, as mentioned in our textbook, explains that nature interpretation includes having the ability to identify and make distinctions in nature and the creatures that are a part of it (Beck et al. 2018, p. 112). It’s important for individuals to understand multiple intelligences because it will make them a better and more well-rounded interpreter (Beck et al. 2018, p. 112). I think it’s essential for an interpreter to understand multiple intelligences because it will allow them to apply their knowledge to many aspects of the world and share that knowledge with others. Now, let’s get right into those fun facts!

The most interesting knowledge that I learned from my research about butterflies is the unique way in which they consume food and liquids due to the structure of their mouths (North American Butterfly Association, 2017). They have tongues that function very similarly to a straw that they will often drink nectar from flowers with (North American Butterfly Association, 2017).

This is an image of a butterfly tongue (that acts in a similar manner to a straw). Photo credits: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/392939136215150520/

Another fact that I learned is that a butterfly’s lifespan is dependent on several factors including the size, species, location/habitat, and the time of year that this butterfly becomes an adult (Wetherbee, 2012). The average butterfly species will live approximately two weeks as an adult (Wetherbee, 2012).

Finally, the life cycle of a butterfly consists of four life stages, which includes the egg, caterpillar/larvae, pupa/chrysalis and adult butterfly stage. Butterflies use pheromones, which are specific scents that belong to each gender of butterflies (male and female), that are used to attract each other (Mottled duskywing, 2021). Once they attract each other, the female will lay her egg on her host plant of choice and the reproduction process begins there!

Some other interesting facts that I was previously unaware of is:

1. They have four wings, rather than just two (Rothery, 2021).

2. Butterflies are very antisocial creatures. They are very solitary, and it is very rare for them to socialize (Rothery, 2021).

3. Butterflies need heat to be able to fly or move, which is why they lay in the sun to warm up their wings before taking flight (Rothery, 2021).

Have you ever heard any of these facts before reading my blog post? Which fact was the most interesting to you and why?

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References:

1. Beck, L., Cable, T., & Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

2. Kris Wetherbee | For The Oregonian/OregonLive. (2012, June 23). 7 fascinating facts about butterflies (plus a quick quiz). Retrieved from https://www.oregonlive.com/hg/2012/06/7_fascinating_facts_about_butt.html

3. Mottled duskywing (Erynnis martialis). (2021). Retrieved from https://wildlifepreservation.ca/mottled-duskywing/

4. North American Butterfly Association. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.naba.org/qanda.html#:~:text=What%20do%20butterflies%20eat%3F,matter%2C%20and%20other%20organic%20material.

5. Rothery, B. (2021, February 04). Sensational butterflies: 12 amazing Butterfly facts for kids. Retrieved from https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/children/2019/jan/amazing-butterfly-facts-for-kids.html-butterfly-facts-for-kids.html

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Thank you so much for reading!

I was very excited to see a post about an insect this week! I think that they are often overlooked but have amazing life histories. Butterflies have a large range in their behavior and life cycles. For example, you wouldn’t think a butterfly could be a parasite would you? Even pretty things can have a dark side. The Maculinea alcon butterfly has a parasitic relationship with ants. When the butterflies are in their larval state (a caterpillar) they will drop to the ground and release a hormone that mimics that of the larvae of ants. The ants then take the caterpillar to their nest where they will feed it until it is time for it too pupate and emerge as a butterfly. The reason this is considered parasitic behaviour is because the ants tend to neglect their own true offspring to feed the growing caterpillar.

Here you can see a Maculinea larvae being carried by an ant, as well as an adult version of the butterfly. (Retrieved from NewScientist.com)

I also saw how one of your interesting facts was about how butterflies need warmer temperature to fly, which reminds me of another cool fact I know. Most butterflies will over winter as caterpillars burrowed under ground or will overwinter in their pupae stage, but some will as adults. Mouring cloaks, Question marks and Commas all overwinter as adults (that being said, they are in diapause, similar to hibernating). Do you know how these butterflies manage to survive the below freezing temperatures? Their blood contains chemical substances similar to antifreeze, them being sorbital and glycerol.

Goes to show there’s more than meets the eye!

Mary

“Antifreeze | Butterfly Zone.” https://www.butterflyzone.org/antifreeze/ (March 21, 2021). Brahic, Catherine.

While on a hike or ski, it’s tempting to want to put in some earbuds and listen to a podcast or your favourite playlist to keep your mind off of the difficulty of the physical activity that you are engaging in. However, when doing so, you are missing out on something wonderful and truly unique to nature; a live show brought to you exclusively by the animals and insects surrounding you. 

(A field cricket, which makes its recognizable tittering sound by rubbing its wings together. This sound is synonymous with sleep itself! Image from: Brittanica)

Music is simply defined as “patterns of sound varying in pitch and time produced for emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive purposes” (Krause et al., 2001). But this definition, to me, is very anthropocentric, and puts unnecessary boundaries and limits on what music is. The sounds of nature certainly fit within the definition of what I would consider to be “music”, but are not produced for these reasons (emotional, social, cultural processes); they occur as members of a species interact with each other, with members of other species, and with their abiotic environment. The animals in nature don’t care about making wonderful sounds for us; they are simply going about their lives. However, the sounds that they are creating are certainly music, and more than that, it is the first music that our world has created and the first music that mankind has ever heard. 

(The nightingale. Bird songs are an example of unbelievable beautiful music that can come out of animals in natural ecosystems. Listen to it sing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKqfcR4mXMI)

To put it in simple terms, nature’s music symbolizes life, activity, and prosperity of natural ecosystems. Thus, since nature’s music holds so much meaning behind it, of course it can be useful to us as nature interpreters. These soundscapes can act as a gateway into nature (Hooykaas, Unit 7); hearing them immerses the listener into the world of the natural, and helps them comprehend the interconnectedness, beauty, and diversity of life contained within natural ecosystems. 

But as much as we take take away from nature’s music as an outsider, we can also bring nature into our own lives through the music that we create. By doing so, we can exposure nature to the general public in subtle ways, garnering their interest in nature by including soundscapes that no man could produce into our man-made tunes (once again, a subtle act of nature interpretation). Additionally, us outdoorsy folks can bring a piece of nature with us even when we are nowhere near it, as listening to this music reminds us of how we feel when we’re outside. 

(LA band Lord Huron. Being a nature lover and a music lover, their stuff really strikes a chord with me! Image from: TimeOut magazine)

There are 3 artists which I would like to introduce you to, so that you can better understand what I mean. It’s hard to say exactly what makes each of the successful at giving off the “outdoorsy vibe”, but there is something about the beautifully haunting sounds they create that makes me feel like I do when I’m in nature. Give them a listen for yourself!

Lord Huron:

The Night We Met: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtlgYxa6BMU 

Meet Me in the Woods: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJOsLdBqbPA

Ben Howard: 

Promise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjg0Ip7TzzM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8ccDb6n5Wg

Bon Iver:

Flume: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuQrLsTUcN0

Holocene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWcyIpul8OE

Some questions for you this week: what are some artists that make YOU feel like you do when you’re outside? Why/how do you think their music makes you feel this way?

Thanks so much for reading (and listening)! 

Ty 🐪

References: 

Field cricket | insect. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/animal/field-cricket

Wildlife World. (2015, October 26). Singing nightingale. The best bird song. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdlIbNrki5o

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 7: Nature Interpretation Through Music. Lecture Notes Retrieved, March 5th, 2021

The Earth is a basin that holds mysteries and beauty all around. Music is a profound result of the earth and it can be heard and seen all around. Even if you don’t think you particularly enjoy music or feel connected to music, you would be surprised what you can learn. Even the crashing sound of foamy blue waves hitting a sandy shore, or wind penetrating between branches and leaves, twigs snapping, animals burrowing, birds singing can all be considered music. According to (Krause et al, 2001) every known human culture has music. Music is defined as patterns of sound differing in pitch and time made for emotional, social, cultural and cognitive purposes.

GIF by: Skull-heads

I think music is beautiful and a way for not only humans to communicate and express themselves but also other species. While doing research for my podcast on bees I came across a cute waggle dance honeybees do to communicate and convey messages (Flow Hive, 2019). I think it's amazing that even species as small as bees have their own way to communicate through song and dance which has evolved and stayed like this for centuries.

Waggle dancing honey bee! [Video file]. (2019, January 13). Retrieved March 06, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOZrNs22FAU

Another animal that comes to mind when I think of singing, is a bird. Birds use the song, call notes and behaviour to communicate, attract mates, warn of predators and more. I use to hate the sound of birds chirping in the morning, but when visiting cities with lots of construction in the morning I much rather have the birds! Music is all around us in nature and the more I take in the little things the more I realize the beauty around me. I want to continue to protect and be a steward of the earth to preserve its natural songs and beauty.

Retrieved from: https://www.lyricbirdfood.com/birding-hub/behavior/why-do-birds-sing-in-the-winter/

A song that immediately takes me back to road trips following a summer hike, a day trip to the beach, or just a sunset drive is actually my favourite John Denver song "Take me home country roads".

This classic always was played after a long day out in nature and let me reminisce about what I experienced that day on my way home. I live around a lot of agricultural lands and open space so outside is especially beautiful around sunset when I am finally driving back from my adventure. Because of COVID, I haven't listened to this song a lot as I have been staying home not able to do these fun things. It has almost been 1 year since this began the day after my birthday! It's hard to believe it'll be my birthday again this Thursday. I listened to the song as I was writing this and it took me back to all the times spent with friends and family and how much I want to go back to normal life. Music can be so powerful and can be heard all around us if you really pay attention. Songs can also let us reflect back to experiences we had in life and also connect us to those around.

Photo taken by me last spring on a hike. April 12th 2020.

Gray, P. Krause, B. Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C. & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54.

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.” – Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation

The author uses the word integrity to mean “the state of being whole and undivided” when remarking how we need to keep the past maintained for knowledge and memory of ancient things. This is all too reminiscent of a South Park episode entitled “Free Hat” in which George Lucas and Steven Spielberg are remaking all their old films to the dismay of the fans of said films. The episode came out in July of 2002 when E.T. and Star Wars had freshly been remastered, in real life, by Lucasfilm to the horror of Trey Parker (creator of South Park).

 Link: http://gph.is/2bqMPVv Source: comedycentral.com 

This episode was made in direct response to the announcement that Lucas and Spielberg were amid remastering Raiders of the Lost Ark. In the episode, Cartman Stan and Kyle (the quintessential characters of the show) protest directors altering these films by making a club called “Save Films from their Directors”. Stan states his reasoning because, “Movies are art, and art shouldn’t be modified! These films we all grew up with, that touched OUR lives and are parts of OUR souls are being updated and changed. If they keep getting changed, and updated, we eventually won’t recognize them anymore.” Not only did Steven Spielberg write South Park a letter to backhandedly thank them for being the villain in their show, but Spielberg and Lucas CANCELLED the remastering of Raiders of the Lost Ark merely weeks after the episode aired.

Link: http://gph.is/24IKcSC Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r13riaRKGo0

When Edward Hyams explores the thought of a railway station no longer existing once the train your riding leaves reminds me of the age old question, “If a tree falls in the middle of the woods, but no one is around to hear it: did it make any noise?” To which my answer is yes it did, regardless if a human is around to interpret it or not because I’m sure a bird, bear or badger was around to hear it! And my answer to Eddy Hyams is of course the railway still exists…for now! Time decays every human made structure whether it be via erosion, oxidation, explosions, etc. Humans have done their best to preserve past ancient civilization cultures through museums, designations of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and through individual families passing on heirlooms. What Mr. Hyams fails to neglect is that every moment is fleeting, and the world is in constant flux.

Link: http://www.keepcalmandposters.com/poster/5394670_keep_calm_cause_nothing_lasts_forever_even_cold_november_rain

I strongly suggest being knowledgeable about the past; as those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. But life isn’t about going backwards it’s about moving forward. There are times that we wish we could preserve in a time capsule and cherish forever but the adventure of life is there are new challenges and experiences lying ahead! I have a hunch Mr. Hyams longed for a time gone by and was the Don Quixote of his time. 

Honestly thought your post to this weeks’ prompt was great! Your connection to the South Park episode was particularly interesting. The idea that if things are constantly changed or modified from our past raises the question of whether or not we will even remember them for what they truly were anymore. This also strikes an eerily representative relationship to what the US experienced under the Trump presidency over the past 4 years. With falsified remarks and lies being told daily, Trump tried to rewrite his own history. However, maintaining records of the truth and what actually happened is the sense of integrity that must not be forgotten. As  you stated yourself, it generates a sense of obligation to maintain that history ensuring the whole is kept intact.

One thing I would like to note though is the context in which Hyams uses his train station metaphor. Rather than it being about the existence of the train station only if our train was in it; it may be more directed towards the idea that it is ignorant to even suggest it doesn’t exist solely based on if our train was in it or not. It’s the concept that history can’t be changed one way or the other and that it is inherently selfish to think our lives are the only determining factor in history. It can’t be changed one way or the other and thus is a great tool to utilize in educating our future decisions.

         I enjoyed reading your post! I really enjoyed your use of southpark to demonstrate your point on not altering the past. However, I do also think that we can use history to evolve and better ourselves. While I’m sure these movie chains are only recreating their movies to acquire more money, it also allows for them to improve upon their films, be more inclusive and listen to critiques. This is the mentality I think we need to maintain when interpreting nature, as we can always evolve to be a better teacher as well as a better person. 

This is how I order these by importance. If we are too occupied by the past or future, we ignore what is happening now and miss the opportunity to interact and enjoy the things happening now. Setting goals, being mindful of the outcome you want, planning; all of these acts as guides to helps us in the present and are only worthwhile as such, as focusing too much on the future can create anxiety. Using history, our mistakes, our regrets, our “what-if” to change and inform our decisions about our present and future are of course important but if we become to focused on these we become stuck and/or hopeless. That being said, none of these exist or should exist without the others because each have value to helping us grow and live meaningful self-aware lives. Does you order of importance differ?

Stick, rock, leaf: An exercise for reflecting on time

Taken by Jacob Kannel from Unsplash. 

When you want to help your audience reflect on their experience (especially a younger audience) this was a helpful tool I discovered. Ask them to collect a stick, a rock, and a leaf and have them say one thing that will “stick” with them (future), something that “rock-ed” (present), and what they want to “leaf” behind (past). This helps them to engage with their experience in the context of time.

Engaging with the Past

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.”

(Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

In this quote, Hyams is stating that while old things aren’t inherently more valuable, there is value in what they tell us.

“Those who fail to learn their history are doomed to repeat it.”

(Winston Churchill)

I am reminded of the over-quoted warning of not learning from history and as someone who is really interested in conservation, this is something I often think about when it comes to analysing conservation and management strategies. While our history is often sad, we have lost so many species due to humans impacts (overharvest, climate change, pollution, etc.), it is important to explain this to your audience with a message of hope. As I said earlier, past without present and future leaves us stuck, making it crucial to share our history to show our progress and encourage further growth.

“Yes our coral reefs are in danger but we are doing amazing things to combat this like using 3D printers to make artificial substrates to regrow coral!”(1,2). 

1.Perry, C. T., Alvarez-Filip, L., Graham, N. A., Mumby, P. J., Wilson, S. K., Kench, P. S., … & Macdonald, C. (2018). Loss of coral reef growth capacity to track future increases in sea level. Nature, 558(7710), 396-400.

          While I completely understand your reasoning behind how you ordered the importance of past, present and future, my ideas are different! I would have ordered them (from most to least important) past, future and then present. I say this because I think of the present as being the link between the past and the future. Without the knowledge of the past we would have nothing, we’ve been evolving and growing through mistakes and challenges since the beginning of time, and I think it is important to value that. I also think the future needs to constantly be considered because the actions of the present will have an impact on our future. I think that what we must dedicate the present towards understanding the past and preparing for the future. That being said, living in the present is also necessary to form new experiences and grow our knowledge. 

I also liked your activity of the leaf, rock and stick. I think that it allows for the interpreter to improve and see what has an impact on their audience and what does not. I also think that if they search for these literal objects, it gives the audience time to take a moment to reflect and observe their surroundings. 

I also have similar thoughts when thinking of conservation. I do however have hope, because like anything else, we are continuing to learn and see the importance in things we never did before. I recently learned the biodiversity was hardly considered in conservation and a definition was only formed in the last century. Now that people see the importance of biodiversity, we can look at the mistakes of our past and observe trends and results so as to improve our conservation in the future!

This summer I had the amazing opportunity to work at a local organic vegetable farm called Edible Acres Homestead. This job was unlike any “outdoor” experience I have previously encountered, however, I was eager to learn!

Although my family has been growing their own organic vegetables for years, this was the first time I was involved in every stage of the growing process. Growing a vegetable garden is something everyone should try at least once in their lives as you learn a great deal from nature, plants, and how everything interacts. The most rewarding accomplishment is witnessing your hard work of planting endless rows of vegetables come to fruition.

Here are some photos taken of one of the back fields at Edible Acres showing the heads of lettuce growing. These rows stretch 50ft long and use irrigation tubes to water the plants. Photo taken by my boss, L. Ahrens, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.edibleacres.net/

Working at Edible Acres has shown me the importance of supporting your local farmers. So much time, money, and energy goes into maintaining a farm, especially an organic farm. When you omit the use of pesticides and herbicides, you have to manage pests and weeds in a natural way. This may entail days on end where all you do is weed. From spending 8+ hours a day sweating in the direct sun weeding to tediously preparing logs for shiitake mushrooms on rainy days, the grind never stops.

This is a photo taken by my boss in their back bush of the growing process of the shiitake mushroom logs. We took old logs and drilled holes into them and filled the holes with a mushroom mixture and covered it with a wax coating. The logs remain in the bush for a year before new growth forms. Photo taken by C. Ahrens, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.edibleacres.net/

As consumers, we rarely factor in everything that goes on behind the scenes. How often do we go to our local grocery store or farmer’s market and simply purchase a fresh bundle of carrots without stopping to consider the time and effort that went into planting, growing, weeding, picking, washing and packaging those carrots?

Here is a photo of a customer's order. It shows the wide variety of produce that we grow on the farm from eggplants and leeks to pumpkins and jalapeño peppers! Photo taken by my boss, L. Ahrens, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.edibleacres.net/

Caring for the gardens at Edible Acres has shown me how we have to be the caretakers and stewards of this earth. The earth is not ours to exploit, pillage, and strip of its finite resources for our own benefit. As we are collectively confronted with a catastrophic climate crisis, we must radically care for the Earth and act with urgency through more sustainable habits and ethical consumption.

During my research I found many great resources to inform us on how to be better caretakers of the earth. Here are some easy ways we all can work harder to help save the earth (Aleteia.org, 2020).

Reduce meat consumption.

Practice energy-saving techniques such as turning lights off when leaving a room.

Cut down on car transmissions by biking or using public transport.

Strive to go more zero-waste and using reusable materials

Here is another great resource illustrating 3 actionable steps to save the planet backed by science.

As I conclude my blog, I would like to pose some questions.

What are some lessons that nature has taught you?

What are some actionable ways that you contribute to tackling the current climate crisis?

Thank you for reading my blog and listening to my experience as an organic vegetable farmer!

Janieka :)

Works Cited

https://www.edibleacres.net/

https://aleteia.org/2020/01/06/10-simple-ways-to-be-a-steward-of-the-earth-in-2020/

I loved your post! Please keep it up!