Seedling

In the big city there is a small - yet loud - group of grumpy people who seem to have a peculiar aversion to sustainable forestry.  And tree farmers in particular.  I know it sounds wacky but for them the term Tree Farmer has become a pejorative.  I am not making this up.  They disparage tree farmers much like some people disparage certain ethnic groups. 
 
The uncanny thing is that when level-headed people witness this behavior they scratch their level heads and dismiss the small, loud, group of grumpy people as a cranky collective of malcontents that are truthfully better-off ignored.  Which is sad because once in a while they might come-up with a good idea or perhaps a worthy cause and as a consequence of their off-putting behavior fewer than expected individuals are going to come to their aid.  That's the way things work in life.  Word gets around and people gradually become disinclined to contribute.
 
Nevertheless, this Tree Farmer is quite comfortable in his skin and knows that here on the peninsula there is a natural affinity and appreciation for individuals and families who plant and grow trees.  Which would be a consequence of the fact that growing and harvesting trees provides direct employment for plenty of men and women in northeast Wisconsin and plenty more in secondary, related employment.  Moreover, working forests are good for the environment because they provide a renewable resource, clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and carbon storage.  The mix of economics and the natural, renewable world is positively sublime.  Tree farmers are real tree huggers – not pretend tree huggers.  Don’t take my word for it - Green Bay remains a mill town that also happens to be home to a pretty slick professional football franchise.   

I have digressed. 

Yesterday the girls and I went for a long walk in the woods and among other things found a surprisingly large population of tiny white spruce seedlings growing in the understory of a bunch of bur oak trees.  What the heck. 

 

I guess what happened is the critters or Ma Nature Herself have been spreading the seeds produced by a thousand white spruce Jill and I planted twenty years ago.  The curious thing about trees is when they mature they begin to propagate quite naturally – and in the space of ten feet or so you might count a dozen or so of these poking-up thru the snow.  

 

In case you’re wondering - this native Wisconsin tree is valued in the forest because of the cover it affords to wildlife of all sorts.  If it walks, saunters, climbs, flies or flutters plenty of critters make their home among white spruce.  If you are in the woods and you want to verify the identity of this tree take some of the needles and crush them between your fingers and give them a sniff.  The strong odor reminds many people of skunk.  This would explain why this species is sometimes called Skunk Spruce.  

 

In any event feel free to ignore anyone who might imply that tree farmers are dreadful individuals. They don’t know what they’re talking about.  And being the naturally optimistic tree hugger that I am - I'd like to think perhaps one or two people from that afore-mentioned group might actually read this and be reminded that like most everyone who plants and grows trees our environmental cred is solid. Tree people may be natural allies for something important you might wish to advocate-for. 

If you care to plant a seedling - all you have to do is ask.  After all, tree farmers are the good guys.

Raising a toast to sustainable forestry. 

 

Cheers!