I am in Eastern California where herds of sheep 1000 heads strong are grazed in wilderness areas. I have journals filled with paintings of plants that I can no longer find. The Forest Service has a motto and a mission statement and sets of values and priorities. They ignore almost all of them. The sheep owners are huge corporations, millionaires, and a few years ago they fought tooth and nail against paying their herders minimum wage. The herders dogs attack horses, hikers, other dogs and wildlife and sightings of the federally endangered Sierra Bighorn Sheep in the upper part of the watershed seem to have been placed in that special round file.This watershed is my home and my heart is breaking more and more each year.
Really wonderful article that accurately depicts the tragedy of the West. The mismanagement, the theft of the commons. This is also my "neck of the woods". Thank you for sharing. I keep thinking of ways to work for the good of the land, through my grief. Out here the land is dying and no one seems to care, as it burns..as the cheat grass and poison hemlock take over. There is almost nothing left to eat and no one seems to notice. It's maddening really. Thank you for highlighting this struggle.
You're welcome. I love eastern Oregon and have a lot of favorite spots there.
Interestingly, Finisia would seed Yampah and Biscuit Root seeds in the Cheat Grass patches; from her experience she felt like that worked. Yampah is indeed fond of disturbed areas, I've seen myself.
I remember seeing big patches of Poison Hemlock along the watercourses in the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. In my observation, she's limited to reliably moist places like that. For what it's worth, she is popular among an extraordinarily wide range of pollinators, including various wasps and flies in addition to bees. So in the absence of native flowers that can't tolerate the ranching and other extractive activities, she is providing something to the local insects.
I do know some good spots that are rich in traditional first foods that I'd be happy to share with you in direct messaging. I don't want to post that kind of info in a public comment. They are good spots for harvesting roots to eat, but also seeds to plant elsewhere.
Great tips for what to seed over cheat grass, thank you. It's true that the poison hemlock grows where the water flows. After the spring melt... everywhere that has been damp has rivers of poison hemlock. I worry that deer and rabbits and other animals can't eat it and the hemlock is overgrowing the miners lettuce and other edibles that used to flourish in early spring and depending on the year, all the way to high summer. I am very interested in where to wild craft native seed. I do try to tend to larger areas with guerrilla restoration as I'm able. Thank you!
Gorgeous piece of writing. The anniversary of Finisia’s death is the same day as my daughter’s birthday. She got to meet Fin in 2015, and still talks about her — as you say, Finisia was a complex person. Thank you Kollibri for your writing and all the work you do to keep the flame of the web of life alive.
Thank you Kollibri. And I am in awe of your plant knowledge and your dedication to writing, ecology, and your work to counteract the destruction on our planet. I am so glad to know you and your work!
Late to the party with this article but glad I saved it for when I’d be able to give it the attention it deserves. Thank you Kollibri, for sharing your immense knowledge in clear, decipherable writing.
This was such a loving piece of writing. It made me become still and attentive to all of it as if I was there listening to Granny. I cannot wait to read your book. There is wisdom yes, but also such hope in your words and that is something sorely needed. I think Granny summed it up best with her words on Truth - it’s not enough to hate the lies, you must learn to love the Truth even tho it brings pain. For me that pain is a reminder to never stop hoping (and doing the work) that we will come back to a place where every wild thing is respected and honored as gifts they are. Thank you. ❤️
I am in Eastern California where herds of sheep 1000 heads strong are grazed in wilderness areas. I have journals filled with paintings of plants that I can no longer find. The Forest Service has a motto and a mission statement and sets of values and priorities. They ignore almost all of them. The sheep owners are huge corporations, millionaires, and a few years ago they fought tooth and nail against paying their herders minimum wage. The herders dogs attack horses, hikers, other dogs and wildlife and sightings of the federally endangered Sierra Bighorn Sheep in the upper part of the watershed seem to have been placed in that special round file.This watershed is my home and my heart is breaking more and more each year.
Really wonderful article that accurately depicts the tragedy of the West. The mismanagement, the theft of the commons. This is also my "neck of the woods". Thank you for sharing. I keep thinking of ways to work for the good of the land, through my grief. Out here the land is dying and no one seems to care, as it burns..as the cheat grass and poison hemlock take over. There is almost nothing left to eat and no one seems to notice. It's maddening really. Thank you for highlighting this struggle.
You're welcome. I love eastern Oregon and have a lot of favorite spots there.
Interestingly, Finisia would seed Yampah and Biscuit Root seeds in the Cheat Grass patches; from her experience she felt like that worked. Yampah is indeed fond of disturbed areas, I've seen myself.
I remember seeing big patches of Poison Hemlock along the watercourses in the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. In my observation, she's limited to reliably moist places like that. For what it's worth, she is popular among an extraordinarily wide range of pollinators, including various wasps and flies in addition to bees. So in the absence of native flowers that can't tolerate the ranching and other extractive activities, she is providing something to the local insects.
I do know some good spots that are rich in traditional first foods that I'd be happy to share with you in direct messaging. I don't want to post that kind of info in a public comment. They are good spots for harvesting roots to eat, but also seeds to plant elsewhere.
Great tips for what to seed over cheat grass, thank you. It's true that the poison hemlock grows where the water flows. After the spring melt... everywhere that has been damp has rivers of poison hemlock. I worry that deer and rabbits and other animals can't eat it and the hemlock is overgrowing the miners lettuce and other edibles that used to flourish in early spring and depending on the year, all the way to high summer. I am very interested in where to wild craft native seed. I do try to tend to larger areas with guerrilla restoration as I'm able. Thank you!
Beautiful, thank you.
You're very welcome, Will!
Thank you for all you see, understand and know...you tend the flame.
You're welcome, I really appreciate the sentiment!
Gorgeous piece of writing. The anniversary of Finisia’s death is the same day as my daughter’s birthday. She got to meet Fin in 2015, and still talks about her — as you say, Finisia was a complex person. Thank you Kollibri for your writing and all the work you do to keep the flame of the web of life alive.
Thanks so much, Joanna! It's very meaningful for me to get a compliment from you, because I like your writing so much.
Happy birthday to your daughter!
Thank you Kollibri. And I am in awe of your plant knowledge and your dedication to writing, ecology, and your work to counteract the destruction on our planet. I am so glad to know you and your work!
<blush>
Thank you for writing this 💚
You're very welcome!
Late to the party with this article but glad I saved it for when I’d be able to give it the attention it deserves. Thank you Kollibri, for sharing your immense knowledge in clear, decipherable writing.
Thanks, James!!
This was such a loving piece of writing. It made me become still and attentive to all of it as if I was there listening to Granny. I cannot wait to read your book. There is wisdom yes, but also such hope in your words and that is something sorely needed. I think Granny summed it up best with her words on Truth - it’s not enough to hate the lies, you must learn to love the Truth even tho it brings pain. For me that pain is a reminder to never stop hoping (and doing the work) that we will come back to a place where every wild thing is respected and honored as gifts they are. Thank you. ❤️
This is incredible, worthy of The New Yorker or whatever high-end, deep-diving publication you prefer. Beautifully written, honest, clear. Thank you.
Thanks, Tanja!
I've just saved this to read in peace and quiet, but this is to say I'm already hooked by the beginning. Thank you.
You're very welcome! I hope you enjoy it!