One of the reasons most regular folks label environmentally concerned folks as "treehuggers" and "hippies" is for exactly what I am pointing out here. This tree is obviously bleeding from being partly cut with a saw - the macabre part of my personality noticed right away how sickly the dried black goo looked dripping out to one side... the part of me who strives to give nature all the respect it deserves wanted simply to share how strange and amazing this looks with others. I am not an advocate of deprivation, I am not seeing this and having it lead me to simply screaming "save the trees" - in a world of survival there are many uses for trees. It is how we (ab)use at this point in modern history that strikes me as odd and disturbing. We don't just build simple shelters, we build toxic McMansions in gated communities, we use billions of paper grocery bags instead of bringing re-usable bags...and still that isn't exactly the problem, our whimsies are just a symptom. The real problem is the disconnect from nature. Who will really think of a tree or the eco system while building their big 'keep up with the Jones' house in the wealthy or middle class neighborhood - and can you blame them for not thinking of it, when they have no exposure to the reality of our natural resources and where these resources come from? Sometimes I think people should act more responsibility towards the earth (of course they should) but the over educated rich are just as under educated as the poor in this modern consumer society. Without the hands on knowledge of what this eco system really entails, without the reality and experience (AKA living in the woods and with nature in the raw)- I have doubts to whether the majority of uneducated will come around very quickly to learning the basic elements of respect for the earth that supports their very life and breath. Our education system is concentrated on teaching children and adults what I would consider some really petty skills, mainly ones applying to consumption, sales, and how to fit into the economic box we've created. After learning to read and write- our most basic education should be to learn the one-two steps to what really keeps us alive - being our food & how we can grow it, our water & how we can keep it drinkable, our air & how we can keep the earth in balance enough to breathe it without breathing in later health problems.It's good to recognize it, it's amazing to talk about, but it's extraordinary to go out and really live it! I believe the low mummer of talk I hear these days of cleaning up the planet is a good sign - I am forever an optimist about the possibilities of change... I know that when things really start to break down and are seen for it's dysfunction people will undoubtedly be motivated to make changes - but it would be so awesome if we could fix before it completely breaks.
XoXo
while it is a bit sad that someone would do that to the tree, be thankful they didn't cut it down. if they did the tree would most likely still live, but have more than one trunk. the tree will be fine. when a cut like that heals, usually it is stronger in the area that was cut.
ReplyDeleteif there is a good bit of pitch pooled up, scrape it off and make some pitch glue. no use in letting it go to waste. if the top does die, cut it off and make use of it if you choose to. other life forms will make use of it if you don't.
don't try to fill the hole with anything. it will weaken the area by not allowing the wound to heal properly. improper healing will result in insect and water intrusion possibly killing the upper portion of the tree. sometimes the whole tree.
though mankind can wreak serious havoc on mother nature, it is actually a delusion of grandeur that we are so powerful that we could totally control or destroy her. she will be here long after mankind ceases to exist. we can pray for her healing and try to lessen the damage, but she will do just fine with or without our help.
one thing humans are also delusional about is that we can make things permanent. all things are temporary, even if it lasts a lifetime. the existence of humanity as a whole is merely a spec of dust on the universal time line.
if it never changed we'd be running from dinosaurs.
Hey Panne-
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts as always are to the core and i like it. The tree i think was only a bit sad too- it was the lack of understanding the human race has these days that really baffles me. Not just for how we hurt nature- but also how we could use it in more balanced ways, like the suggestions you pointed out. :) We don't have to be all destructive- we actually can work with nature to keep it healthy the same way animals do.
The pitch looked very thin and not too pooled- I have made pitch from the sap on a pine tree before, but I didn't know you could make it from the black coming from a bleeding tree! (thanks for the tip!)
And I agree on our delusion of grandeur, but even still don't ya think we should be respectful in the meantime? Sometimes i think people use that theory to be destructive.
Leslie,
ReplyDeleteThanks again for your view on Nature. Now that we are off the Ledge, the voice of Nature is drowned by the beeps and rattles of a city. Our kitty misses the big N as do we. This stay in the city is temporary, giving us the lessons of priority a louder voice.
Panne,
Your knowing about the Tall Ones and the mortal delusion are comforting reads. Nature will surely be here long after we aren't ... it's the awkward positions we humans get ourselves into (karma?/loss of internal memory) that makes for a sad and silly use of imagination and spirit, it seems to me.
Mokihana
many types of sap can be used to make pitch glue. some are better than others. it doesn't hurt to try. just add some ground charcoal. you can add dried dung from herbivores to give it more strength.
ReplyDeleteyou can't expect people to respect nature when they have no respect for each other and themselves. the mother says to take what we need. unfortunately many people have need confused with want and take. they talk a lot about rights, but never a word about responsibility.
all we can do is try to maintain a balance, educate ourselves and share wisdom.
we all have to return to her for good some day. everyone should ask themselves one question. will you be the child that dies in her arms or the one who never visited?