I have stayed at three places now where the people are trying to live closer to the land, take only what they need and plant more to help facilitate the rejuvenation and restoration of often degraded land. One place was in Japan, where I worked at a family-owned organic and natural foods cafe and restaurant, and sometimes at their farm where they harvested most of the food for the two. I was impressed with their knowledge of the land, and their compassion for it and each other. Another place was in India, where a deforested area was being slowly and painstakingly replanted by mostly volunteer labor. The volunteers, some local Indian people, and the family that started the project all lived together in huts, used composting toilets and solar energy, and where planting gardens for everyone to eventually get all their food. The diet was even strict vegan, AND on top of that no caffeine or spicy foods (in India!) were allowed. I spent two weeks eating mostly fruit, vegetables, beans and rice. I did cheat some nights with some volunteers by going out to the nearby village and drinking chai and eating spicy parotas. I was particularly impressed with this place, and told the man who started it that I thought that what they were doing was beyond just "sustainable living"; it was "regenerative living". More and more, I believe that the latter is the only way to pull ourselves out of this mess we're in.
And now White Earth...upon reflection, I reminded myself that this is a place torn apart not only ecologically, but the people whose original land base this was, have been torn apart and repressed as well. To some degree that was true of Japan, and India, but nothing to the degree of this place. What I mean is, where the people in those places in Japan and India where working hard, sometimes fumbling around for the right path, but supporting each other and staying mindful of their common goal, here I have witnessed a dysfunction in the human relationships, and a disconnect to the one's own impact on the environment that I didn't expect to encounter, especially not from a group of people who were working so hard to do the opposite. Can't climb out of the burning oil without scalding yourself on the pan first, I guess. If that makes any sense. The more I get to know people here, the less I realize we have in common in our pasts, and I feel like I've been riding on a wave of White Privilege all my life. Even so, I'm tired, I feel drained here, and I want to go home. I didn't come here with any expectation that I'd make a big difference, or "save" anyone, I just wanted to learn, and hopefully become more inspired by the work and the people working around me. I have felt that way some days, but for the most part I have seen dysfunctional communication, disorganization, and a sense of hopelessness. Some days I feel like I'm the only person who cares enough to clean up after myself, or after others, or encourage others to work a little more before the next break (and there are many). Or be on time. I guess it's just everyone runs on "Native Time". I totally believe in taking time out and really appreciate your surroundings and all that, but sometimes the stalling is just about avoiding work.
This weekend, I got to hang out with Winona LaDuke for a few hours. Somehow, after spending more time with her, I feel a little better about being here. She works hard--is in fact as they say constantly in motion, always planning something, and she has done a lot. However, in the process other important things have been neglected in her life, and I've learned a lot from what I've seen. I would not tell anyone not to do an internship here, because I have learned so much, even from the bad stuff. And the forests are beautiful, the wildlife abundant, and I've met some great people and hope to stay in touch.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
The Sugar Bush is Running
We are done for now with getting more wood for the evaporator, which will boil down the sap into syrup. I did some of the cutting and splitting, but mostly I stacked it. I now feel confident that I can split wood, as long as it's of a certain size. Here I am next to the wood pile covered in a tarp:
Starting Monday of last week, we started tapping the maple trees in the sugar bush for Native Harvest. By Wednesday, we had 798 taps put in. The original plan was for around 500.
On Monday, we split into two teams of three people, each team consisting of a driller, someone with a bucket of taps and a small hammer, and a can person. I was the tapper. And for each tree I came to, it occurred to me to thank the tree for letting us use its sap again this year. Put the tap in, placed my hand on the bark and thought: "We humbly receive only that which you will give us." On Thursday, when we collected the sap, I tried to thank each tree again. And I realized, as I saw the twigs, moths, spiders and other random things that had fallen in the cans, that consuming maple syrup is very much like drinking the forest.
This weekend was really fun. Shigeki, who I've started dating, came up and visited for the weekend. I met him at one of the rec centers that I was teaching skating at in February. He's a really great guy. We went to Bemidji with a couple of kids from White Earth who are related to someone from the project, and we stopped at Itasca State Park to see the headwaters of the Mississippi. Of course we all had to cross it in bare feet, despite the available bridge.
Yes, that is me with bare feet in icy water. I have miraculously survived!
And now for some gratuitous cuteness. Take it away, Victor the cat!
He is probably the friendliest cat I've ever met, or neediest. He kills voles and yesterday a squirrel and offers them at our feet. Wish he wouldn't do that, unless he was going to eat them too, but he's an outdoor cat, and I'm thankful not to have to change kitty litter.
Next week is the last week I'll be up here. It's been good and I've learned a ton, but it'll be good to be back next Saturday. See you soon, Bro and Tousan!
Starting Monday of last week, we started tapping the maple trees in the sugar bush for Native Harvest. By Wednesday, we had 798 taps put in. The original plan was for around 500.
On Monday, we split into two teams of three people, each team consisting of a driller, someone with a bucket of taps and a small hammer, and a can person. I was the tapper. And for each tree I came to, it occurred to me to thank the tree for letting us use its sap again this year. Put the tap in, placed my hand on the bark and thought: "We humbly receive only that which you will give us." On Thursday, when we collected the sap, I tried to thank each tree again. And I realized, as I saw the twigs, moths, spiders and other random things that had fallen in the cans, that consuming maple syrup is very much like drinking the forest.
This weekend was really fun. Shigeki, who I've started dating, came up and visited for the weekend. I met him at one of the rec centers that I was teaching skating at in February. He's a really great guy. We went to Bemidji with a couple of kids from White Earth who are related to someone from the project, and we stopped at Itasca State Park to see the headwaters of the Mississippi. Of course we all had to cross it in bare feet, despite the available bridge.
Yes, that is me with bare feet in icy water. I have miraculously survived!
And now for some gratuitous cuteness. Take it away, Victor the cat!
He is probably the friendliest cat I've ever met, or neediest. He kills voles and yesterday a squirrel and offers them at our feet. Wish he wouldn't do that, unless he was going to eat them too, but he's an outdoor cat, and I'm thankful not to have to change kitty litter.
Next week is the last week I'll be up here. It's been good and I've learned a ton, but it'll be good to be back next Saturday. See you soon, Bro and Tousan!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
White Earth
Gud Dag! I have internet after all in the wilderness, so I will now regale you with my harrowing tales of northern Minnesota! Disclaimer: Tales may not be harrowing.
I am now in White Earth, MN. Or very near there. I'm not sure where the boundary is. I have met some great people, and have learned A LOT for such a short time, but I have a few complaints of course. Mostly the messiness (which I cleaned up pretty well at the Intern House), and the smoking, and the general disorganization. Oh, and too much driving--everything is so far apart!
Right now we are preparing to collect sap from 500-600 maple trees. In past years they tell me they have done over 1,000, and I have seen the evaporator to prove it, but it wasn't cost effective to do so many and there are also less people either employed or volunteering to do the work necessary. We needed a smaller evaporator (it boils the sap into syrup--40 gallons of sap make 1 gallon of syrup!!), and so my first day was spent with 3 guys who work with the Sustainable Communities branch of the White Earth Land Recovery Project, taking apart, then moving, then putting back together the smaller (still very heavy) evaporator. I guess that was pretty harrowing!
Yesterday I helped out at the office, where I made random phone calls and did busy work. I am not so keen on office work...
Today and tomorrow we cut and will cut up more wood to burn in the evaporator. I used a chainsaw again! But this time was the first time, unlike MCC, that I felt like the people I worked with either didn't think I could use a chainsaw, or lift heavy things, or do much of anything men do. It's a bit of a struggle and I have to keep asking for tasks, which is frustrating. Plus, I have some criticisms of how they maintain their saws--they keep the chain insanely loose! I was taught to keep it at a certain tightness, and I fixed the saw I used, but it was all I could do not to say anything to the guy, kinda my boss, who's chain hung off the bar visibly. I did mention it, not to criticize, just ask why he keeps it that way. He said it was easier for cutting bigger pieces. In my head I was like "B*** s***!" I've cut with a somewhat loose chain before--his must be so sharp he doesn't notice. I should ask an expert.
I have a new friend who I live with--her name is Nikki and she is half Ojibway, and an ethnobotanist. We have had some great conversations and she has taught me a lot. I'm looking forward to the rest of my time here! Oh, and I'm still doing my Norsk lessons. Har deh bra!
I am now in White Earth, MN. Or very near there. I'm not sure where the boundary is. I have met some great people, and have learned A LOT for such a short time, but I have a few complaints of course. Mostly the messiness (which I cleaned up pretty well at the Intern House), and the smoking, and the general disorganization. Oh, and too much driving--everything is so far apart!
Right now we are preparing to collect sap from 500-600 maple trees. In past years they tell me they have done over 1,000, and I have seen the evaporator to prove it, but it wasn't cost effective to do so many and there are also less people either employed or volunteering to do the work necessary. We needed a smaller evaporator (it boils the sap into syrup--40 gallons of sap make 1 gallon of syrup!!), and so my first day was spent with 3 guys who work with the Sustainable Communities branch of the White Earth Land Recovery Project, taking apart, then moving, then putting back together the smaller (still very heavy) evaporator. I guess that was pretty harrowing!
Yesterday I helped out at the office, where I made random phone calls and did busy work. I am not so keen on office work...
Today and tomorrow we cut and will cut up more wood to burn in the evaporator. I used a chainsaw again! But this time was the first time, unlike MCC, that I felt like the people I worked with either didn't think I could use a chainsaw, or lift heavy things, or do much of anything men do. It's a bit of a struggle and I have to keep asking for tasks, which is frustrating. Plus, I have some criticisms of how they maintain their saws--they keep the chain insanely loose! I was taught to keep it at a certain tightness, and I fixed the saw I used, but it was all I could do not to say anything to the guy, kinda my boss, who's chain hung off the bar visibly. I did mention it, not to criticize, just ask why he keeps it that way. He said it was easier for cutting bigger pieces. In my head I was like "B*** s***!" I've cut with a somewhat loose chain before--his must be so sharp he doesn't notice. I should ask an expert.
I have a new friend who I live with--her name is Nikki and she is half Ojibway, and an ethnobotanist. We have had some great conversations and she has taught me a lot. I'm looking forward to the rest of my time here! Oh, and I'm still doing my Norsk lessons. Har deh bra!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
