I had what feels like an increasingly outlier childhood -- we camped and hiked and fished all the time, and my mom was definitely one of those who kicked me out of the house constantly, where I would wander around the garden (which I also had to work in a lot) or hide under the lilac bushes or walk to the playground. She was always super into birds but didn't teach them to me. Someone gave me a pocket tree identification guide when I was very young and I started bringing it hiking and camping, since my parents also didn't work to make this stuff fun or entertaining or even educational and I got really bored! But learned trees and plants.
We didn't have television service growing up, or even a phone. I didn't feel those lacks at the time, really, though I always wanted to watch cartoons, and we were often on food stamps so the food we had was mostly what my parents hunted and grew (my sisters and I learned early not to ask for those sugary snacks because they were too expensive). But the more people I meet who didn't have that kind of upbringing, the more I feel how lucky I was. Attention to the natural world was ground into me from my earliest days. It's nice having more people my age prioritizing it. 🧡
Nia, you are so fortunate to have grown up that way. I have lived in the Rockies for many decades and in Arlee for the last 25 years or so. Soaking in what it means to belong to "place."
The more people I know, the more gratitude I have for how I grew up, at least with respect to being connected to the natural world (including ourselves). 💚
My dad would have us nibble miners lettuce when we were stuck at his horse logging sites all summer. I knew that it was important to know plants, so naturally as I grew up I felt very, very guilty that I didn't. I knew it would enrich my hikes. I was also busy.
Five-ish years ago, I was listening to Aldo Leopold. The Sand County edition I had included an essay he wrote called "Conservation Esthetic" where he lays out how finite everything is-not just consumptive activities like hunting and fishing, but even finite resources like solitude and a "nature experience." Isn't this the discussion we have in Montana about natural places and access and spoilage every day? The crux of his argument floored me. He says that perception is the only unlimited resource at our disposal.
"The outstanding characteristic of perception is that it entails no consumption and no dilution of any resource.... To promote perception is the only truly creative part of recreational engineering. This fact is important, and its potential power for bettering ‘the good life’ only dimly understood."
To promote perception is the only truly creative part of recreational engineering. What a humdinger. We set aside wildernesses and make boat ramps and carve out little nature parks all over the state, and we overrun them and love them to death, but most of us /don't even know what is really there./ Not even a tenth! We don't even perceive it! Fish. Bird. Furry critter. Grass. That is where our understanding-our perception-stops.
That is finally what got me into the 582 section of my library, walking out with an arm-load of books about wildflowers and trees, and what eventually got me to download the iNaturalist app, and BirdNet, and Merlin. Because perception is an inexhaustible wealth available to any who look for it.
My life, at least, has certainly been enriched by it. So, your essay gave me a thrill, and motivated me apparently to write my own essay in your comments. Learning about bitterroot and red-winged black birds can feel silly, and nerdy, and leads to situations where you have to apologize to your friends and family for your sudden, inexplicable distraction during certain social settings, but is, in the end, an essential part of "the good life."
And, dang it, the whole point of what I was getting to, and forgot, is this: If you need any help identifying stuff, don't hesitate to hit me up. I know what it's like to be flipping through a book or looking at a key, like, how is this all supposed to work?! I'm far from an expert, but I'm pretty decent at hunting down identifications, and, more importantly, I have some smart friends. ;)
This was such a lovely read. I grew up on a farm in a rural area and since both my parents have a love of the outdoors and and interest in farming I learned at a young age to recognize different trees, farming crops and wild life much of which is still with me today.
That said, I’m finding myself increasingly interested in gardening and growing things and my knowledge of plant names is embarrassing and could do with some upskilling.
At this very moment, I’m listening to birds outside my window and sadly unable to identify a single trill, tweet or warble. Time to investigate! Thank you, Anna!
I just downloaded Merlin a few days ago and realized how much its hearing is better than mine, and how many birds I was not identifying in the forest chorus.
I had what feels like an increasingly outlier childhood -- we camped and hiked and fished all the time, and my mom was definitely one of those who kicked me out of the house constantly, where I would wander around the garden (which I also had to work in a lot) or hide under the lilac bushes or walk to the playground. She was always super into birds but didn't teach them to me. Someone gave me a pocket tree identification guide when I was very young and I started bringing it hiking and camping, since my parents also didn't work to make this stuff fun or entertaining or even educational and I got really bored! But learned trees and plants.
We didn't have television service growing up, or even a phone. I didn't feel those lacks at the time, really, though I always wanted to watch cartoons, and we were often on food stamps so the food we had was mostly what my parents hunted and grew (my sisters and I learned early not to ask for those sugary snacks because they were too expensive). But the more people I meet who didn't have that kind of upbringing, the more I feel how lucky I was. Attention to the natural world was ground into me from my earliest days. It's nice having more people my age prioritizing it. 🧡
Lucky indeed!
Nia, you are so fortunate to have grown up that way. I have lived in the Rockies for many decades and in Arlee for the last 25 years or so. Soaking in what it means to belong to "place."
The more people I know, the more gratitude I have for how I grew up, at least with respect to being connected to the natural world (including ourselves). 💚
I'm embarrassed to report that I pretty much got all the candy, although it took me a bit to remember the Starburst...
I bet you knew Lysol, too. What we kids learned during cartoon hour(s)...
That was delightful.
My dad would have us nibble miners lettuce when we were stuck at his horse logging sites all summer. I knew that it was important to know plants, so naturally as I grew up I felt very, very guilty that I didn't. I knew it would enrich my hikes. I was also busy.
Five-ish years ago, I was listening to Aldo Leopold. The Sand County edition I had included an essay he wrote called "Conservation Esthetic" where he lays out how finite everything is-not just consumptive activities like hunting and fishing, but even finite resources like solitude and a "nature experience." Isn't this the discussion we have in Montana about natural places and access and spoilage every day? The crux of his argument floored me. He says that perception is the only unlimited resource at our disposal.
"The outstanding characteristic of perception is that it entails no consumption and no dilution of any resource.... To promote perception is the only truly creative part of recreational engineering. This fact is important, and its potential power for bettering ‘the good life’ only dimly understood."
To promote perception is the only truly creative part of recreational engineering. What a humdinger. We set aside wildernesses and make boat ramps and carve out little nature parks all over the state, and we overrun them and love them to death, but most of us /don't even know what is really there./ Not even a tenth! We don't even perceive it! Fish. Bird. Furry critter. Grass. That is where our understanding-our perception-stops.
That is finally what got me into the 582 section of my library, walking out with an arm-load of books about wildflowers and trees, and what eventually got me to download the iNaturalist app, and BirdNet, and Merlin. Because perception is an inexhaustible wealth available to any who look for it.
My life, at least, has certainly been enriched by it. So, your essay gave me a thrill, and motivated me apparently to write my own essay in your comments. Learning about bitterroot and red-winged black birds can feel silly, and nerdy, and leads to situations where you have to apologize to your friends and family for your sudden, inexplicable distraction during certain social settings, but is, in the end, an essential part of "the good life."
And, dang it, the whole point of what I was getting to, and forgot, is this: If you need any help identifying stuff, don't hesitate to hit me up. I know what it's like to be flipping through a book or looking at a key, like, how is this all supposed to work?! I'm far from an expert, but I'm pretty decent at hunting down identifications, and, more importantly, I have some smart friends. ;)
This was just wonderful, and ending with that Oliver poem-perfect❤️
This was such a lovely read. I grew up on a farm in a rural area and since both my parents have a love of the outdoors and and interest in farming I learned at a young age to recognize different trees, farming crops and wild life much of which is still with me today.
That said, I’m finding myself increasingly interested in gardening and growing things and my knowledge of plant names is embarrassing and could do with some upskilling.
Thank you for your comment & appreciation.
I'm about to write about gardening! And yes, plants can be hard!
At this very moment, I’m listening to birds outside my window and sadly unable to identify a single trill, tweet or warble. Time to investigate! Thank you, Anna!
The Merlin app is your best friend for identifying birds by sound!
Thanks! I’ll check it out - after I check the definitions of trill, tweet and warble to make sure I even know what to listen for...
I just downloaded Merlin a few days ago and realized how much its hearing is better than mine, and how many birds I was not identifying in the forest chorus.
Beautiful. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Noble endeavor, although somebody wrote that “the problem with being an ecologist is that one lives alone in a world of wounds…”
Ain't it so? But also in a half forgotten, but still vibrant world of delight.