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Annie Dillard Thoughts

The yard outside my back door has become the dog run- the tie out that keeps them in the yard when they go out without me is there. With time, the grass that used to grow around their somewhat limited territory has been trampled and ripped up to the extent that the bladed grass has given up that patch of my yard. What grows there now is clover. It stays short to avoid the rubbing action of the leash. It has a sweet, summery scent that covers up the not-so-pleasant smells that a dog's territory produces. And it is thick- a green carpet, spongy and soft, yet so tough that it tangles the tie-out line and immobilizes the dogs that drag me along when we go on walks. The color is a green as deep as an ocean, seeming to be layer upon layer, giving no hint of the soil that lies beneath it.

Buffalo for Broken Heart

In this book, the feelings that the author have for the land come through in his writing. His attempts to restore the land to its native state, to provide cover for the species which populate the grasslands and his methods of rotating his grazing stock speak of his connections and respect for the land. Even though it seems to be impossible for the land to be lucrative in any way, he keeps his sense of humor about his success (or lack of it), about himself, and about his neighbors and friends.
I'm not sure if I would or could offer any suggestions about his use of the land- he is an intelligent man and has educated himself in the history and native wildlife of the area. I would express my admiration for the fact that he seems always to be trying to do things to the benefit of nature first and foremost. I would also thank him for his book and the enjoyment I derived from reading it.

Casey Properties for the Broken Heart

After some intense reading of Dan O'Brien, I can see how carefully he stewards his land. The care he takes to keep his pasture from becoming overgrazed serves as an insight for the care of Casey property. He explains how his plan provides shelter for native species, helps to control erosion and regulate water usage and loss. It would be an advantage to have enough knowledge of how the native Iowa land functions as an ecosystem before decisions are made about the future of the property. Any ideas that could help the land be an accurate portrayal of Iowa grassland and aid in self-regulating its ecology can only be a win-win situation.

Casey Properties

The one thing that made an impact on me during the field trip was the evidence of the variety of life on the property. Although I was raised in the country, I think it is the first time I have seen evidence of beaver living in the wild. The stream seemed reasonably clean and alive, more that capable of sustaining and encouraging life. It makes me hope that whatever the fate of the property, the impact on the native wildlife is minimized.

Spring Break

The one thing I did during spring break that I thought was truly amazing was to go to the Saylorville Lake spillway. I took pictures and some short video of the water coming through the spillway. The spillway was open in an attempt to lower the lake, keeping it from overflowing the dam. The power of the water coming out of the spillway is amazing- something you have to see for yourself. Some of the breakers had to be over 35 feet tall, drenching the park and walkway.

Wendell Berry

I have reread this poem three times- I seem to find something in it each time I read it. Wendell Berry urges us to play by our own set of rules. He finds meaning in everything that a culture of factory farming would end, and lets his stewardship of his land and life be his guiding principle. He tells us to take the time to realize the truly important things, things that cannot be valued by fixing a price sticker on them.