This made its way to me over the Internet. I apologize for not crediting the source, but by the time it got to me, the point of origin had been lost. But it does provide a nice thought…
One day , the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip , the father asked his son , “How was the trip?”
“It was great , Dad.”
“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.
“Oh yeah , ” said the son.
“So , tell me , what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.
The son answered:
“I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us , but they serve others.
We buy our food , but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us , they have friends to protect them.”
The boy’s father was speechless.
Then his son added , “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”
…..Susan
I’ve got a one track mind these days! Meet us at the Johnson Preserve to close the loop this Saturday. Our weekend workdays have gotten us 3/4 of the way to having a complete trail. We are currently 2/3 of the way around the buttonbush swamp and plan to finish the trial this Saturday. We’ll also have some photo-taking opportunities available and some sign posting needed. To help, meet us just south of Lillie park; turn left at the first driveway after Lillie Park South parking lot. The driveway goes to a cell phone tower. We will also have a person in the Lillie Park South parking lot directing people.
Meet us at the cell phone tower at 12:00pm to help finish the trail at Johnson and close the loop!
- Dana
I’ve been interested in the idea of the commons for a long time – those resources that are held as community assets, not owned by any individual or corporation. Public nature preserves, like those the Legacy Land Conservancy has protected, are one example of a commons.
“Restorative Commons” is a collection of articles on the intersection between human health and the urban environment. It talks about, among other topics, how commons areas and green growing things can be as good for our own personal health as they are for that of a community as a whole.
“Restorative Commons” (pdf)
Publication Details (includes the Abstract, how to order a printed copy, etc.)
-Suzie
It’s coming along! I’ve had fun with two groups of volunteers now breaking in the new trail.
looks grrreeeaat!
Join us this weekend to help with the buttonbush-swamp-loop portion of the trail! We’ll be working from 10am-1pm. Meet in the South parking lot of Lillie Park. See you there! – Dana
If you’d like to see the fall colors, make plans for this week – autumn is going by quickly! I was out in Waterloo again this weekend – very beautiful. If you’re looking for a nice fall drive, I highly recommend it. It’s a great way to catch the magic of fall in Michigan. (Here’s the link to that driving map again: Beauty of Waterloo Driving Tour Map – and a shout-out again Jackson Audubon & Michigan DNR for compiling the information!)
Do you have a place you always look out for every year to see the fall colors?
-Suzie
Stop by the Bivouac or go online and cast your vote for the environment. Legacy Land Conservancy has been chosen as one of three local environmental groups: If the Conservancy gets the most votes, then it will win a $1,000 donation on behalf of Bivouac and Patagonia. Hurry, voting ends on Saturday October 24!
When you cast your vote, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a $1,000 Patagonia shopping spree at The Bivouac.
Simply visit the Bivouac store or go online to vote.
More details
Today’s the day! We’re starting the trail at Johnson. I am very excited to see how far we get with our group. If you would like to join the fun, we’ll be working on the trail every weekend for the next three weekends running. This weekend on the 24th, we’ll be there from 12-3, the 31st we’ll be there from 10-1, and Nov 7th we’ll be there from 12-3.
That's me flagging the trail
Visit the
website to see meeting locations and times for the workdays. I hope to see you out there! – Dana
I’ve been missing in action for a week…vacation!!
We visited the Niagara Valley and, of course Niagara Falls. We also spent some time hiking in Niagara Gorge, which seems to me far more interesting than the Falls.
My geologist husband tells me that when LaSalle first explored that area some 400 years ago, it wouldn’t have looked a great deal different. The Falls have moved a bit, but the Gorge itself, not so much. So when you think about the rock cliffs surrounding the Gorge and their depth (11 flights of stairs BEFORE you start hiking down) the power and time required for their creation boggles the mind.
Then I began thinking about our own landscape, and particularly how ‘corrugated’ places like Waterloo, Pinckney and the Sharon Short Hills are. It sure makes me want to learn more about the power of water – whether in its liquid, eroding form, or the frozen, plowing across the landscape variety. Something to occupy myself with in the winter nights to follow…Susan
Many weekend festivities are in store!
First, if you haven’t yet reserved your spot for Friday’s delectable Local Foods Dinner, call today! Served under the tent at sunset, this delicious menu of Michigan specialties is paired with Sandhill Crane Vineyards wines. It’s followed by a presentation of “Journey of the Crane” by Tom Hodgson. The dinner cost is $50, with proceeds benefitting the festival’s founding nature non-profits. Paid reservations are required before Wednesday October 14 at noon – call (517) 764-0679. Menu and details
On Saturday, there’s a whole day full of fun activities to choose from, including a Fall Nature Walk at 10:00 am at Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Audubon Sanctuary, led by Dana Wright, Legacy Land Conservancy (Locator map for the hike). Visit our website for the full Festival line-up for Saturday.
Sunday starts with a spectacular Crane Watch at the Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Audubon Sanctuary at dawn (meet at 7:00 am). An amazing sight, thousands of Sandhill Cranes leave the sanctuary at the same time.
Hope to see you sometime this weekend!
