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Have you ever wondered...
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| Written by Susan Brown |
| How many trees are cut down for Christmas each year? 30-35 million trees are cut down for Christmas every year. Have you ever wondered what the origin of the Christmas tree tradition is? It goes back as early as the 1500's. You can go to: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/trees/facts.cfm, in which the University of Illinois states many interesting Christmas tree facts referenced from the National Christmas Tree Association , and USDA Census of Agriculture . ...The older I get, and the more consciously aware I become about the Earth it saddens me to think that we cut down 6 to 10 year-old beautiful, livley trees just to hang ornaments on and stare at for a week before they get tossed out with the rest of the garabage. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, and the tradition we have in my family of decorating the tree together on Christmas Eve. At the same time, my love for the environment can't seem to justify why we do this to a poor tree that could be living, breathing, cleaning our air, and being shelter for animals just for one specific night of tradition. For the longest time I didn't think about the tree, and now that my awareness has been rekindled, I remember as a child thinking the same way and begging my parents for a potted Christams tree every year so we could decorate it, celebrate with it, and then plant it in the backyard. Most of the time it was too expensive for us. One year they got us one, and it was one of the best family events we had, in the true spirit of Giving. Giving the tree back to the Earth. Alive. My family still buys cut trees for Christmas. At my house, though, I bring in my potted ficus tree and decorate it. Have you ever wondered what happens to the trees that don't get sold? I know the Christmas tree industry has to make a living too, but I think the saddest loss is when the trees that get cut don't live their final days in admiration. This was a Christmas tree lot a few weeks ago, and this one never made it home to someone. Now it sits (this photo was taken on January 6, 2010) without a soul caring. Just two weeks ago it was in high demand, being sold for who knows how much...According to the website above, another 73 million trees will be planted this year in hopes they will make it. About half will survive weathering and pruning in order to be harvested for Christmas years from now. |
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Writing Haiku
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| Written by Susan Brown |
| Sometimes a brief moment in time, a less-than-a-second moment, can last a lifetime. I have been able to sense those moments of beauty through photography, and now I have recently come to channel that communication through practicing writing Haiku. Haiku is an ancient form of Japanese poetry most known for its simple, yet elegant structure and the impact it can have on a reader. The basic form of a Haiku has only three lines. The first line must have exactly 5 syllables, the second line has 7, and the third has 5. There are many other forms/versions of Haiku, however, this is the basic structure: 5-7-5. The subject matter of most Haiku is of nature or the nature of the human experience. It's a beautiful artform to study. I have only been writing Haiku for about 3 weeks now and it has opened my eyes to recognize more of those split-second, infinite-feeling moments. Here are four Haiku I have written, thank you for reading: Day begins with moon Stars align with daybreak Enters the Rabbit In a field of brush The ancient tree stands alone Strewn with termite holes Window open tonight Dogs howl, planes soar, crickets strum. The pond is empty Remember, Dear Child The oak you climbed long ago The leaves, how they pile Susan Emily Brown |
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Got Owls
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| Written by Susan Brown |
| I saw this car at Live Oak Park in north county San Diego, Fallbrook, and decided to take a photo of it because owls are a special, sacred birds to me. The barnowls.com website this person has a sticker for, is a really good website if you are interested in learning more about barn owls, more specifically, if you want to encourage them to live near you. Local farmers and families build "owl boxes" out of love for the birds or simply keep them around as rodent control. As an elementary school teacher, years ago, we showed the class one of the videos from the barnowls.com website (footage of owls and owlets) and the children were fascinated by it. Myself, I love walking at dusk when I have a chance of seeing an owl who just woke up for their nocturnal day, looking for breakfast as the sunset disappears into darkness. Their silent flight has an eerie quality to it that is calming to watch. If you are interested in finding out about the spiritual aspects and cultural beliefs surrounding animalls like owls, a really great book to pick up is Animal Speak by Ted Andrews. Amazon allows you to view some of the text if you are curious. |
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