HJA 1-4

HJA 1

• Although I have never been here, I’d like to assume that the forest will be very similar to the Hammock Habitats of Florida: dense and thick vegetation that block the sun, humid and cool atmosphere, and the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Nonetheless, I am still excited to see conifer trees that protrude through the sky and the famous Lookout Creek.
• Like with any topic, not everyone will interpret the forest the same way as others. People best digest information that is suited to their interests. To a hunter, the forest may be broken down to a more physical set as he maps out a series of routes and obstacles that can efficiently trap game. On the other hand, a writer may interpret the forest through how it makes them feel in order to express that feeling into their work. Often times we often see creativity and scientific inquiry as mutually exclusive; one view supports abstract ambiguous expression whereas in the other, accuracy and validity reign supreme. In reality, these two ideas go hand in hand and paints a clearer picture. Scientific inquiry needs character to give its findings meaning; it’s not enough just to take notes on what you see. However, creative inquiry needs to be based off of some physical inspiration or feeling. In a sense, looking at something through a fixed mindset is superficial.
• The long-view predicts the future that humanity’s actions are currently leading to. As a result, we can remedy and prevent an undesirable outcome from occurring such as Global Warming. Most importantly, the long-view simply makes people consciously aware of what they can improve upon. In doing so, we can make gradual changes in our lives to eventually correct this issue. For example, I never would have reduced my meat intake if I hadn’t known how much CO2 is emitted to produce a pound.

HJA 2

• “Research and Revelation” is an appropriate title for this section because it presents the forest in a way that most people overlook. The research is the observation of the forest’s system and being. The revelation is the understanding of such mechanics and functions. The section gives the forest its context and shape as it translates its hidden “language” (47) for people to understand. It expands on the forest’s overall identity: its history, its ecosystem, its relationship to other beings, and the rest of its complexions. The forest is gradually revealed to us through a new lens and “revelation.”
• From the text, I’m definitely expecting to see the feathery conifer trees, the iconic Douglas Fir, and red cedar. However, there will probably be stretches of land that are clear due to past wildfires and/or clear cut logging. At the same time, I’m hoping to see some of those tree stumps sitting on slopes. Furthermore, as it rains fairly heavy in this region, thin layer of water droplets will probably cover the topography of the area.
• The forest’s features, characteristics, and history is elaborated upon in the Ground Work essay “Natural history of the Andrews Forest Landscape.” It explains which plants are dominant, why parts of the landscape look the way they do, and what contributes to the forest’s overall temperament. However, through creative storytelling, the information becomes a much more relatable experience as seen in the essay “Interview with a Watershed.” The speaker addresses the forest as an alien being that humanity has lost connection to. He views his work as translating the forest’s language (measuring clarity of the streams, charting its temperatures) and re-bridging this divide.
• I’m curious as to the approach researchers such as those in the essay take to minimize their impact on the field. What tools do they use, and which ones are they allowed to purposely leave on site? Is there a specific clean-up procedure at the end of their research?

HJA 3

• “Change and Continuity” explains the natural occurrences that affects the forest. Change is explained as “decades of boredom punctuated by chaos” (120). There is the common conception that change is negative to an environment and the forest must endure the “chaos.” Yet at the same time, it is necessary to fluctuate the ecosystems development and progress species evolution. Wildfires, landslides, and floods have and will only continue to alter the forest. However, they offer a new understanding for the terrain and promote new growth.
• There will probably be very drastic differences between areas in the forest. Some areas that have recently been affected by a disaster may look much newer with fresh growth sprouting. However, other areas may look untouched and much older. At the same time, I’m also really hoping to see a Northern Spotted Owl.
• The Ground Work essay “Northern Spotted Owl” explains the radical decline of these endangered species due to habitat loss. Despite being a tragedy, these owls are represented as mere statistics -as faceless beings without any character. As a result, it becomes harder to sympathize and relate to these creature. Thus, creative story-telling is necessary to truly understand the issues at hand. From Maloof’s poem, Clear Cut, the reader sees the perspective of an owl witnessing the loss of its home. Despite gradual recovery, many owls are displaced and perish in the meantime.
• Are there any intentional man-made changes applied to the forests such as a controlled-burn? If so, how does one weigh the cost and benefit of such actions to the ecosystem?

HJA 4

• The section “Borrowing the Eyes of Others” addresses how people often generalize and perceive something from just one perspective. However, there is so much more going on around us that people commonly overlook such as the calls of native birds. The central message in this section is to go into something with a new mindset and fresh perspective. Relay ideas and views off of others because it will lead to a fuller experience.
• The experiences we will come across in the forest may not be as clear-cut as I once thought. Everyone may -and probably- will interpret each scene and subject much differently than the other. For example, I know I’m probably going to focus on which plants are the “bullies” and outcompeting others when I look at the trees, whereas others may focus on the kinds of organisms that these plants attract. The takeaway here is to hear everyone out because it will add to everyone’s experiences.
•  The Ground Work essay “Soundscape” explains the subtleties and sounds of the forest. There are many tones that people cannot hear and thus, we must rely on external machines to detect them. Despite our progression at understanding these sounds, we are still “very new to sensing and understanding the whole soundscape” (221). The essay, “Mind in the Forest”, paints a personal account of the speaker’s interaction andpsychogeography with the forest. His appreciation with a large Douglas Fir and the questions he has for it closes the distance between humanity and the wild. It’s soothing and creates an anodyne situation. The creative story-telling portrays the forest’s appeal and interaction with an “outsider” such as the speaker.
• If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Just kidding- does adapting a malleable and varied perspective encourage the notion that there are no definite, correct answers?