01. Photographer pick: Dave Van de Mark
Dave Van de Mark is known as a living legend in the areas surrounding the California redwoods. Half a century ago when timber companies were destroying the trees, Dave trespassed on private land, slept on stream banks and walked over 1,000 miles to capture thousands of photos that exposed the destruction of these old-growth forests. His photos circulated around the world, creating a massive global awareness that helped save the trees. Redwoods National Park was established in 1968, five years after his efforts began.
Now at age 79 the conservationist is taking on one last task called "Fifty Years Later Project" where he'll venture back into the deep woods to photograph the changes seen in the very places that were badly eroding 50 years ago.
We were lucky enough to sit down with Dave earlier this year for an interview: for more info check out this article that tells the full story of his journey as well as more information about his next project!
A tall man stands by a tree on Bridge Creek on Oct. 14, 1966, before it was destroyed. Photo by Dave Van de Mark
The same section of Bridge Creek after the logging destroyed its beauty. Note the big gray and green colored rocks are buried in rubble. Photo by Dave Van de Mark
Bridge Creek has now begun a “recovery” 53 years later. Photo by Dave Van de Mark, Nov. 16, 2019
02. Article pick: The Best Time to Plant an Oak Tree (And How to Do it)
The beautiful oak tree can add a majestic touch to any backyard, but they are good for more than just looks. Oak trees are a keystone species that keep lands healthy by hosting a rich mix of plants, insects, birds and other animals wherever they grow (they actually provide housing for more than 350 species!)
Learn the best way to set yours up for success as well as its other benefits like how it can improve air quality around your home and lower electric bills.
Fun fact: One oak tree alone can provide up to one million acorns in its lifetime.
The sun sets behind a great oak in Marin, California. Photo by Rafael Calderon
03. Book pick: The Heartbeat of Trees
"Conservation and environmental activism is not just about saving trees—it’s about saving ourselves, too."
Peter Wohlleben is known for his ability to write about trees in an engaging and moving way. In "The Heartbeat of Trees: Embracing Our Ancient Bond with Forests and Nature" he does not disappoint, drawing on scientific discoveries about age-old ties that can reconnect humans with trees and natural world.
04. Audio pick: An Interview With Doug Tallamy
Entomologist Douglas Tallamy has spent a lifetime researching the impact of nonnative plant species on the environment and insists there are ways the average gardener can help save our ecosystems. Breaking through the seemingly larger-than-life problems we face, he proposes a practical way that anyone with a patch of outdoor space can help restore environmental balance.
In this hour-long interview with Fine Gardening is a must-listen before planting your next plant! Tune in as he addresses questions gardeners are asking around the specifics of planting native plants and how having keystone species in your own backyard can truly help save the world.
05. Quote of the Week
“Humanity is part of nature, a species that evolved among other species. The more closely we identify ourselves with the rest of life, the more quickly we will be able to discover the sources of human sensibility and acquire the knowledge on which an enduring ethic, a sense of preferred direction, can be built.”
― E.O. Wilson