I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms…” – Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau is well known for his writings, poems, and being a leader of the transcendentalism movement in America. A majority of his work is focused around nature, like the poem above. As a way to remove himself from what society had become and to find a more simple meaning in life, Thoreau went into the wilderness for two years, two months, two weeks, and two days. During this time he stayed in a cabin near Walden pond.

I believe this poem to be the essence of not only how humans view wilderness, but also how incorrect our assumptions are of what nature is. Thoreau begins by saying he went into the wilderness because he wanted to live without the hustle of society and the problems we have created for ourselves. “and not when I came to die discovered I have not lived.” Throughout this class, we have discussed and read how wilderness has no correct definition and how there is no wilderness without civilization. I believe this is what Thoreau is alluding to. Throughout history, the woods were seen as godless and full of turmoil, a place to go to die. But Thoreau understands it is the exact opposite, the wilderness is full of life and has much more to teach than we can ever understand.

Thoreau goes on to explain that the society we have built is merely a facet of our existence. That the troubles of daily life are no more real than the construct and definitions of wilderness. Finally, he says that he wishes to boil down life to discover its simplest form, to search for the answer to the question humans have pondered for hundreds of thousands of years. What is the meaning of life?

History of Central Park

Between 1820 and 1850 New York City’s population nearly quadrupled. As the city expanded up Manhattan island, people were drawn to the few open areas left which were mostly cemeteries. Originally in 1811 when the grid system was established for the city it did not include central park but smaller open areas. By 1840 many city elites were calling for constructions of a large park in Manhattan. The 750-acre plot of land stretching from 59th to 106th street was chosen to transform into a park.

While this may be history about Central Park that you can read in a pamphlet or easily google, there is a history about Central Park that very few know. While it is no surprise that today and especially in the 1800s black people are oppressed and disenfranchised, even in their own communities. By 1825, a little over 20 years since slavery was abolished, there was a thriving community in the area where Central Park now resides. The free black people were also accompanied by Irish immigrants, who at the time were seen as the lowest form of a white person. The community of central park were split into villages like Pigtown,  and Seneca village.

Seneca Village was the largest and the first community of its kind in the city. The community was made up of around 264 residents, three churches, two cemeteries, and a schoolhouse. This community lasted until 1857, villagers and other settlers in the area were forced to leave because of eminent domain. Their houses were torn down and entire villages were dispersed except for a single congregation that relocated. Over the years the communities and villages were all but forgotten about. Until the early 1990s when the book The Park and the People: A History of Central Park. The Seneca Village Project was formed in 1998 to raise awareness of the village and how it was stolen from people who already had next to nothing. Since that time several archeological digs have been conducted discovery burial sights and multiple tombstones. In 2001 a historical plaque was unveiled commemorating the site where Seneca Village once stood.

Central Park may not be the largest park in New York City but it is filled with years of history. Central Park is also the most visited urban park in New York, drawing in 38 million visitors every year. If you ever have the chance to visit and walk through this beautiful park its important to take in the sprawling beauty in this dense urban area. However, it is also important to remember the people who once called it home and raised their children there.

 

References:

https://www.centralparknyc.org/blog/seneca-village

White Sands: The most recent National Park

The most recent addition to the National Park Service is the White Sands of New Mexico. The 62nd National Park was added in December of 2019 making it less than a year old. The iconic dunes stretch for 275 square miles Originally designated as a National Monument in 1933 by President Herbert Hoover, it was transformed into a national park because of the 2020 National Defense Authorization act. Surprisingly enough this act also created a new branch of the military, Space Force. While many officials and locals have tried for decades to designate it as a national park, this may be the first time in American history there were not miles of red tape to get through. Locals of the park are excited that the land will now have federal protection from mining because it is one of the world’s largest gypsum reserves. Gypsum is mined around the world and used for fertilizer, blackboard chalk, and drywall. It is estimated that the gypsum which creates te wite dunes goes down about 30 feet.

The rolling white sand hills of NM

12,000 years ago this land was filled with vast lakes, streams, and grasslands. This area also happens to be a hotspot for fossilized footprints. Animals that have been identified include mammoths, ground sloths, camels, dire wolves, American lions, saber-toothed cats, and even paleolithic humans. The Paleo-Indians were the first people to inhabit North America after the final glacier recession which created and then flooded the land bridge from modern-day Russia to modern-day Alaska 12,000 years ago. There is also evidence of Archaic people 4,000 years ago, the Jornada Mogollon people from 200 – 1350 A.D., and the Mescalero Apaches from 1300 – present day.

Fossilized human footprints 

The animal species that inhabit the park are around 600 invertebrates, 300 plants, 250 birds, 50 mammals, 30 reptiles, 7 amphibians, and only 1 fish species. some of these species have evolved to match the white and off white colors of the dunes. However, it is only 3 mammals, 3 reptiles, and numerous insects.

 

References:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1790

Theodore Roosevelt: Conservationist and President

During his first term as president Theodore better know as Teddy took a journey with John Muir, a well-known naturalist, through the wilderness of what is now Yosemite National Park. The trip was only for three days, beginning in Mariposa Grove, seeing marvels like Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point, and hiking through Yosemite Valley.

The First night the men camped in Mariposa Grove under the Grizzly Giant, a tree over 200 feet high and just shy of 100 feet in diameter. However surprisingly, it is only the 26th largest giant sequoia living today. While photography technology was still in it’s infancy, they were able to snap a picture right in front of the Grizzly Giant.

(Teddy Roosevelt can be seen in the middle of the group with John Muir to his left)

On the second day the spent the night near Sentinel Dome also referred to as Half Dome. It holds that name becasue of it’s unique structure as one side has a sheer face while the other three are rounded, making it look like a dome cut in half. During the night a snow storm drop 5 fresh inches of snow ontop of the 5 feet already on the ground. Muir noted that even in the remote wilderness the president slept comfortably atop a pile of 40 wool blankets.

The third night was Muirs chance to plead his case for the protection of the Yosemite wilderness along with setting aside other areas in the country for the sole purpose of becoming parks. While gathered around the fire Muir explained why the land of Yosemite should be receded from the state of California to the United States. Roosevelt agreed saying “two controls made for triple troubles.” This disscussion prompted Roosevelt to sign orders for the reccession of Yosemite from the state of California. This withdrew state protection of the land and giant sequoia trees and placed them under federal protection.

Over the course of his presidency Roosevelt created five national parks, fifty five national bird  sanctuaries and wildlife refuges, along with one hundred and fifty national forest. Truely earning the name “The Great Conservationist”

 

Renewable Energy

With the world going to shitaki mushrooms one of our biggest problems is global warming. Climate change is a natural occurrence on earth, but green house gases have quicken this process. Coal emits between 1.4 and 3.6 pounds of CO2/kWh when burned. Wind emits only 0.02 to 0.04 pounds of CO2/kWh, Solar 0.07 to 0.2, geothermal 0.1 to 0.2, and hydroelectric between 0.1 and 0.5. If 80% of coal power plants used renewable energy sources our carbon footprint would decrease by 81%.

Solar energy captures the suns rays and turns in it into energy. It is an important source of renewable energy and  its technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on how they capture and distribute solar energy.

Wind power is the use of air flow through wind turbines to mechanically powered generators for electric power. Wind farms consist of many individual wind turbines which are connected to the electric power transmission network. Onshore wind is an inexpensive source of electric power, competitive with or in many places cheaper than coal or gas plants. Offshore wind is steadier and stronger than on land, and offshore farms have less visual impact, but construction and maintenance costs are considerably higher.

In 2015 hydropower generated 16.6% of the world’s total electricity and 70% of all renewable electricity and was expected to increase about 3.1% each year for the next 25 years. The cost of hydroelectricity is relatively low, making it a competitive source of renewable electricity. Once a hydroelectric complex is constructed, the project produces no direct waste, and has a considerably lower output level of green house gases than fossil fuels powered energy plants.

Solar power, wind power, and hydroelectricity are the main renewable energy sources that we use. We already have such advanced technologies but they aren’t advanced enough for us to rely solely on them. Renewable energy technology is ever changing and advancing everyday. In the near future I believe we will be able to rely on renewable energy and we will secure a better tomorrow.