Comments on: burning Ann Arbor parks http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/ goings-on at our house in Ann Arbor Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:39:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Dugal http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-643 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 22:23:38 +0000 http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-643 Here it is. Although the latest gossip is that things started changing WAY before 1820. Did you see the latest Nat Geo? Earthworms are invasive! http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/data/veg1800/livingston.pdf Here it is. Although the latest gossip is that things started changing WAY before 1820. Did you see the latest Nat Geo? Earthworms are invasive!
http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/data/veg1800/livingston.pdf

]]> by: Timothy http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-634 Sat, 21 Apr 2007 01:01:39 +0000 http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-634 Thanks for sharing, Dugal. What I want to know is: where did you get a map that says your property was oak barrens pre-genocide, er, settlement? (Sorry, Sunday is Earth Day and I can't stop thinking of Europeans as the ultimate invasive species. It's interesting, the language of environmental preservationism. But I digress...) Anyway, that's kind of cool about the map. Good luck with your backyard. Thanks for sharing, Dugal. What I want to know is: where did you get a map that says your property was oak barrens pre-genocide, er, settlement? (Sorry, Sunday is Earth Day and I can’t stop thinking of Europeans as the ultimate invasive species. It’s interesting, the language of environmental preservationism. But I digress…) Anyway, that’s kind of cool about the map. Good luck with your backyard.

]]> by: Dugal http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-633 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 23:03:49 +0000 http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-633 I saw the crew burning huron parkway prairie today (4/20). I was tickled. I am restoring my back yard, 3/4 arce, to presettlement vegetation. The maps say it was oak barrens. I cleared the Honeysuckle, buckthorn, multi-flora rose, knapweed, canada thistle, blah blah blah. Planted native trees and shrubs on the perimeter and have started to spray R/U on the weeds for a planting of warm season grasses next year. Wish me luck! I saw the crew burning huron parkway prairie today (4/20). I was tickled. I am restoring my back yard, 3/4 arce, to presettlement vegetation. The maps say it was oak barrens. I cleared the Honeysuckle, buckthorn, multi-flora rose, knapweed, canada thistle, blah blah blah. Planted native trees and shrubs on the perimeter and have started to spray R/U on the weeds for a planting of warm season grasses next year. Wish me luck!

]]> by: gnd http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-316 Mon, 05 Mar 2007 22:14:07 +0000 http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-316 nothing better than parky parks. nothing better than parky parks.

]]> by: Timothy http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-311 Mon, 05 Mar 2007 17:07:59 +0000 http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-311 As long as we're criticizing eco-speak: "handsomeness" is more accurate than "preservation". The environment is not something humans can "preserve" or "save". Some sort of environment will be there for the cockroaches and other species even if our own goes extinct. What we can do is alter it to some extent, make it more or less hospitable to human or nonhuman habitation. That includes making it prettier or uglier. In the case of NAP, the burning of Ann Arbor parks happens to accomplish both making the parks prettier and more 'parky' and making the ecosystem healthier and more resilient, etc. What they're "preserving" is the historical character of Ann Arbor's open spaces, which were periodically burned for centuries by the area's previous inhabitants. As long as we’re criticizing eco-speak: “handsomeness” is more accurate than “preservation”. The environment is not something humans can “preserve” or “save”. Some sort of environment will be there for the cockroaches and other species even if our own goes extinct. What we can do is alter it to some extent, make it more or less hospitable to human or nonhuman habitation. That includes making it prettier or uglier. In the case of NAP, the burning of Ann Arbor parks happens to accomplish both making the parks prettier and more ‘parky’ and making the ecosystem healthier and more resilient, etc. What they’re “preserving” is the historical character of Ann Arbor’s open spaces, which were periodically burned for centuries by the area’s previous inhabitants.

]]> by: gnd http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-310 Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:36:04 +0000 http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-310 All kidding aside, I honestly do appreciate the exceptional creatures who are willing to get out of their house, and their car, to preserve the environment. (but in case you are NOT willing to get out of your car to do shit, there are options, as per this email I just received....hmmmm.....they could have said "bike" or "green vehicle" or something.....) HRWC needs people to check the remaining natural areas in our watershed by merely driving by them This is part of our Bioreserve Project, to map locations with the potential for ecologically valuable natural areas. The current stage of our survey is a basic level of “ground truthing” and it is very easy. You simply drive slowly around the area and write down your observations about whether the area has been cleared or developed, whether there are signs that it will be sold, and what it looks like in terms of forest, scrubby growth, cleared, recently or currently farmed, wetlands, creek etc. If there are roads that allow a closer look we drive on those as well. It is both easier and more fun to have a partner. If you don’t know someone to go with you, we can find someone who has volunteered with us on other projects. So far people have looked 470 out of 1,720 natural areas. So, we have 1,250 locations to check before the leaves come out, when we will not be able to see them from the road. Please consider helping with this if any of the areas listed below [deleted for space, check the website.] are areas you could drive to. Please contact Kris at 734/769-5123 x16 or kolsson@hrwc.org if you are interested. Also check out the volunteer web site at www.hrwc.org/bioreserve. All kidding aside, I honestly do appreciate the exceptional creatures who are willing to get out of their house, and their car, to preserve the environment.

(but in case you are NOT willing to get out of your car to do shit, there are options, as per this email I just received….hmmmm…..they could have said “bike” or “green vehicle” or something…..)

HRWC needs people to check the remaining natural areas in our watershed by merely driving by them This is part of our Bioreserve Project, to map locations with the potential for ecologically valuable natural areas.
The current stage of our survey is a basic level of “ground truthing” and it is very easy. You simply drive slowly around the area and write down your observations about whether the area has been cleared or developed, whether there are signs that it will be sold, and what it looks like in terms of forest, scrubby growth, cleared, recently or currently farmed, wetlands, creek etc. If there are roads that allow a closer look we drive on those as well.
It is both easier and more fun to have a partner. If you don’t know someone to go with you, we can find someone who has volunteered with us on other projects.
So far people have looked 470 out of 1,720 natural areas. So, we have 1,250 locations to check before the leaves come out, when we will not be able to see them from the road. Please consider helping with this if any of the areas listed below [deleted for space, check the website.] are areas you could drive to.
Please contact Kris at 734/769-5123 x16 or kolsson@hrwc.org if you are interested. Also check out the volunteer web site at www.hrwc.org/bioreserve.

]]> by: zcd http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-201 Sat, 24 Feb 2007 22:30:21 +0000 http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-201 Ya'll laugh now, but when global warming and ecological calamity leads national governments around the world to consolidate power under the banner of ecofascism I will be happy to have my Yellow-Suit-Wearing prescribed burn warrior, with his water cannon in hand, standing at my side, fighting the good fight for Justice, Freedom, and Environmental Sustainability. Although, I do have to say, Keeping a park looking 'handsome' is a form of eco-speak that I don't know that i am ready to use in any old public forum. But perhaps it will catch on. Ya’ll laugh now, but when global warming and ecological calamity leads national governments around the world to consolidate power under the banner of ecofascism I will be happy to have my Yellow-Suit-Wearing prescribed burn warrior, with his water cannon in hand, standing at my side, fighting the good fight for Justice, Freedom, and Environmental Sustainability.

Although, I do have to say, Keeping a park looking ‘handsome’ is a form of eco-speak that I don’t know that i am ready to use in any old public forum. But perhaps it will catch on.

]]> by: gnd http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-200 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 20:42:33 +0000 http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-200 hmm. i sure can pick 'em. hmm. i sure can pick ‘em.

]]> by: meximese http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-198 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:31:37 +0000 http://www.bluishbarn.com/neighborhood/burning-ann-arbor-parks/#comment-198 no comment. no comment.

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