When it comes to nature, how can we pay it forward? You know the concept: someone does a good deed for you, or pays off your debt, and you reciprocate by extending your generosity and good will to the next person in line. But hasn't nature also done us many a good deed? And don't … Continue reading Paying it Forward with the Kirtland’s Warbler
Tag: Lake Huron Watershed
Wind Power from the Thumb
On the same day the United Nation's issued another report detailing the dangers of climate change, I visited one of the many places in Michigan where people are trying to figure out how to generate electricity while avoiding damage to our environment. I found no panacea, but came away hopeful. As with many challenges we face, … Continue reading Wind Power from the Thumb
Hiking and Biking Bois Blanc Island
There is something about being on an island: the onboard anticipation of the journey there, the defined boundaries of a shoreline, the sense of shared belonging with other castaways. It's romantic escaping to an island, and as summer waned Anna and I spent a day marooned on Bois Blanc Island, where The Nature Conservancy (TNC) … Continue reading Hiking and Biking Bois Blanc Island
Legacies from Legacies
Where did you gain your interest in nature? What were your first experiences in the out-of-doors? Who first introduced you to the mysteries and joys of some special place? These thoughts crossed my mind as I attended the dedication of a preserve addition on a Great Lakes shore on a blue-sky day in July.Big Trout … Continue reading Legacies from Legacies
Searching for Sunrise in Saginaw Bay
Sunrise brings hope. The lightening of the sky, the under-cloud illuminations, and then finally the red-orange fire of the sun itself embodies opportunity reborn. I recall an unplanned bivouac in the Sierra spent underneath a space blanket, and I never appreciated more the warm sunrise that brought the ability to see, move, and feel.The Quest. … Continue reading Searching for Sunrise in Saginaw Bay
Saving A River: Paddling the Shiawassee
How do you preserve a river? Land trusts and environmental groups like The Nature Conservancy have a long and successful history of acquiring special places and protecting them through ownership, conservation easements, or real estate partnerships with public entities. This approach works well for land, but you cannot purchase a river. How then can we … Continue reading Saving A River: Paddling the Shiawassee
Walks with Tom 