In the isolation of living in the middle of nowhere we were definitely taught to understand nature in a visual manner as well as learning the true meaning of nature. We were also a part of the whole laws of nature. We didn’t live in a concrete city and decide or think about what we should do or what nature was. To think and ponder is fine, but do we really know if we are just guessing but don’t know the truth?
Recently I moved to a small town in the wilderness. Maybe in the back of my mind I wanted to go back to nature, but my reality was that house prices were cheaper there. I didn’t enjoy the experience like I thought I might.
Our home in the winter
I soon discovered the majority of the people were determined to build a concrete – village. The deer took shelter in my huge yard, the bears enjoyed fruit trees and wandered around in the fall, scrounging for their winter supply of food. Even dangerous mountain lions ventured into town upon occasion. But that wasn’t what people wanted – living in the wilderness. I had people complain about my neglected yard with its’ masses of pine trees. I even had a guy come to the door and say he would cut down my trees before they died and fell, destroying something.
I merely pointed out that them trees would probably be alive long after we were gone. But if any fell – it would be my house that was destroyed. So it shouldn’t concern others.
This bear was enjoying the apples in my neighbor’s backyard. He stood and growled at us when we decided to take a picture – carefully, at the back door.
In town the deer were just other local residents. They crossed streets, waiting for cars and even though a highway ran through town our deer never were hit. It truly astounded me to hear most wanted to get rid of the deer – they were messy, they ate flowers, shrubs and trampled everything. The bear were the same, but they were dangerous as well. All I could think – if you wanted meticulous lawns, safe concrete sidewalks and no wildlife – why on earth would you live in this small wilderness town? These are the people who would dictate how we are abusing nature? Unfortunately, I could see very few signs of anyone who truly understood nature.
A mother deer kisses her baby beneath my trees. The deer use the trees for shelter when it’s storming and trample everything. But a sight like this is priceless. Flowers can be replaced.
I moved back to a concrete city I love, the place where family and friends are easily available. But in this concrete city it’s very easy to drive outside and experience nature again. But if you live in a concrete city – you really don’t know or understand nature because you are never shown and might be better off to leave it to actual people who do. And be wary of those who might not tell the truth.
On the farm we learned to understand and respect nature. But reality was that if they encroached on our territory (we being part of nature too) – we took the necessary steps to prevent it. We couldn’t allow the grasshoppers to eat our crops. City dwellers especially have to appreciate a farmer having his crops produce in abundance. Without that there is no food in grocery stores. We couldn’t allow the masses of gophers to eat all our crops either. We couldn’t allow weasels or fox to get into our chicken barn and eat our chickens.
It was just a simple matter of understanding the laws of nature. Can anyone living in a city and only visiting nature sometimes think they know? Do they get their knowledge from opinions in books and can you truly understand if you don’t experience it first-hand?
Mary M. Forbes - Author 