So deep and nourishing, Katharine. Thank you. Three post-Helene landslides have opened up on the mountainside that overlooks our land. We can see them clearly now, in the winter landscape, and we will see them from here forward. The land remembers everything. Thank you for this beautiful and multi-faceted piece. Sending you continued blessings of healing.
Amy, I thought it was just amazing that you connected me to Jim and then Trish. But then, to be the recipient of such a sanity-saving bundle of energetic goodness just when it felt like my world was falling apart --that was a gift. Thank you.
Katherine, I feel this all so deeply. Thank you for weaving it all together. I too am a disciple of Robin Wall Kimmerer & have been re-listening to Braiding Sweetgrass. Her calming voice & the truths she speaks are like balm for the soul.
Becki, thanks for being here. What a good time for us to revisit Robin...after the Storm. She is my 'go to' listen when I can't sleep...such grandmother energy.
Thinking of you just a little south of me, 💙 katharine
Beautiful, Katharine. Thank you for recording and reporting from your epicenter. I can feel that the writing, like you, has found new footing.
I like what I think Millay is after - that the land "forgets" the storm because in an intact world the land is the storm. They are each other, they feed each other. But I think you're right to look at it the other way: the land has a deep memory and uses it to tell the truest of stories.
You mentioned a world "intact". Yes...I slip too readily into writing what is - when the world is truly out of kilter. Barry Lopez wrote that truth well. As do you.
You mentioned the relationship of storm and land.
"They are each other, they feed each other."
Padraig O' Tuama quoted Lucille Clifton this morning, "You come to poetry not out of what you know but out of what you wonder." I come away from your comment with much to consider and wonder. You are a good teacher. 🌱
The resilience of your community meeting every day in the face of the storm's effects could inspire a novel, but it's better as nonfiction. As usual, you take the experience to many levels of insight.
We read "The Serviceberry" in December and promptly ordered lots of copies as our holiday gift to friends and family. You practiced her economics of abundance by drawing on all the strengths of your community.
My neighbor, Melinda Halford, ran the daily meetings for at least two weeks. Then, we were able to space out the meetings. Everyone on the mountain did their part, from running food supply chains to operating the backhoes and cutting down trees. We needed that practice. We got to ‘meet’ each other.
We continue to work together — the long-term fix for the road is upwards of a million dollars. In our neck of the woods, 600 other “orphan” roads are in our situation, some with higher repair price tags.
I heard an interesting interview with Robin Wall Kimmerer. She and her publisher rushed to get The Serviceberry out before the election because they felt that no matter who won, we still needed to address how we think about the ‘economy.’ What fortunate recipients of your gifts of The Serviceberry!
There's been floods the last few days here in the UK, though nothing on the scale of what you experienced. But some places have been hit badly. Luckily I live at the top of a hill, so I've been unaffected. The way you and your community all came together to deal with the damage is incredible.
Jack, thank you for being here. I am glad for your hilltop location.
Has the Rights of Nature movement gained traction in the UK? It seems our court system is teetering on a toxic tipping point without a foothold in sight.
Not really, though I'm sure some people are working away on it, as you are. Our waterways are so polluted that it would take a lot to turn the tide at this point. Though Rights of Nature would be a way of doing that.
I should add that these floods are getting more and more common here. There have been several in the last year. I've been following the Los Angeles wildfires as well, which are just terrible.
Right? It feels as if we are living in a Barry Lopez moment. So often, in an essay or a book, he leaves off with the message, "I hope they know what's coming."
Thank you for your thoughtful words. It's heartbreaking to witness the impacts of climate change, but stories like Trish’s are truly inspiring and show us what’s possible when communities come together. May we all find ways to take meaningful action and support healing in our corners of the world. Let’s keep spreading hope and doing what we can. 🌍💚
Brian, you are so right about Trish O'Kane. She sets an extraordinary example. I was taken with her writing in Birding to Change the World on my first read. During our interview, I was even more impressed with how she expressed the need to understand land and water as beings who deserve care and consideration. Then the Storm happened here. And you are right again, the power of community coming together is the story that needs to be told again and again. Thank you for reading and commenting.💙🌎
Absolutely, Trish O'Kane’s work and words are truly inspiring. Her perspective on the land and water is so needed, and it's amazing to hear how the community came together during the Storm. Stories like that really show the strength of connection and care. Thank you for sharing your reflections and for the kind words. 💙🌍
Initially I thought that giving natural resources beinghood was anathema. Now I feel strongly that by acknowledgement of everything in nature that we clearly are dependent on having agency like we think we do may be the one the one way for people to begin an understanding of what interdependent living on this planet actually means. It simply is not us and that ground, that water we drink, that air exchange we exist because of.
This story you just told will endure as a comprehensive story of this time.
"On September 27th, 2024, I was forever changed by Helene...". Yes. And to your advantage, you stayed. A language, different from ours, defines 'chaos' as having two meanings. One is disorder, confusion or disarray. The other meaning is 'opportunity'. And by staying on after the storm, opportunities to strongly influence and advocate for rebuilding North Carolina in better ways, –in more sensible ways– are yours for time going forward.
Be a storyteller-warrior for others to find the right path.
So deep and nourishing, Katharine. Thank you. Three post-Helene landslides have opened up on the mountainside that overlooks our land. We can see them clearly now, in the winter landscape, and we will see them from here forward. The land remembers everything. Thank you for this beautiful and multi-faceted piece. Sending you continued blessings of healing.
Thank you, Jeanne, always for being here.
Winter landscapes do allow us to see clearly.
I am grateful that our bond is more than the three landslides in common. I am ever so grateful to Janisse Ray for bringing us together. Be well.💙🌎
Same here, sweet woman. I think of you often, up there just a bit north of me. 💚
Thank you.
Amy, I thought it was just amazing that you connected me to Jim and then Trish. But then, to be the recipient of such a sanity-saving bundle of energetic goodness just when it felt like my world was falling apart --that was a gift. Thank you.
Katherine, I feel this all so deeply. Thank you for weaving it all together. I too am a disciple of Robin Wall Kimmerer & have been re-listening to Braiding Sweetgrass. Her calming voice & the truths she speaks are like balm for the soul.
Thank you for this thoughtful piece. 💜
Becki, thanks for being here. What a good time for us to revisit Robin...after the Storm. She is my 'go to' listen when I can't sleep...such grandmother energy.
Thinking of you just a little south of me, 💙 katharine
Beautiful, Katharine. Thank you for recording and reporting from your epicenter. I can feel that the writing, like you, has found new footing.
I like what I think Millay is after - that the land "forgets" the storm because in an intact world the land is the storm. They are each other, they feed each other. But I think you're right to look at it the other way: the land has a deep memory and uses it to tell the truest of stories.
Jason, thank you, always.
You mentioned a world "intact". Yes...I slip too readily into writing what is - when the world is truly out of kilter. Barry Lopez wrote that truth well. As do you.
You mentioned the relationship of storm and land.
"They are each other, they feed each other."
Padraig O' Tuama quoted Lucille Clifton this morning, "You come to poetry not out of what you know but out of what you wonder." I come away from your comment with much to consider and wonder. You are a good teacher. 🌱
Katherine,
The resilience of your community meeting every day in the face of the storm's effects could inspire a novel, but it's better as nonfiction. As usual, you take the experience to many levels of insight.
We read "The Serviceberry" in December and promptly ordered lots of copies as our holiday gift to friends and family. You practiced her economics of abundance by drawing on all the strengths of your community.
Phil
Your comment is precious to me, Phil. Thank you.
My neighbor, Melinda Halford, ran the daily meetings for at least two weeks. Then, we were able to space out the meetings. Everyone on the mountain did their part, from running food supply chains to operating the backhoes and cutting down trees. We needed that practice. We got to ‘meet’ each other.
We continue to work together — the long-term fix for the road is upwards of a million dollars. In our neck of the woods, 600 other “orphan” roads are in our situation, some with higher repair price tags.
I heard an interesting interview with Robin Wall Kimmerer. She and her publisher rushed to get The Serviceberry out before the election because they felt that no matter who won, we still needed to address how we think about the ‘economy.’ What fortunate recipients of your gifts of The Serviceberry!
There's been floods the last few days here in the UK, though nothing on the scale of what you experienced. But some places have been hit badly. Luckily I live at the top of a hill, so I've been unaffected. The way you and your community all came together to deal with the damage is incredible.
Jack, thank you for being here. I am glad for your hilltop location.
Has the Rights of Nature movement gained traction in the UK? It seems our court system is teetering on a toxic tipping point without a foothold in sight.
Not really, though I'm sure some people are working away on it, as you are. Our waterways are so polluted that it would take a lot to turn the tide at this point. Though Rights of Nature would be a way of doing that.
I should add that these floods are getting more and more common here. There have been several in the last year. I've been following the Los Angeles wildfires as well, which are just terrible.
Right? It feels as if we are living in a Barry Lopez moment. So often, in an essay or a book, he leaves off with the message, "I hope they know what's coming."
Wow, thank for sharing. I am so sorry that you and the people of Appalachia went through this.
I too loved reading: Birding to Save the World. I was very inspired the successes Trish and her community were able to accomplish to save Warner Park.
May we all find ways to heal this world and find community as the catastrophes of climate change affect our world.
Thank you for sharing. Your beautiful words remind me that I must take action where I can.
Thank you for your thoughtful words. It's heartbreaking to witness the impacts of climate change, but stories like Trish’s are truly inspiring and show us what’s possible when communities come together. May we all find ways to take meaningful action and support healing in our corners of the world. Let’s keep spreading hope and doing what we can. 🌍💚
Brian, you are so right about Trish O'Kane. She sets an extraordinary example. I was taken with her writing in Birding to Change the World on my first read. During our interview, I was even more impressed with how she expressed the need to understand land and water as beings who deserve care and consideration. Then the Storm happened here. And you are right again, the power of community coming together is the story that needs to be told again and again. Thank you for reading and commenting.💙🌎
Absolutely, Trish O'Kane’s work and words are truly inspiring. Her perspective on the land and water is so needed, and it's amazing to hear how the community came together during the Storm. Stories like that really show the strength of connection and care. Thank you for sharing your reflections and for the kind words. 💙🌍
Dear Annie, Thank you for reading and commenting!
Trish sets a brave example. I love her commitment to understand and translate trauma into action.
Your words, "...I must take action where I can" is a good reminder for me, too. Thank you.🌱💙🌎
Initially I thought that giving natural resources beinghood was anathema. Now I feel strongly that by acknowledgement of everything in nature that we clearly are dependent on having agency like we think we do may be the one the one way for people to begin an understanding of what interdependent living on this planet actually means. It simply is not us and that ground, that water we drink, that air exchange we exist because of.
This story you just told will endure as a comprehensive story of this time.
"On September 27th, 2024, I was forever changed by Helene...". Yes. And to your advantage, you stayed. A language, different from ours, defines 'chaos' as having two meanings. One is disorder, confusion or disarray. The other meaning is 'opportunity'. And by staying on after the storm, opportunities to strongly influence and advocate for rebuilding North Carolina in better ways, –in more sensible ways– are yours for time going forward.
Be a storyteller-warrior for others to find the right path.
Namaste Katherine.