Balsam Swamp is a sprawling state forest that stretches almost 5.5 miles east-west across 4 towns. The area is very rural, and the landscape surrounding the State Forest is predominantly forested. Balsam Swamp State Forest is comprised of a mix of native hardwood forests, hemlock swamps, and conifer plantations. There are no designated recreational trails on the forest, but there is ample opportunity for self-guided day hikes to explore the diversity of habitats represented on this State Forest. Additionally, the western section of Balsam Swamp State Forest is adjacent to Five Streams State Forest to the south.
The main attraction of this forest is Balsam Pond. The impoundment is approximately 152 acres and is a popular destination for fishing and paddle boat sports. Balsam Pond is a warm water fishery that contains a mix of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brown bullhead and sunfish. Tiger muskellunge have been stocked in the past with the last stocking occurring in 1995. However, there have been very few reports of anglers catching any of the adult tiger muskies. A shallow gravel boat launch is suitable for launching small fishing boats.
A small rustic camp ground is also located at Balsam Pond. Camping spaces are available at no cost on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is no running water or electricity. A fire ring, outhouse, and picnic table are provided for each camping space. A sign on Balsam-Tyler Road in Pharsalia designates the entrance to the boat launch and camping facility. This is a carry-in carry-out facility. Please do not litter.
I hear that Congress passed Trade Promotion Authority for the President. This will certainly mean the demise of red blinkers on the backs of American cars. This is an exclusive American feature on our cars. Unsafe? Maybe. But it’s one of the ways that American cars are globally unique. Heck, even the Japanese have been putting red blinkers on their cars, to be more red-blooded American (and because America requires bigger tail lamps).
Where is the outrage? Red-blooded Americans should have right to red blinkers. Americans shouldn’t put up with foreign countries demanding we have ugly amber blinkers on the rear end of our cars. I’m sure the Republicans will put in a bill to protect the basic American right to have red blinkers on the rear-end of our cars.
Of course, if our American Automakers were patriotic but want to be trade-friendly, there is an alternative they could adapt. They could use clear glass and have yellow light bulbs. That way the blinkers appear white — blending in with the backup lights — until somebody hit’s the blinker button and they turn yellow. But that might cost Detroit 50 cents more per car and that is simply un-American.
I mean, people might start to believe that if you keep repeating that phrase in describing yourself to others.
I have different ideas then might be popular in society, like the worship of polyvinyl chloride, a material I despise on so many levels. I just despise the lawns of suburbia, the smart televisions, the marble countertops, the green veneer of electric cars and solar panels on the roofs of McMansions. I don’t want to live life the normal way, with the 2 1/2 kids attending a good school.
Is it a tougher row to hoe? Yes. But not wanting such things doesn’t officially make you mentally ill, because mental illness is defined in the context of being non-functional in society, rather then simply rejecting tacky societal norms.
Lately there has been a meme on social media attacking the suburbanite lawn, the vast space of empty green, manicured and cut to a perfect height, fertilized and sprayed to ensure no weeds or unwanted grasses.
You can be critical for good reason to the suburban, chemically treated lawn – especially those who put so much care into it they don’t want people to even walk on it. Lawns – even with robust grasses like fescue – are pretty delicate, they turn brown due to a lack of rain and quickly can become mud and worn if they are repeatedly walked across by people, animals or livestock.
But I do see benefits to having a small, largely natural lawn too. For one, grasses and their roots tie down the dirt and mud so your not tracking it all indoors. If you have land that isn’t productive – it’s buffer space than you don’t want to be a nuisance.
Buffer space is important. Setting your house back from trees means less likely for storm damage when a branch comes down. Being back from the road means less noise from passing cars and noxious fumes. It provides a defensible space during wild fire. Livestock like pigs have odors, cows and roosters are noisy. For both reasons of noxious odor and fire safety, you don’t want your trash burner near your house. Hay, cows and campfire don’t smell that bad but burnt plastic, hog manure and fermented grain aren’t exactly wonderful smells to be drifting in your window whole eating dinner.
Buffer space is important. But every foot of grass you have for buffer could be forage or forest producing useful agricultural or forest products. It’s a trade-off but can be made reasonably well if buffer is limited and it’s largely natural with common grasses and weeds, while surrounded by natural forests, local plants and cleared of invasive species.
I am an unusual person this day of age choosing to live without home internet access or air conditioning. It’s part of my choice to live simply and without modern conveniences that a lot of folks have. My budget is pretty tight these days and while I could make such things fit I choose to do without.
But I also worry if I made my apartment too comfortable if I would ever go out. What is the incentive to go to the library or down to the park if I had internet at home? Why ever go outside in the summer months if my apartment is perfectly chilled to a delightful temperature. No need to drive up to the Adirondacks for a swimming hole or a cool night in the woods if I can sit next to the cool breeze at home.
Maybe my objection to air conditioning is a bit silly. I mean there are plenty of people who live off grid down in Missouri and Oklahoma and other southern states and they have air conditioning – you can build a big enough system with batteries and solar to keep cool year round. Plenty of farmers and homesteaders have air conditioning – sure they’re barns might be sticky but their tractors and trucks are air conditioned – and when they’re done with chores they climb into an air conditioned tractor cab, office or home. People who fish, hunt and camp in the summer typically lack air conditioning.
The same is true for the internet. Having high speed access to the web doesn’t mean you can’t go outside or enjoy life away from home. It’s just more convenient than looking for a free hot spot. Having internet access at home might be essential in the future for some remote work jobs, especially if i want to run a business from my off-grid cabin. But still it seems kind of imprisoning to have the unlimited, always on flow of information at your house.
Not owning a television. Well that’s one I can’t criticize. I don’t see much benefit to commercials. I do watch my favorite off-grid and homesteading channels, the real farmer channels and some stuff about electronics and electricity – mechanical shit – but not anything I’d find on commercial television. I download them as free from YouTube.
*Maybe my views are changing but I still have to think living with less is a better way of life. I like my toys but it’s better to enjoy them outside rather than inside.
I used to cook a lot more on charcoal while camping but lately I’ve been using the gas stove more. But I forgot how good a breakfast tastes cooked on charcoal. 🍳 Sausages get that nice smoked taste as do the eggs. The fire tends to be fairly consistent but slow, it radiates warmth even on a fairly cool morning.🔥 Maybe it’s a little bit more work and slower but the results are wonderful.
I’ve decided if I am not going to buy a house right away — and my dreams of building a cabin are probably best to wait until retirement — I am going to focus more on travel in next few years. While I won’t say it will be spare no expense, I should also not be worried about pinching every penny or shaving every mile off trips.
People say I was nuts when I was Coney Island and wasn’t willing to pay $7 for an authentic Nathan’s Hot Dog from the beach. Maye I should have just gone for it, as who knows if I will ever be in Coney Island again. It’s great to save and invest in your future, I do think I should also have a bit of fun and not missing out on some great adventure along the way due to a $5 admission fee, when you’re 500 miles away from home.
If I am dreaming of moving out west, then I really should plan trips out west. Maybe next summer, especially if I end up replacing Big Red with something a bit more fuel efficent. Or gasp! Taking a plane and renting a car. I don’t want to go to tourist traps, I want open country, probably places that are relatively inexpensive and interesting to visit.
