"Instead of cherry-picking evidence to support a particular view (and insisting that the science points to a desired action), the various sides could lay out the values they are using to assess the evidence."
"To understand the sheer inanity of devoting 40 million acres, nearly half as much land as we set aside for our biggest crops, to an inedible carpet, we need to back up—beyond the modern lawn’s origins with a real estate family peddling the “American Dream” as Whites-only cookie-cutter suburbs—to the evolution of grass."
"Most plants grow from the top, according to Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Director Steve Windhager. “Grasses, on the other hand, always grow from the base,” he told Earther. From the plant’s perspective, this was a great strategy for dealing with grazers who’d randomly hit the same patch every few months. But Americans, true to form, are more gluttonous."
"We mow our lawns every few weeks. This coaxes our grass into growing its roots outwards, rather than down, spawning more sprawling shoots, in hopes of enabling any one blade to avoid overzealous grazers. However, the $47.8 billion to $82 billion we spend annually on overcutting and landscaping (FYI: we spend $49.47 billion in foreign aid) effectively amounts to trying to kill the grass while offering it life support. We trap it in prepubescence—too young to reseed, racing desperately ever-outward to find reproductive refuges that doesn’t exist."
"We cut ourselves equally: Thirty-five thousand people, 4,800 of which are children, are treated annually for mower-related injuries—resulting in 600 youth amputations. The Royal Statistical Society even awarded the fact that nearly eight times more Americans are killed by lawnmowers than Islamic terrorists International Statistic Of The Year."
"If we want a balance of predators and prey in nature, humans must be involved in managing wildlife populations. There’s simply no other way. The alternative will result in widespread disease, animal decimation and the possible extirpation of species in certain areas. Human beings want a balanced natural system, where we are able to enjoy wildlife in numbers for viewing and hunting. Since we have the ability to somewhat control wildlife populations, we should do it for the benefit of both humans and wildlife."
"If left to its own devices, nature will always promote an imbalance in wildlife populations. Predators will outnumber prey or vice versa, and some populations will suffer, taking years to recover. We also cannot deny the role and interest of human beings in the natural system. We are part of the natural system, part of nature. To deny or reject this reality is foolishness of the highest order."
There also was a nice looking fire place, probably used by hunters camping here in the fall, and an outhouse. No picnic table though.
Saturday May 21, 2011 — Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest — Big Pond Trail 🗺 — Boreas Railroad - Moose Club Way To Northwoods Club Road 🗺 — Boreas River 🗺 — Bullet Pond And Horseshoe Pond 🗺 — Roosevelt Truck Trail 🗺 — Stony Pond 🗺 — Vanderwhacker Firetower Trail 🗺 — Vanderwhacker Road Campsites 🗺 — Wolf Pond Trail 🗺 — Wolf Pond Trail Ortho 🗺— PDF with All Maps 📚
