Romping good times at Alsea Falls

posted by Angie

Yesterday we explored a close by treasure: Alsea Falls. We hiked the trail, which though beautiful. It is a temperate rainforest with amazingly lush vegetation. These leaves were found only right in or next to creeksides.

The trees were covered in moss, even this late in the summer.

Once we got to the falls the real fun began. We found a path less traveled that took us around and down the creek to a perfect bouldering spot.

While the boys were clambering over rocks, they found a perfectly round,deep hole in one right next to the creek with a crawdad stuck in it. Having pity on the poor little thing, they tormented it by trying to rescue it with sticks. Needless to say, once they did finally get it out it was mad as heck. I'm sure it would have died in there if they hadn't gotten it out, but try telling that to a p**off crawdad.




It was a wonderful hike, and a reminder that we have some of the most beautiful places in the world fairly close by. Unfortunately, this area is BLM land, and on the list for logging through Bush's "healthy forests" initiative. Honestly, there is some thoughtful thinning that could benefit the area, but the equipment would still have have some severely damaging effects on the amazing undergrowth that only an old growth forest can have. Much logging still employs the slash and trash methodology, with planting young trees (usually all of one type) and no thought to the aftereffects on the health of the forest floor. What will happen is that private companies will be awarded the right to log it, with a certain amount (usually fairly small) paid back to the government. Once in awhile these companies are thoughtful, but most times they just want to get in and get out as quickly as possible to maximize profit. Also, the rules under Bush's plan make it so that the buffer between where they can log and creeks and rivers is shortened to a ridiculous amount. The riparian forest (right next to a creek or river) provide an important filtration service to the water in the creeks and rivers. Without it we are going to go right back to the bad old days of grossly polluted streams and rivers, which will kick out into the ocean. The riparian forests and wetlands can't get rid of all of the pollution, but they sure do make a dent. There are people fighting it, but we will see what will happen. There is a lot of economic pressure right now for logging. But you know, if there was less clearcutting and more sustainable selective logging, people wouldn't be fighting so hard. You'd think the logging interests would figure that out. Anyway, off my soapbox.

After our adventure, I got home and found that almost half of my pears that I had picked last week were needing to be processed ASAP or they would be lost. So, I sat my rear down and started peeling and slicing. Though it was hard and exhausting, I looked at my 48 jars of organic home-canned pears and knew it was worth it. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy canning, for the first couple of hours. But there's a point in the process where it just becomes work. As most good things are. This year I focused efforts on canning what we ate most last winter. We have 60 pounds of blueberries in the freezer, tons of jam left from last year, and now pears. Still to come is strawberry jam, and tons of apple pie filling (for crisps). I am hoping for 40 jars of filling. A friend has a number of apple trees coming ripe next month, so I have a good free organic source.

Our chicken of the day is Ellie. She has developed a bit of a crossed beak (more like a sideways overbight) which makes her look somewhat asymmetrical and a bit umm, unintelligent. She is a sweet little bird though, and holds her own with the other chickens. The only time she has issues with her beak is when she tries to pick up something small, but maybe her aim will improve over time. I adore her.