Oh, Yeah, It's Earth Day

It kinda snuck up on me, mostly because we live pretty close to the land, so they are all earth days, just without the capital letters. 

However, I looked at some of the activities suggested for Earth Day, the one with the big letters, for kids and adults.

Most of 'em had to do with cleaning, conserving, and coloring books. "Take Back the Planet" is a big rallying cry.

Let's see now, how does Northview Farm help with those goals?

As far as endangered species go, I don't know how many of those we host on our acreage, and I probably wouldn't say so if I did. I do know that thanks to this bit of land not being developed and put under lawns and roads and houses, dozens of varieties of birds and wild animals, and insects and herptiles have homes.

Last year, during spring and summer, I personally counted 57 species of birds from the house, yard, and barnyard, about a five acre area. Admittedly I can see the river from my front porch, so I got lots of waterfowl flying by that don't nest here. However, 57 species seen from such a small area is quite a few.

If I counted the whole farm, as I am attempting to do this year, I would have definitely gotten more. If I added the birds Alan and the boss saw while doing field work, rather than just the ones I saw myself, snow buntings, scarlet tanagers, harriers, and plenty of others would have joined the list.

Some of these birds would still be here even if we didn't farm. However, a large majority, especially those that nest in pastures, hedgerows, and hay fields, would have to go elsewhere. Ditto the many deer, foxes, coyotes, squirrels, snakes, toads, frogs, dragon flies and Melissa Blue butterflies that hang around....among others too numerous to list.


Our place is pretty messy on the surface, untidy doesn't begin to cover it. However, as far as taking back the planet goes...well, I don't think we ever really quite let go.