Story Info
Story Info
Becky Orf
Silverton, Oregon
2023
Type of Wounded Place
Story & Experience
12 members of the Earth Listening Circles of the Deep Adaptation Forum visited places local to them and did an Earth Exchange, as part of a global collaboration to listen to wounded places.
I went to a surviving oak savannah outside of Silverton, Oregon, that has some of the oldest white oaks left in Oregon (100+ years old). At one time these oak savannah covered Oregon’s Willamette Valley, but most were cut down to clear land for agriculture and building. Since I was last there, a severe ice storm had struck the area, resulting in many broken branches and toppled trees, which caused a lot of grief. But then, I also noticed one tree that had been broken off about 40’ up from the ground—no limbs were remaining. But I noticed small leaves beginning to spout along the remaining trunk and broken limbs of the tree. I was reminded of the changing, as well as the resilience, of nature.
12 members of the Earth Listening Circles of the Deep Adaptation Forum visited places local to them and did an Earth Exchange, as part of a global collaboration to listen to wounded places.
I went to a surviving oak savannah outside of Silverton, Oregon, that has some of the oldest white oaks left in Oregon (100+ years old). At one time these oak savannah covered Oregon’s Willamette Valley, but most were cut down to clear land for agriculture and building. Since I was last there, a severe ice storm had struck the area, resulting in many broken branches and toppled trees, which caused a lot of grief. But then, I also noticed one tree that had been broken off about 40’ up from the ground—no limbs were remaining. But I noticed small leaves beginning to spout along the remaining trunk and broken limbs of the tree. I was reminded of the changing, as well as the resilience, of nature.
Why this Place?
Silverton, Oregon
It’s a place I have loved that was damaged by a severe ice storm.
Act of Beauty
Say more about your actions and activity
I made a RadJoy bird from materials I found there.
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