Fifty Trees, One Neighborhood, and Our Becoming Like Roots

A field note from the road while following a map of trees.

Becoming a library card holder in your neighborhood is one the most imaginative, solid things to do. The library here did not disappoint. On my way out after perusing the entire building, I spotted a pamphlet that looked like it was printed haphazardly on regular paper and a bit of underdeveloped ink. Perfect, I grabbed it up without looking at the double paged trifold.

50 Trees it says at the Header then a map of the neighborhood underneath my feet. The top map is zoomed out to see the full spread of lines, curves, and diagonals. Below that is an even closer map with street names and numbers next to black dots. The grays and deep orange with lime green and hazy blue lines as a palette on the paper had a soft feel to my eyes.

“This walking tour is intended to start at the Public Library. We ask that you respect the privacy of the homeowners if on private soil, and stay at a distance on public streets and sidewalks.”

The page on the turned over side is the numbered order of each tree using the common and scientific name plus the street name, most of them at a corner, then the actual address (which honestly came in super handy). I admire the time and effort to offer this free resource to the public. It is under our feet, webs of structures, ecological systems working it out so that we do not fall straight through. What of the trees accept to become a conglomeration of every bit of what is underneath, packaged up to be what the underside wants us to see?

I wonder if I can finish this 1-50 and really learn something? If I take my time, will I eventually forget and not walk the entire map for a visit with each tree? If I share this here, with you, maybe there is something to say for as long as it takes… as long as I remain here for a time that allows. Ok, so maybe this is too many questions. This map is glorious to have in my hands, truly. A documentation of what it is to be with each tree, we begin.

There were two visits from the list, Tree No. 1 and Tree No. 2 this week. Intentional visit each time that seemed to have other people of the public involved with the tree finding expeditions. Each tree had 1-2 other humans living their lives while my eyes were on the tree. The path in this neighborhood is not flat and unpredictible and it feels wobbly. That is a side note for later that this land is sand and rock so rightfully to honor the connections under this area that are holding us all up.

The decisions of protocol have churned out to be: meet the tree, take time with the outpouring of each view, ask for a sample to remember them by, then thank them for taking a stand and to be here right now. The digital camera inside my phone can be used for images, however, when the time comes to pass that there are enough funds to move my storage units closer than 4-5 hours away… that will be quite a dream at this point. In my mind and on paper, the needs list is being compiled so that we are not spending cash we do not have since most of the needs list is in the storage units out there, somewhere.

Clove and I are no longer living in a constant state of movement being in and out of the car. Surreal so far, thankful at the alignment and mindful of all the marbles still on the floor. What is jumping out right now are these reminders of fear, overwhelming pain points, that seem more malleable than ever. It is not yet a memory how many nights were spent in a state of panic and fear. My sleep contains a heap more comfort now, literally and figuratively, and yet my neural pathways are hanging voraciously to fear as the fail safe. There is much to unravel then piece back together again.

A far out vision sits quietly of a mobile maker studio and death work field base. Perhaps what is necessary to follow through to its becoming is to stay put, to gather what just happened and what is happening now. The moving like a locomotive through some heavy trials at the same time as not having sturdy income was not in the playbook, if ever there even was one. So, I am meeting some trees. May you as a reader, find space whenever it arrives, to meet some trees with us. And may we all be in the flow of standing for justice, in the company of loyal friends, and webbed together like the earth under our feet.

Tree No. 1: Scots Pine

Pinus sylvestris
The tree of endurance, continuity, and the light that returns.

The Scots pine has a story along northern Europe with its timber used as shelter, resin to seal wooden vessels, and its neverending, evergreen presence as a symbol for continuing through the cold and dark.

In Scotland and the wider area including European folklore, pine contains protection, purification, renewal, and the reminding return of longer daylight hours. Scots pines serve as landmarks, helping travelers recognize their way through unmemorized landscapes. In rural parts of the Scottish Highlands, pines are planted near burial places and stand as markers of memory and remembrance. [Sources: Trees for Life; University College Cork]

This tree has seen some things, walking up to it as gently as possible. The endurance over the question of years has not hardened its grooves of bark, slightly gray and strong. It is sitting inbetween a building that was built around it and does not come close to nearing its canopy. This is massive, you can be with this tree. Someone made a long, cylinder birds nest hanging from the lowest branch that was probably thirteen feet high. I crouched down slowly to inspect the ground covered in small pebbles and the bird came down with me; it danced around the trunk. What I heard was hello, check out my nest a bit more, see what they made me.

Tree No. 2: Green Ash

Fraxinus pennsylvanica
The tree of strength, flexibility, and the work of becoming useful without losing your own shape.

The map in my hands identifies this tree as Green Ash, but Fraxinus americana is the scientific name for White Ash. Green Ash is generally identified as Fraxinus pennsylvanica. I checked my tree manual and the internet images with my digital images and believe this was incorrectly named on the pamphlet. The correct botanical name is listed above. Shall I mention this to the library, probably not.

Ash trees are valued for their resilient wood composition. Since there are quite a few species, green ash in particular is used for tools, handles, paddles, bows, and other objects that need to withstand pressure while retaining strength. The elasticity and resilient nature of green ash is revered as a provider of foundational support and survival. The bend without splitting apart completely.

This tree was at the corner with branches sprawling just low enough to catch my hair and remind me to be slow. It purposefully poked my head more than a couple times. I was looking at the ground to check myself if I was making branches fall off… no. This is when I backed up and walked back and forth in a crescent moon around its base. This is not a brittle tree; these powerful and outstretched arms served a purpose. It was flexible and did not surrender that easily.

A happenstance, a tree map, an expedition kicks off

Fifty trees with an open ended opportunity to guide with intent, take a walk in the open air, actively listen, and open my person to discover the foundation I eat, sleep, and walk along with in my waking life. The documentation using digital images, specimens from the surrounding understory, and the research of each one in use and folklore is the driving force to put on my shoes, grab a bag, my phone, and forget about being a human for a minute. I intend to stay present in whatever capacity that means at the moment the door opens to the outside world.

The understory of connection

I am deeply grateful and send out sighs of relief on the regular. The only push that is present is for stable income. We do not want to lose what has become a warm sanctuary for Clove the Black Pearl and myself. We are not ready to pack up again. This opportunity is plenty and worth holding onto like a life jacket in the deep. Right now, financial contributions and connections to paid work are especially important.

If you, or a connection you know, foresee contributing to our standing stability by sharing our story with someone who might be moved to help, or connect me with paid opportunities in writing, administrative support, creative work, handcrafted goods, or death work; these are things that will assist us to weave into this life more prosperously. The gathering of two storage units into one and moving our art studio closer to my hands and heart is the next goal.

I am also beginning to imagine new ways to share this work with the people who want to follow along: the field notes, more handcrafts, practical resources, and small wonders that gather at our side along the way. I hope to be creating and build something that allows this work to be sustained over time, while offering something meaningful in return.

For now, I am tending to the ground immediately beneath our feet.

Fifty trees are waiting on this folded, carry along map. Two of them have been identified, spoken with, and will not be leaving my orbit as long as we remain in this neighborhood. It is flipping brilliant that Clove and I are indoors. I am working toward the financial stability daily that will allow us to remain.

Thank you for reading this message… and maybe make a visit to your local library.