Copy of Rooted Thoughts from the Heartwood Chapter 7: Emma Childs - For grounding, in August.

In this month’s blog post, we are thrilled to feature a reflection from our new Board Co-Chair, Emma Childs (Working Lands Manager for the Triangle Land Conservancy). Emma writes to us in the thick of late-summer heat, holding space for both the heavy challenges facing our working lands and the simple, grounding delights that keep us moving forward. Grab a cool drink, take a breath, and enjoy her thoughtful words to the ForestHer NC community below.

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What a joy to be writing to y’all after joining FHNC as the co-chair several months ago. While I am typing at my computer, I’m imagining instead writing a letter with thick paper and my favorite ink pen. If only I could teleport a cup of tea or coffee to each of you! When asked to ponder what draws me to this work as the new co-chair, I have many things I would like to share with this community. This includes but is not limited to my first experience chain sawing, habitat connectivity in the Southern Appalachians, the connections between vegetable farming and forestry practice, the desire I have for forestry and agricultural cooperatives to thrive and support small landowners, the technicalities and mysteries of prescribed fire, working with ForestHer NC for my graduate school research – the list goes on. I’m grateful for all these areas of passion, and the role many of you all have played in fostering them.

On a recent mid-August evening, I spent several hours at the Chatham County Agricultural Center listening to community members, especially Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) participants, share their concerns about the proposed Enbridge fracked gas pipeline cutting through their forests and farms. These sorts of meetings are not uncommon across North Carolina as development pressure increases and our town, county, and state utility infrastructure is stretched beyond any sort of thoughtful pace. In such moments, my heart is overwhelmed by all the grief of the forest, of my neighbors, and of the world. How do we tend the land that nurtures us when these kinds of threats exist, and often? How do we pick ourselves up again and again to rally against unfeeling, profit-driven corporations? How do we carry out ecologically-focused forestry on smaller acreage parcels when challenges like climate change, invasive species, and wildfire risk carry across property boundary lines?

I hold this heaviness in one hand, and in the other, the fluttering, simple delight of learning a beloved friend is going to name her new baby after one of my favorite Southern trees. What are some of your simple delights?

A former manager once told me during farming season, “never question your choice of career in August.” Those were wiser words than I realized. They have come to guide my calendar this time of year, and I wanted to share them with you. In this season of extreme heat across much of the state, with the lingering effects of the severe drought and ongoing concerns about water, including the start of hurricane season, I hope each of you can find your way to the woods, or to one special tree. Take a toddler with you if you have some in your life, or a long-time friend, or a dog, or any other creature that reminds you of the wonder of the world. (Mary Oliver’s reflections always help me.) I believe it is this kind of practice that combats the fatigue and worry we feel; that combats the intensity of August. May September find each of us brighter, and lighter, and just a bit more buoyant. I look forward to seeing some of you in person then, and I hope the community of ForestHer NC holds you like a cool breeze until then.

Sincerely,

Emma Childs