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About Applegater. (Jacksonville, OR) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2013)
Applegater Fall 2013 21 MY OPINION FROM BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR Stuck in the past by ChRiS bRaTT Last month I took a family member to the Rogue Valley Medical Center for a checkup at the outpatient section on the main floor of the hospital. During the wait time while she was seeing the doctor, I had a chance to examine an extended display of early-day (late 1800s-1938) photographs of logging operations in southern Oregon. Hanging high on the long waiting room wall were impressive pictures of rugged looking loggers chopping, sawing and falling giant trees by hand, long-gone private sawmills once so prolific in the area and huge sections of old-growth logs larger in diameter than the height of the loggers themselves. I could find no written explanation about this display, although the wall did contain the names of many people I thought might have been dead but connected to these depictions of local antiquated sawmills and logging practices. For me, these old images described a time in Oregon’s history when logging was the principal piece of our local economy and was virtually uncontrolled. It was a time when our Oregon forests were so vast they seemed unending. I doubt if anyone in that era believed these forests could ever be harmed or eliminated given the tools and techniques that were available to forest-industry workers at that time. Looking back at those earlier days, I realize we are still saddled with a long-term legacy of rapacious logging by private forest and mill owners for financial gain and political power. Like the western life of the early cowboys, gold miners and ranchers, there is also an ongoing nostalgic appeal of the loggers’ connection to the land and trees while working to conquer the wilderness. Wealthy forest landowners and corporations have continued to maintain a controlling influence over forest policies and practices in the Northwest to this day. In addition, the timber industry’s coziness and highways and byways), collaboration with the Seneca Jones folks ...I realize we forestry schools and their fellow travelers l i k e O r e g o n St a t e now want to expand are still saddled Un i v e r s i t y a n d i t s their management with a long- over - representation scheme throughout term legacy on Oregon’s Board of our public forest lands. Forestry raise questions Using political pressure of rapacious of undue corporate and highly misleading logging by sway over both public arguments, the timber and private forest- industry is desperately private forest and management regulations trying to get Federal land mill owners for and laws. management agencies Industrial forest to offer more trees for financial gain and advocates also continue sale from our public political power. to run a well-financed forests. They want our negative - propaganda government to subsidize agenda that lobbies an extensive tree-cutting against any additional protections for the program that supposedly will bolster environment. Touting a lofty connection Oregon’s jobs and economy and fund some to the land (an “abiding love of the forest”) counties’ budgets. Do we really believe while providing jobs and products people the private timber corporations are that need, Oregon’s Seneca Sawmill owners interested in the long-term welfare of our recently had the brazenness to blame forests and people? The boards of directors “radical activists” and “fringe elitists” (that’s and owners of the timber corporations me they’re talking about) for all of Oregon’s admit that first and foremost they are financial and forest problems. Instead of committed to enhancing the stock value of any willingness by the timber industry folks their shareholders. Making money is their to discuss the causes of fewer trees being top priority, not improving their forest’s cut (because of past destructive logging practices), they just continually attempt to vilify and berate all environmental people and groups. While the Seneca Jones Timber Company claims it “is dedicated to sustainable practices in every aspect of by janiS mohR-TipTon Many thank-yous to the local forest management,” their monocultured second-growth tree farm grows trees only community for attending our June 2 40 to 60 years before they’re cut—hardly “Almost Summer Faire” and fund-raiser a sustainable forest from the standpoint of for a new roof for the Grange. With your support, we added $1,035 to the fund. We most forest creatures and scientists. Despite the destructive record of the are seeking more donations and applying timber industry’s free-for-all logging model for a grant to get the new roof on before the (an unsustainable monoculture based fall rains. Then we will be able to offer more on extensive clear-cutting and pesticide community events and have a rainproof use easily seen from many of Oregon’s building available for rent. In August, the members were busy planning future events, programs and activities for the coming year. Last fall, our Harvest Breakfast was a smashing success thanks to community support, so we are hoping to repeat it. Watch for the announcement in the coming months. (Ed. Note: Check out the Applegater Facebook page and website calendar for the dates.) Earlier this summer the Grange members voted in support of banning genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Jackson County. They felt that the unique topography and the micro- and health or the job market. Since timber interests and Chris Bratt suppor ters are pushing hard to acquire more access to cutting public trees, we have come to the crossroads of a potential big change in public forest management policy and practice. Do we want to go down the old destructive “boom-and-bust” road on our public lands, too? Or, will we be taking the new road leading to more ecologically and sustainably based actions for all our public lands in the state? I’m definitely on the road to new ecologically based forest practices, and I am suggesting to people in our towns and communities that they do the same. Stay tuned for more details and actions as decisions are being considered by Congress. (Senator Wyden and others in Congress are considering some not-too- friendly environmental changes to public forest land ownership and laws). Maybe you think I’m stuck at the crossroads or just stuck in the past. Let me know. Chris Bratt 541-846-6988 Applegate Valley Community Grange news macroclimates of the county do not allow the propagation of GMOs without potential large and lasting damage to small, heritage, organic and other non- GMO farms and gardens. The combined dangers of cross-pollination, increased use of herbicides and pesticides, and the threat to natural pollinators such as bees and butterflies may affect the health and livelihoods of many county residents. We invite you to consider joining us at our next Grange meeting on Sunday, September 8, 2013, at 6 pm for a potluck and lively conversation, followed by a business meeting at 7 pm. Then, from October 2013 to February 2014, come join us at the potluck at 5 pm, and the business meeting starting at 6 pm on the second Sunday of the month. For more information, contact Paul Tipton or Janis Mohr-Tipton at 541-846- 7501. Janis Mohr-Tipton • 541-846-7501 Applegate Valley Community Grange janismohrtipton48@frontier.com Classified Advertising Caregiving. Compassionate loving in- home care, 12 years experience, great local references. Joy La Spina, 541-846-6833 Applegate Rock Shop for unique rocks, minerals & gifts. Rt. 238, Murphy. Open Mon-Sat 11-4. 541-218-0323 slatecreekdoggydaycare.com 541-476-7485 “Country setting & safe environment” Jacksonville Mercantile Cooking Classes O n l y $ 2 5 ! Re s e r v e s p a c e t o d a y. 541-899-1047 jacksonvillemercantile.com Place a classified ad! $12 for three lines of text (approximately 110 characters and spaces). Advance payment required (payment accepted online at www.applegater.org). Contact: Jackson County— Sally Buttshaw at sallybuttshaw@ymail.com or 541-646-8418. Josephine County—Shawn Zimmerman at thezsfamily@gmail.com or 541-414-7301. DISCLAIMER The Applegater reserves the right to edit, categorize, revise, or refuse any classified advertisement. In addition, Applegater has the right to terminate any ad at any time for any reason. Parties posting ads are responsible for the accuracy and content of their ads. Applegater will not be liable for any damages arising out of errors or omissions.
