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.