Pathways and Boundary Walks

This week, Pat and I began a practice of walking the “boundaries” of the property. In reality, we are trying to touch feet to ground on as many paths as possible without doubling back. Each day, we choose a different route. 

The main purpose behind our walking practice is to be scouting and noticing the land, trees, plants, and animals as we begin to reimagine this environment through the lenses of agroforestry and conservation. 

That said, as we blaze a new trail for ourselves as future farmers, there is something beautiful about pounding new pathways with our feet. Pathways are made through repetition. They take time and persistence. The deer make them all the time at Spring Bird. It makes me smile to know that they appreciate a shortcut just as we humans do. 

I remember that while visiting Pat at Notre Dame, it didn’t matter how many diagonal sidewalks the university poured, students always found a shorter path through the quad grass –  turning it to a hard, dirt patch. 

I digress. 

These photos are from the upper meadow area which has traditionally been our “weakest” path – in that it has never been mowed or cleared for bodies to pass. Instead, only feet – human, deer, and coyote have made their way through the flowers, thorns, and evergreens. 

But, as we are planning on cultivating part of the upper meadow, we wish to improve access for ourselves and for our guests. Plus, Pat has his new tool that has a rotating blade on the end of weed wacker thingy that allows him to slice through the flowers and baby woody plants. 

I tried to photograph the path he has been working on, but it’s difficult to discern. Perhaps a drone photo would illustrate it better?

At any rate, you can find us walking the boundaries, blazing new paths, and hoping you will come along too – when you next visit!