What is it like to be in the middle of nowhere and plant trees for a living? Eating Dirt by Charlotte Gill follows a female tree planter in the vast and remote north. The struggles and hardship these committed workers face is indescribable. This job revolves around a special tribe intertwined around freedom in the wilderness. The delicacy of trees and the environment is brought to life in this book. Even the smallest things are symbolic in the forests. Social commentary is a major theme in this story in which follows gender issues, freedom, roles of individuals, human compassion and the role of nature in our lives. The daily life of a tree planter is different of those of a normal job, dealing with a special type of culture blocked away from
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There are miles and miles of nothing but trees, “logging routes are like human arteries, main lines branching out into fine traceries” (3). It is easy for anyone to get lost, with no cell reception or connection to the world. But “behind the geographic challenges lay a gold mine in waiting, a superabundance of natural resources” (8). Charlotte is in a dissimilar world than she's used to—“beyond the protection of city walls, the forest concealed dangers: wild animals, darkness, and disorientation. In our fables and folktales the wilderness is an unfriendly realm, a place of deep existential terrors” (169). For example, when people are stressed they might or for a walk to get fresh air. Being a tree planter could be a way to get away from the struggles of your life for a couple months. This job is an escape for all the troubles in the world today, fresh air and independence makes up for the hazards. Nature is a big part of all of …show more content…
But up here in the deep forests, this difficult job is not something for women at first. It is mostly women but then Charlotte watches as more women join and succeed. When we think of lumberjacks or something to do up in the wilderness, we think of men, not women. But why couldn't women do the same as men if they are passionate to do so? “[They’re] unisex guys, the men of mandays. The work wears us down and lifts us up, everyone together, equally” (4). Equality is hopefully something someday all women can have. But until this, the way women are treated shapes how the society is. “If women worked there, they were cooks and custodial staff. The odd forestry professional or summer student. [The women would share] a single tiny bathroom” (188). Women are brave to do this kind of work, but so is everyone else who does
There are miles and miles of nothing but trees, “logging routes are like human arteries, main lines branching out into fine traceries” (3). It is easy for anyone to get lost, with no cell reception or connection to the world. But “behind the geographic challenges lay a gold mine in waiting, a superabundance of natural resources” (8). Charlotte is in a dissimilar world than she's used to—“beyond the protection of city walls, the forest concealed dangers: wild animals, darkness, and disorientation. In our fables and folktales the wilderness is an unfriendly realm, a place of deep existential terrors” (169). For example, when people are stressed they might or for a walk to get fresh air. Being a tree planter could be a way to get away from the struggles of your life for a couple months. This job is an escape for all the troubles in the world today, fresh air and independence makes up for the hazards. Nature is a big part of all of …show more content…
But up here in the deep forests, this difficult job is not something for women at first. It is mostly women but then Charlotte watches as more women join and succeed. When we think of lumberjacks or something to do up in the wilderness, we think of men, not women. But why couldn't women do the same as men if they are passionate to do so? “[They’re] unisex guys, the men of mandays. The work wears us down and lifts us up, everyone together, equally” (4). Equality is hopefully something someday all women can have. But until this, the way women are treated shapes how the society is. “If women worked there, they were cooks and custodial staff. The odd forestry professional or summer student. [The women would share] a single tiny bathroom” (188). Women are brave to do this kind of work, but so is everyone else who does