It was hard to see the ground for the most part, but as I walked I could faintly see the grass at my feet. To the left of my vision was the outline of a bench with a large tree just to the right of it. I settled here because it seemed like the perfect view of the puddle. I glanced around and found myself walking through the scene one by one. First, was the dirt, the place where every good thing comes from, and the often-unsung hero of nature. I say hero because what happens in nature that does not somehow begin with the soil in that environment? New Brunswick is especially interesting because it is not like everywhere else. The dirt here always has a reddish tint to it and while I am not exactly sure why, I know it has something to do with
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America began its journey to the top in agriculture. A practice that was used widely by everyone, not only for profit, but for personal sustenance. Again, Susan Fenimore Cooper sheds an interesting light on the growth of agriculture. She says, “ To one familiar with the country, there is a certain pleasure in thus beholding the agricultural history of the neighborhood unfolding before one, following upon the farms in sight these progressive steps in cultivation”. (Cooper pg.145-146) She explores the idea that our use of the land in beneficial. In a way she sees it as a new representation of nature. This thinking helped push agriculture further, which eventually lead to soil erosion. This did a number on the soil because each planting process extracts nutrients from the ground to be used in the crop. As the soil deteriorates, so does the crop yield. It is important to note that this was a time before people truly understood the complexity of the environment. The idea of human influence is not necessarily a new one. It is something Thoreau touches on in Ktaadn. He says, “It is difficult to conceive of a region uninhabited by man. We habitually presume his presence and influence everywhere”. (Thoreau pg.1) In the case of Thoreau, he is a little wearier, and he seeks the beauty in nature. That idea can also be problematic if one sees nature only as something to be visually enjoyed. Everything within is a viable, moving part. They …show more content…
It provides an example of the power of something often overlooked. Soil has been abused much like the waters of the earth have. Again providing a parallel between the two. Water is so often looked at like a life source, yet it is more often polluted than treated as such. The same has gone for soil. During the time of industrialization chemicals began to be used in higher quantities as their various uses become discovered. Their value allowed their dangers to be overlooked and that caused issues we are still dealing with today. By truly recognizing the value of the soil and respecting its position as such we could begin to work out and uncover the many problems we currently have with
America began its journey to the top in agriculture. A practice that was used widely by everyone, not only for profit, but for personal sustenance. Again, Susan Fenimore Cooper sheds an interesting light on the growth of agriculture. She says, “ To one familiar with the country, there is a certain pleasure in thus beholding the agricultural history of the neighborhood unfolding before one, following upon the farms in sight these progressive steps in cultivation”. (Cooper pg.145-146) She explores the idea that our use of the land in beneficial. In a way she sees it as a new representation of nature. This thinking helped push agriculture further, which eventually lead to soil erosion. This did a number on the soil because each planting process extracts nutrients from the ground to be used in the crop. As the soil deteriorates, so does the crop yield. It is important to note that this was a time before people truly understood the complexity of the environment. The idea of human influence is not necessarily a new one. It is something Thoreau touches on in Ktaadn. He says, “It is difficult to conceive of a region uninhabited by man. We habitually presume his presence and influence everywhere”. (Thoreau pg.1) In the case of Thoreau, he is a little wearier, and he seeks the beauty in nature. That idea can also be problematic if one sees nature only as something to be visually enjoyed. Everything within is a viable, moving part. They …show more content…
It provides an example of the power of something often overlooked. Soil has been abused much like the waters of the earth have. Again providing a parallel between the two. Water is so often looked at like a life source, yet it is more often polluted than treated as such. The same has gone for soil. During the time of industrialization chemicals began to be used in higher quantities as their various uses become discovered. Their value allowed their dangers to be overlooked and that caused issues we are still dealing with today. By truly recognizing the value of the soil and respecting its position as such we could begin to work out and uncover the many problems we currently have with