Walden Cabin: Observations typed on an old Underwood

Tuesday, January 15, 2002

Walden Genesis

I’m a P. E. Islander living “away” in Ottawa. When I was 25, I bought some land back home. Folks thought I was nuts. My prized parcel was a 10-acre clear-cut on a hillside. What a mess! The word raped comes to mind. All that was left of the softwood forest was a tangled jumble of branches and stumps.

But oh, I was in love. I discovered an old driveway, patches of rare Lady Slipper, and a fresh water spring. That Christmas I asked for trees. Dad pledged silver maple, Mom and Rod chestnut. Gram Nicholson offered two Red Island Oaks; she called them the “grandest tree”. There was witch hazel from Cathy, lilac from Aunt Martha, and birch from colleagues at work.

We gathered in May to plant, and to celebrate. Grandpa Weale, 50-years a church minister, blessed the land and our chili lunch. We drank water from the spring.

Grandpa and Dad are gone now, but their Norway maples thrive. This spring we return again to plant a grove of those grand oaks in memory of my tiny son who died last year. The land is alive. It’s a testament to nature’s ability to heal itself and the human soul… a great place to be still and to remember.

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Walden Tree Day Photo Album.
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* * Text of Walden land dedication -- May 21, 1995. Rev. William O. Weale

As the song writer sublimely put it, "Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree."

On this very special and happy occasion I thought it appropriate to use a few words from the Good Book, from the 1st Psalm, where the writer describes an upright man, possibly a young man. It says of him "... and he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth the fruit in its season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper..."

It is my wish, and I'm sure that of everyone present today that someday Stuart will see the reality of his dream and the results of his planting, and that he will rejoice in the fruit of it. What's more, I hope he will look back and cherish the memory of this occasion when his friends, family and loved ones joined him in this pleasant labour and fellowship.

posted by Stuart Hickox | 8:48 PM



	Tuesday, January 15, 2002 Walden Genesis I’m a P. E. Islander living “away” in Ottawa. When I was 25, I bought some land back home. Folks thought I was nuts. My prized parcel was a 10-acre clear-cut on a hillside. What a mess! The word raped comes to mind. All that was left of the softwood forest was a tangled jumble of branches and stumps. But oh, I was in love. I discovered an old driveway, patches of rare Lady Slipper, and a fresh water spring. That Christmas I asked for trees. Dad pledged silver maple, Mom and Rod chestnut. Gram Nicholson offered two Red Island Oaks; she called them the “grandest tree”. There was witch hazel from Cathy, lilac from Aunt Martha, and birch from colleagues at work. We gathered in May to plant, and to celebrate. Grandpa Weale, 50-years a church minister, blessed the land and our chili lunch. We drank water from the spring. Grandpa and Dad are gone now, but their Norway maples thrive. This spring we return again to plant a grove of those grand oaks in memory of my tiny son who died last year. The land is alive. It’s a testament to nature’s ability to heal itself and the human soul… a great place to be still and to remember. ___________________ Walden Tree Day Photo Album. ___________________ * * Text of Walden land dedication -- May 21, 1995. Rev. William O. Weale As the song writer sublimely put it, "Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree." On this very special and happy occasion I thought it appropriate to use a few words from the Good Book, from the 1st Psalm, where the writer describes an upright man, possibly a young man. It says of him "... and he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth the fruit in its season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper..." It is my wish, and I'm sure that of everyone present today that someday Stuart will see the reality of his dream and the results of his planting, and that he will rejoice in the fruit of it. What's more, I hope he will look back and cherish the memory of this occasion when his friends, family and loved ones joined him in this pleasant labour and fellowship. posted by Stuart Hickox \| 8:48 PM				(01.15.2002) Digging in. Walden tree day 1995 Chestnuts and crazy volunteers at the top of the hill. See the Walden Tree Day Photo Album. (01.07.2002) Jasper: Don't label me. None required, son. Critical observations of early '02. See the cover photo archive. (11.19.2001) Walden Cabin 1996 See the photos. Updated - September 12, 2001 Head for the Hills of Prince Edward Island Walden Cabin >> "I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, to front the essential facts of life and to see if I could learn what they had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) Walden; Or Life in the Woods (08.21) Walden Cabin is a publishing creation of Accolade Intermedia, an Ottawa-based communications company that specializes in content-rich Web products. www.accolade.ca >>
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