Critters

In the lawn this morning, a Western Grey Squirrel was in our lawn.  
We seldom see them around here, but have heard that their presence is a sign of a healthy forest.   
In the state of Washington the western grey squirrel has been listed as a threatened species. 
As their more aggressive cousins, Eastern Grey Squirrel and Fox Squirrels, move in, 
they drive the more reclusive Western Grey Squirrels away. 

The Western Grey Squirrel is larger than the Eastern. 
It has a white belly compared with the more rusty colored belly on the Eastern.

Big Toys...

A big spray rig in the lower hay field, fertilizing.  What a wing span on that machine!

Up the hill, this dozer pulls the logs down and they get piled at the log landing.

It's hard to see the fir come out, but amazing to see how big the Oregon white oak are that have been hidden in and amongst the fir.  Since the coming of the settlers 99% of the white oak have disappeared, so it does feel good to begin to return the hillside to a more natural state.

Lots of noise! Lots going on! 

Oregon White Oak

Started some selective logging this week.  Some of the fir are shading the native white oaks, so time to take them out and give the oak a better opportunity for survival.  It will be interesting to see what kinds of wildflowers will begin to bloom with the additional sunshine reaching the forest floor. Even though we feel like it is the right thing to do, it is difficult to watch the big fir come down.  

Oregon White Oak & Doug Fir

An open letter to Old Moores readers....

I have previously posted about the garbage dump on the banks of the Yamhill River, and about Ramsey McPhillips who lives on his 150 year old family farm right next to the dump.  Ramsey has made the difficult decision to go on a hunger strike to call attention to how Willamette Valley farmland and waters are in jeopardy.  For those who are not familiar with the situation, and who say, 'well, garbage has to go somewhere,' Oregon has 100 years of landfill capacity that is not on the banks of a once beautiful river.

Click on this  link to the Stop Riverbend Landfill facebook page, scroll down to the video of the goats to hear
Ramsey telling about his decision to go on a hunger strike.
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Ramsey McPhillip's Farm

This is not just about Oregon. Clean rivers, safe drinking water, and vibrant farmlands are universal concerns.  Waste Management, the Houston based international garbage conglomerate, is so super rich.  Ironically, their profits come from us.  Everywhere you go, every garbage can you see, says Waste Management.  We are a collective David fighting the giant Goliath, and our sling shot is about used up.

Waste Management is creating a superfund site right here on the river.  This isn't a future superfund site, it could probably qualify right now.  Unfortunately, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is not just looking the other way, they are actually promoting this mega-dump that will soon be one of the largest west of the Mississippi.  This dump takes in toxic waste from Washington State and Vancouver BC.  Waste that is not allowed by law in their own local landfills.

Below is the link to leave comments with DEQ before April 5th.  You can also call DEQ 503-229-5263.  It doesn't have to be a long comment, and you don't have to be an Oregonian, something simple like.  "Oregon should not allow expansion of a huge dump on the banks of the Yamhill River." or  "Close the dump as agreed to in 2014."  or "I was planning a trip to Oregon's wine country but am rethinking it because of the expansion of the dump in the center of vineyard land."
               http://www.deq.state.or.us/nwr/RiverbendLandfill.htm

Riverbend Landfill in the heart of the Willamette Valley

Or call Waste Management's Corporate Offices in Houston and tell them to stop trashing Oregon farmland with the Riverbend Dump. (713) 512-6200

Last Thursday 100 people, many of them Grand Ronde tribal members, picketed and carried signs, rallying against the dump.  There is much concern that this may be an ancient burial site.   100% of the people who spoke at Thursday night's DEQ hearing were against expansion of the dump, wanting to close it in 2014.  100%.  The only person who supported the expansion was the DEQ spokesperson, who purported to be "neutral".

Picketing against expansion of the Riverbend dump.

Ramsey at the DEQ Rally

Waste Management wants to build a 4 story dike alongside the road so they can dump another 100,000,000 (oops, I had previously left off 3 of those zeros.  Makes just a little bit of difference.)  tons of trash, while they wait for an even larger expansion approval.  The dike plans are not built to withstand a 9.0 earthquake, and that is the size of the earthquake predicted for this area.  Of course, we don't know when it will happen, but we certainly do not want a 4 story dike and 100, 000,000 ADDITIONAL tons of toxic garbage to deal with.

We are so angry.  Ramsey should not have to do something this extreme.   Please make a call or send an email to DEQ for one of the finest people that I know.  And if you want to send a message to Ramsey, leave it in the comment section, and I will make sure he gets it.

Thank you.  With sincere appreciation.
Marilyn

Daffodils,

Violets,

Hellebore,

Fresh mown lawn,

Clothes drying on the line.

Spring.

Welcome back!