Sharing literacy and nature

We don't remember what we were searching for on the internet that lead us to a wonderful resource, but we're grateful for the serendipity. As a result, we want to share something from Scotland.

Do you realize that Scotland is about one-third the geographic size of Minnesota?

• Scotland (sq. miles): 30,918; population: 5.3 million (2011)
• Minnesota (sq. miles): 86,943; population: 5.5 million (2016)

Based on the numbers, Scotland is obviously more densely populated than Minnesota. We wonder how their highlands compare with northern Minnesota's Sawtooth mountains? Although we were surprised by the geographic size differences, that's not what we want to focus on today.

heron in Winter, nature writes in snowflakes

Photo by J. Harrington

John Muir was born in Scotland but spent many of his growing years in Minnesota's neighbor to the East, Wisconsin. Scotland has a John Muir Trust which, among other things, offers the John Muir Award, an "environmental award scheme for people of all backgrounds – groups, families, individuals. It’s non-competitive, inclusive and accessible." Related to the John Muir Award are Resource Guides on topics such as Literacy & Nature and Sustainability. We're aware of Minnesota's Sharing Environmental Education Knowledge (SEEK), but that resource offers an almost overwhelming array of resources, although Nature Writing or something comparable doesn't seem to be among them.

Minnesota also has the Humanities Center and initiatives such as We Are Water, which includes a focus on storytelling. We're simply surprised and somewhat disappointed that a state that has provided the likes of Paul Gruchow and Sigurd Olson, among others, does not do more to honor and recognize Literacy & Nature here at home. Perhaps we should? I wonder what the folks at the Minnesota Book Awards would think of adding a category or new genre. It might help reduce our children's (and adult) nature deficit disorder.

                     Driving toward the Lac Qui Parle River

By Robert Bly

I

I am driving; it is dusk; Minnesota.

The stubble field catches the last growth of sun.   

The soybeans are breathing on all sides.

Old men are sitting before their houses on car seats   

In the small towns. I am happy,

The moon rising above the turkey sheds.

    II

The small world of the car

Plunges through the deep fields of the night,   

On the road from Willmar to Milan.   

This solitude covered with iron

Moves through the fields of night

Penetrated by the noise of crickets.

    III

Nearly to Milan, suddenly a small bridge,

And water kneeling in the moonlight.

In small towns the houses are built right on the ground;   

The lamplight falls on all fours on the grass.

When I reach the river, the full moon covers it.   

A few people are talking, low, in a boat.

********************************************
Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.