Cutting the Trail

Today, John mowed what we call the power line trail. The name is obvious: it follows the power lines down to Dinner Creek.


A lot of little pines and a few oaks were coming up. It was a shame to obliterate potential habitat, but—if John didn't mow it—Appalachian Power would spray it with herbicide. They'd also spray the creek. They've done it before. They wouldn't remove the dead vegetation either.


So, it's healthier and prettier—and less destructive—to bush-hog the vegetation into biodegradable bits.


A lot of quartz is on the farm and on this trail. The tractor exposes what the years have hidden.


Hundreds of years ago, Indians stopped here to make arrowheads from the abundant quartz. The ground was high and a water source was nearby. Two decades ago, when we had a nearby field cleared, we found arrowheads—a nice Savannah broadspear and several Guilford points.

Hundreds of years ago, the Indians silently passed through the woods here and left almost no trace. Today, the tractor roars through and leave a swath through the woods.

That's progress for you.

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