I live in Iowa and have visited Timberhill several times. For your mom to sell and leave is the end of an era. It is a wonderful place. Sybilla is a legend in Iowa conservation. I hope it goes to a person or entity that will take care of it and share it as it deserves.
Thank you so much, Pam! I will pass that along. She and my dad put a conservation easement on the land in favor of The Nature Conservancy back in 2007, so it's protected in perpetuity. And we'll see if she can even find a buyer! But we're hopeful after talking to others in conservation circles up there that it will work out for the best.
Well, written. Kudos to your parents' decades-long efforts to restore southern Iowa's native habitat. We moved from our small (50-acre) northeast Iowa farm one year ago after 37 years of similar efforts, although gazing replaced fire most springs. We burned the grassland sections only four times, and only twice did the fires successfully invade the woodlands. Still, that made a significant difference in the native flora.
Virtually all of Iowa has become the Mordor model of industrial agriculture, one of the reasons we moved north. Other reasons being our advanced age and the political devastation that has made Iowa the Texas (or maybe the Mississippi) of the Midwest.
Much as I detest the hunting preserve tracts purchased by wealthy urban "sportsmen" who have no true connection to the land, those tracts may be the seeding points for regeneration of the state's native habitat when non-sustainable industrial agriculture collapses. That will be long after I am dead, of course, but I have hope that Gaia will eventually, in her slow and methodical way, rid herself of this dermatitis with which we have infected her.
Although I am technologically a Neanderthal, I will attempt to pre-order your Empty Lots book.
Thank you so much! I may have to steal your line about how Iowa has become the Mississippi of the Midwest—so funny and so sadly true. I agree with everything you say, and I bite into all these themes in my book. Thanks as always for reading and checking in.
Beautiful description of burning the fields at your mom's place. A strong contrast to the urban account in Austin, yet the connective tissue is strong and transparent. Bittersweet moments at the last burn on their land.
This is a very moving piece of writing Chris. What a time of transition for your mother and for you. I hope you find solace in their achievements for the regeneration of the land.
I live in Iowa and have visited Timberhill several times. For your mom to sell and leave is the end of an era. It is a wonderful place. Sybilla is a legend in Iowa conservation. I hope it goes to a person or entity that will take care of it and share it as it deserves.
Thank you so much, Pam! I will pass that along. She and my dad put a conservation easement on the land in favor of The Nature Conservancy back in 2007, so it's protected in perpetuity. And we'll see if she can even find a buyer! But we're hopeful after talking to others in conservation circles up there that it will work out for the best.
Maybe the Conservancy can buy it outright?
It's a possibility!
Well, written. Kudos to your parents' decades-long efforts to restore southern Iowa's native habitat. We moved from our small (50-acre) northeast Iowa farm one year ago after 37 years of similar efforts, although gazing replaced fire most springs. We burned the grassland sections only four times, and only twice did the fires successfully invade the woodlands. Still, that made a significant difference in the native flora.
Virtually all of Iowa has become the Mordor model of industrial agriculture, one of the reasons we moved north. Other reasons being our advanced age and the political devastation that has made Iowa the Texas (or maybe the Mississippi) of the Midwest.
Much as I detest the hunting preserve tracts purchased by wealthy urban "sportsmen" who have no true connection to the land, those tracts may be the seeding points for regeneration of the state's native habitat when non-sustainable industrial agriculture collapses. That will be long after I am dead, of course, but I have hope that Gaia will eventually, in her slow and methodical way, rid herself of this dermatitis with which we have infected her.
Although I am technologically a Neanderthal, I will attempt to pre-order your Empty Lots book.
Thank you so much! I may have to steal your line about how Iowa has become the Mississippi of the Midwest—so funny and so sadly true. I agree with everything you say, and I bite into all these themes in my book. Thanks as always for reading and checking in.
Beautiful description of burning the fields at your mom's place. A strong contrast to the urban account in Austin, yet the connective tissue is strong and transparent. Bittersweet moments at the last burn on their land.
Thank you so much 🙏
Beautiful and poignant, thank you Chris.
Thank you, Tom 🙏
Thank you Chris for writing these. But don't forget: the world of NOVELS need you too no? :)
This is a very moving piece of writing Chris. What a time of transition for your mother and for you. I hope you find solace in their achievements for the regeneration of the land.