BYC Café

[Shadrach]

About the fires...there was an interesting conversation at the golf course last weekend.

Two of our regulars were loggers in their younger years. It's their opinion the government intervention has done a lot of damage to the forests by not allowing clear cutting and naturally caused fires to occur...that's it's not surprising these huge fires happen. They said the forests were much healthier years ago when the loggers were permitted to harvest and clean up the woods.

I know not everyone agrees with that train of thought, but I found it very interesting.

I think they may have a point. Years ago on these mountains people used to make charcoal. It was a major cash venture for subsistence farmers. The woodland got cleaned up in the process. Now much of the woodland here is left, or badly managed and the fire risk is obvious.

 

[ShrekDawg]

About the fires...there was an interesting conversation at the golf course last weekend.

Two of our regulars were loggers in their younger years. It's their opinion the government intervention has done a lot of damage to the forests by not allowing clear cutting and naturally caused fires to occur...that's it's not surprising these huge fires happen. They said the forests were much healthier years ago when the loggers were permitted to harvest and clean up the woods.

I know not everyone agrees with that train of thought, but I found it very interesting.

I think they may have a point there

 

[N F C]

I think they may have a point. Years ago on these mountains people used to make charcoal. It was a major cash venture for subsistence farmers. The woodland got cleaned up in the process. Now much of the woodland here is left, or badly managed and the fire risk is obvious.

I thought they made several good points.

For one, the loggers were interested in keeping the woods healthy because that was their livelihood. Once the government got into things, things got out of whack...loggers couldn't clear up the deadfalls, pests like beatles found a perfect habitat (and they have done incredible damage), and the forests were ripe for the huge fires we see happening. And as most farmers know, fires can enrich the soil and bring new growth, that's why they will burn old fields.

For another, the government restricted the forest logging to bids won by large timber companies causing small independent logging operations to go bankrupt and job losses resulting in people being out of work (who some had to then resort to being supported by the government dole).

I know there are two sides to every issue, but in general, I believe any time the government steps in and says "we're here to help", beware of the consequences.

 

[igorsMistress]

About the fires...there was an interesting conversation at the golf course last weekend.

Two of our regulars were loggers in their younger years. It's their opinion the government intervention has done a lot of damage to the forests by not allowing clear cutting and naturally caused fires to occur...that's it's not surprising these huge fires happen. They said the forests were much healthier years ago when the loggers were permitted to harvest and clean up the woods.

I know not everyone agrees with that train of thought, but I found it very interesting.

I would tend to agree. This was the thought years ago when the bark beetles started wreaking havoc on the forests in California.

 

[007Sean]

I thought they made several good points.

For one, the loggers were interested in keeping the woods healthy because that was their livelihood. Once the government got into things, things got out of whack...loggers couldn't clear up the deadfalls, pests like beatles found a perfect habitat (and they have done incredible damage), and the forests were ripe for the huge fires we see happening. And as most farmers know, fires can enrich the soil and bring new growth, that's why they will burn old fields.

For another, the government restricted the forest logging to bids won by large timber companies causing small independent logging operations to go bankrupt and job losses resulting in people being out of work (who some had to then resort to being supported by the government dole).

I know there are two sides to every issue, but in general, I believe any time the government steps in and says "we're here to help", beware of the consequences.

Yep, your absolutely correct...just ask my ancestors.

 

[N F C]

I would tend to agree. This was the thought years ago when the bark beetles started wreaking havoc on the forests in California.

Just a side note...when I tried to type beetles, auto correct changed it to Beatles

 

[N F C]

Yep, your absolutely correct...just ask my ancestors.

These guys talked about your ancestors and how they knew how to keep the forests healthy. They had a lot of respect for the way your elders used to handle things.

 

[007Sean]

Just a side note...when I tried to type beetles, auto correct changed it to Beatles

Beetles...Beatles what's the difference!

 

[Bunnylady]

Gads, I wish I could share....

I doubt any forest fire could stand up to this for long.

(Funny thing; the camera can see better than I can - it's close to whiteout conditions for my eyes)

 

[007Sean]

Gads, I wish I could share....
View attachment 1899170
I doubt any forest fire could stand up to this for long

Send some my way...I'm have a terrible time climbing out of the cracks in the ground around here!