Author's Note: 

           I chose to observe Oakwood Cemetery for my blog project because it was easily accessible and I have had many positive experiences walking in the cemetery alone and with friends. During the winter last semester I avoided spending an extended period of time out in the freezing cold of Syracuse, so the cemetery this time of year was pretty much unknown to me. What I found was a winter wonderland, so I am especially happy with my choice of place.

            Moving from my notes to blog posts was not too difficult for me. In addition to writing down what I observed while I was in the cemetery, I also wrote down things that I felt or my thoughts while I was out there observing. My blog posts ended up being a cleaned up version of my notes. For my posts, I took what I thought were the best parts of my notes and re-wrote and arranged them in ways that flowed easily.

            I decided to format my blog post almost like they were diary entries. I focused my posts a lot on how I felt in specific moments, how my surroundings shifted my attitude, and my thoughts regarding nature. I wrote about what I observed on my walks, but really tried to focus more on the feelings and thoughts my vistas evoked. I hope I was successful in writing thoughtful and descriptive blog posts.

For Love of the Land, by Wendell Berry, really struck a cord with me. It was very different from most of the other readings we have read as a class. The other readings we have read are almost romantic in the way the authors discuss nature. Contrastingly, Berry’s essay was very pragmatic. He discussed the issues concerning him and the solutions to those matters. He approached environmental issues from environmental, economic and social views. His use of these various arguments strengthened his claims regarding land use and environmental protection.

            Furthermore, I appreciated his ideas regarding nature and how to protect it. As a farmer, his point of view was very different from most environmentalists. Rather than focusing specifically on the dangers facing the wilderness he wove environmental problems regarding domesticated land into his essay. I agreed wholeheartedly with Berry’s ideas. Berry suggested that land users such as farmers greatly impact the environment. Farming affects soil, water and wildlife conservation. Converting land to farmland reduces the amount of land allowed to remain wild. Thus, Berry advises conservationists and farmers to join forces in order to protect their own interests. Sustainable farming will allow for better production of food and allow the land to remain profitable. It would also help protect the environment. If farms were smaller and people bought food locally, it would help reduce the negative impacts of transporting food long distances and the environmental degradation produced by large factory farms.

            I really enjoyed reading Berry’s essay because of the realism of his arguments and the overarching message of the paper. In For Love of the Land, he preaches unity. He firmly believes no change can be made until various interest groups are able to unify for a common cause. I agree in many ways with this position. Until everyone (or at least the vast majority) sees nature as a priority, major steps will not be made in the environmental movement.

The weather was beautiful on my last trip to Oakwood Cemetery. Well…it was beautiful for a February day in Syracuse, NY. The temperature was in the low forties, practically shorts weather compared to the negatives we experienced last weekend. I revel in the sunshine that is gracing the tops of the trees. I allow myself to see hope at the end of this dark tunnel: could spring be approaching? The squirrels that scamper out from a tree, chasing each other across my path suggest that spring is indeed nearly here. The whole cemetery, ironically, seems more alive.

The nice weather shifts my entire perception of this place. During the cold weather I dreaded bundling up to slosh my way through snow and ice to the cemetery, enduring bitter cold the whole way there. Having grown up in the blistering heat and sunshine of Central Florida, my body is not built for the cold Syracuse suffers each winter. But this weather I can enjoy. The wind seems friendlier today, the sky brighter and happier, the grass a little greener.

I’m not the only one enjoying this glimpse of spring. I encounter more squirrels during my walk and I hear birds calling to each other in the distance. I even meet other people as I stroll. It’s nice to see people out appreciating nature again. Winter often confines people indoors, which can be agitating to be cooped up. I again think back to Henry David Thoreau who said, “I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits, unless I spend four hours a day at least—and it is commonly more than that—sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields, absolutely free from all worldly engagements.”

            As I leave the cemetery, I feel refreshed. My stroll through nature has revived and refreshed me. It has excited me for all of the outdoor activities I can enjoy in spring and summer. Smiling, I cannot wait for my next return trip.

It’s snowing during my return trip to Oakwood Cemetery. Flakes sparkle in the sun as they make their way to the frozen earth. Despite this beautiful setting I struggle to shed my worries and responsibilities and immerse myself in the nature surrounding me. There is a covering of trees that separates me from the city, but I cannot escape the signs of civilization. No matter how far I walk into the cemetery I can hear the soft buzz from the nearby highway.

            Still, I try to block out the noise and appreciate the serenity usually offered by Oakwood. I close my eyes. I try to block out the hum of the highway and focus on the rustle of leaves. I hear the call of a few birds in the distance and listen to the wind whistling. Inhaling I smell damp soil. Cold air burns my lungs and stings my face, turning my nose and cheeks pink. The beauty of winter does not escape me.

            Nevertheless, the signs of people do not stop at the highway. On my walk I come across one of the abandoned buildings on the Oakwood premises. It was at one time a church, but now the windows are broken and boarded up. Pieces of stone lie in crumbles and dead vines climb the sides of the building. Abandoned nests can be seen tucked into the windows and nooks of the church. In a way this seems poetic. It appears that nature is reclaiming this place. Reverting to its natural state.

            I ponder the power of nature. I wonder, how long will it take before the church is gone? How many years will pass before one can’t tell a church ever stood in this spot? The disintegration of the church proves the cyclical character of nature. Before people developed the cemetery, this land was wild and untouched. The church was constructed and served its purpose. Now once again the land is becoming wild.

            Once again I am forced to leave this place of beauty. As I leave, more signs of civilization begin to resurface. I pass a few people leaving. They break my illusion. The calm I felt from this place is gone. I am once again separate from nature. Again, I am reminded that I was simply a visitor, an observer from a different world.

As I step into Oakwood Cemetery I can’t help but think about the rich history that resides within its gates. Oakwood Cemetery opened in 1859, its first inhabitant a woman of just 21 years old who perished from consumption. Many have been interred in Oakwood, ranging from the Syracuse elite to unknown soldiers from the Civil War. As I walk deeper in I find tombstones so weathered they are unreadable, the names and dates etched into the stone lost to time.

            My walk is a quiet one, eerily so. It is February in Syracuse and not much life is detectable. In fact, the signs of winter are everywhere. Trees stand naked, save for a scattering of evergreens. Leaves litter the ground and the grass lies brown and dead. Occasionally, I encounter patches of snow and ice that remain un-melted by the sun and rain. I don’t come across another human being as a wander. Nor do I spy a single squirrel or any other wildlife. I keep an eye out for movement and listen for the rustling of animals, but it’s mostly quiet. The wind appears to be the only thing crackling leaves. I reflect on my journeys into Oakwood in the fall and summer months. There are always squirrels, chipmunks and other small mammals scurrying about the trees and headstones. The sounds of birds pierce the air and insects buzz and crawl. It is hard to believe this is the same place. Nature lies dormant during the winter months.

            Considering my original intention in coming to Oakwood was to leave the bustle of Syracuse’s city life and immerse myself in the natural environment offered by the cemetery, the lack of wildlife and greenery is rather disappointing. However, the emptiness and quiet of my surroundings is calming and serene. I feel my stress melting from my shoulders. I suddenly connect with Henry David Thoreau. In his essay “Walking” Thoreau discusses how nature is an outlet for him, how he would go insane if he was unable to explore nature and was imprisoned indoors forever. I relate to this. Exploring nature allows one to escape from everyday responsibilities.

            As I meander back to SUNY ESF campus I begin to remember my school assignments and classes and everything I still have to accomplish today. My responsibilities begin to weigh heavily again and I can’t wait to revisit this place and escape.