The trees are so tall out here.
I know this is because of the fog and the moderating effects of the California Current, as well as the lack of a need for those energy-intensive winter survival mechanisms (like polyol production and extracellular freezing) born of a longer growing season with milder temperature extremes. But in the foothills of the Pacific Coast Range, it’s easy to believe this is because of magic.
The trees are an awesome presence here—the undergrowth drenched in their shadows, the air thick with their thoughts. You walk beneath them, and you wonder what they’ve seen, how long they’ve waited. Under Douglas firs, you feel small, and are content to be small. The quiet here is almost holy.
For the first time in three years, I’m back in school—not grad school (ain’t nobody got time for that), but a weeklong cidermaking course offered through OSU extension in Corvallis. While yeast selection and front-end processing are a bit different, making cider is much like making wine. The course is largely a refresher, but still, it’s refreshing to be back in the classroom, back in the lab.
I’m hiking today instead of studying, which may not be the smartest choice. But I can study anytime, anywhere—and who knows when I’ll next see trees that pierce the clouds?
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