Mother Forest sketches -- (Between the Ice Ages)

We're sketching out a possible experimental film that would include a segment on the Applachian mixed-mesophytic forest and its challenges. The Cumberland forest is said to have served as the mother provider of hardwood trees and other forest life for the North American continent for 150,000 years but now has been decimated and fragmented.

Threats are reported to include logging, development, mining, pulp and chip mills, genetic modification, quarrying, and air and water contamination. A good background on this can be found at the World Wildlife Federation web site. We're also keeping in touch with friends, family and other environmentalists to help guide us on this trail.

Above, as a brief light-hearted start, with Eileen and our rescued dogs Mercury and Jillie, is a six-minute video sketch of a late April hike we took through a trail in the Savage Gulf State Natural Area in south central Tennessee to Savage Falls. The area is a mixed mesophytic forest preserve. Eileen has also gotten out her sketchpad and easel, so graphic art is also forthcoming.