My Home in Nature by Brian Carpenter – response to Gary Snyder essay

Brian Carpenter

Response – “The Place, The Region, & The Commons” by Gary Snyder

In Snyder’s essay, he discusses the notion and significance of “place”, and specifically, “home place”. Described as the “fire pit”, the hearth (historically) is the “heart of the home”. (26) The hearth was the place where all exploration began and, ultimately, ended.  From childhood, we learn and memorize the landscape of our homes. The essay discusses how many people can recollect images of “place” from the ages 6 to 9 and this is true for me, as well. When I think back to my childhood, the only real images I can produce are of nature. I carry a picture in my mind of the muggy, mosquito infested swamps in Mississippi, fishing with my dad out of a little tin boat when I was only 4 years old. Later in life, I see glimpses of vast expanses of green needles making their way to the summits, combined with the images of huge rock faces and formations, as I peered out of the car window in awe. I was ignorant of all the complicated natural processes that went into the creation of something so amazing. Even as a child, I felt a particular appreciation for nature, specifically, for the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains.  Throughout my childhood and teenage years I have lived in several different states (AZ, MI, OK, CO, GA, VA and CO again, in that order) because my dad is military. However, I spent the majority of my life in the forests of Colorado (from the age of 6), and they are the only place that I call “home”.  I have lived in many different areas in this home, and have come to define Boulder as the hearth. Unlike Snyder’s examples of “home”, my definition has changed greatly and been redefined, through the years.

Although my “home” has led me to appreciate nature, I think there is a fundamental flaw in defining “home” because it establishes a boundary (that should not exist) between humans and the natural world. This separation began long ago when; “place” was still limited by the landbase and geographic boundaries. In the past couple centuries, new technologies have exacerbated this separation and allowed for globalization (of information, communication, trade, travel, etc.) In this way, globalization has caused us to deviate from the historical (fire pit) model of the hearth and home, which Snyder presents. Through advances in transportation and communication, specifically, we are no longer confined by geographic boundaries. However, now we are confined by the different countries’ invisible borderlines, which have caused many to define their home as their country of origin or residence. The notion and definition of “home” has always required such boundaries to separate it from the rest of the world.

Three main influences have made it increasingly challenging (nearly impossible) for us to live in the romanticized small communities, all gathered around the fire pit, that Snyder discusses: European influenced imperialism, colonialism, and industrialization. In the human conquest to rule the Earth over all other life forms, these three devices have led us to map out the entire Earth to designate which majority is to be “humanized” and which itty-bitty regions are to be left untouched.   Naturally, controversy exists as to how this distinction should be made. Likewise, there is much debate as to how to govern these wilderness areas, the classic method is to designate them as a “commons”, in which everyone is free to consume the resources as they please until they are depleted. Garret Hardin coined the phrase the “tragedy of the commons” to describe how our self-interested human tendencies ultimately lead to the degradation and depletion of these natural areas. To reiterate a quote from the essay, “eventually our complicated industrial capitalist/socialist mixes will bring down much of the living system that supports us”. My field of study at CU (environmental science), specifically, has led me to realize this fact and has instilled in me an obligation to be “environmentally friendly” (contrary to the view held by the majority of the world). I agree with Snyder that the only way to solve the environmental crisis is to integrate ecology and economics, so as to place greater value in nature and a increased incentive toward wilderness preservation.

Assignment 9 – Cubberly

Matt Cubberly
Environmental Writing
Assignment 7 – Personal Essay

Any Place as a Home

After reading “The Place, the Region, and the Commons”, from “The Practice of the Wild” by Gary Snyder, it becomes a bit easier to think about and discuss the topics that are covered in the text. The main issue in this work is the idea of a “home” and how this idea relates to different people and societies. Overall, Gary Snyder presents his opinion that the majority of the population would not be able to distinctly and adamantly label a certain area as their “home”. The few who can would still find it difficult to describe their home in detail, including the environment around it. This could be due to the fact that as a people we are drifting further and further from the environment and nature as a result of normal progression. As we age as a society, our technology improves and little by little we disconnect from the natural world around us. Also brought up was the point that now more than ever individual people move from place to place with such relative ease that they may have many “homes” within their lifetime and because of that, these people don’t have a concrete relationship with any one place and its environment.
While I do agree that societies are distancing themselves from the natural world, I believe that to make these general assumptions proves difficult. Yes, the trees in our neighborhoods are not volunteers and we shape what’s around us until it no longer remotely recognizes the natural state, but in small instances, a portion of the people can still relate to the environment and are still able to call an area “home” with certainty.
I have lived in Illinois my whole life and have moved three times. Each move took us a town further in one direction, but we remained in Illinois. In Gary Snyder’s opinion, if I had lived in the same house and town for my entire life, I would most likely have a greater thought of a “home” than I do now after three moves. However, I can’t see myself doubting an area to be a home based solely on the fact that I haven’t been there as long as others have.
Many people become easily attached to certain things or places such as houses or neighborhoods. I’m probably the minority when it comes to these feelings as I see these as things to use until you no longer need to or want to use them. Once this happens, it’s passed to the next person in line to enjoy. This lack of attachment to inanimate objects does not inhibit my ability to perceive where I live as a “home”, however. If anything, I gain a greater understanding of where I am – and the environment in which I live – due to being able to give up what I once had, very easily.
Throughout moves in Illinois and the biggest of all, coming here to school in Colorado, I have gained the knowledge that any place can become your “home” if you accept it to be such and if you become aware of the environment that surrounds it – nature included.