This wise and deeply experienced forester, a PHd former professor at University of Washington speaks wise words. Please watch this video! Jerry Franklin is called the “father of new forestry!”
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  Please be our guest and join Sr. Lucy Kurien Sunday May 7, at 8 AM PDT / 11:00 AM EDT. You will hear firsthand about all the wonderful blessings that Maher Ashram has shared, including photos of new sites, new projects, and friends new and old. Sr. Lucy will share the recent inauguration of the new homes/compound in Wardha, news from Kolkata (where she is today), recent weddings, and other milestones and challenges. There will be time for questions and answers too. CLICK HERE TO JOIN SR LUCY ON ZOOM Don’t worry if you are not able to attend this “Live” Zoom meeting as a “Replay” link sent out afterwards! Please share with Friends and Family who might be interested! Blessings! If you would like to donate: please send checks to: US Giving to Maher 1205 NORTH AVENUE STE 13 Burlington VT 05408 OR Paypal: Donate Now |
It is uplifting to hear Sister Lucy and the members of the Maher community who show up in these Zoom meetings! Please consider joining in on May 7th! Details above, Elizabeth
Yesterday we did a little realigning of the Yoga Shrine, and there was a bit of the symbolic in it for me! I had many times walked by the shrine, noticing it was listing forward, as if to eventually fly downward onto the earth. Bill Baroch, one of its creators had also been aware of the forward tilt! Together, and with his ingenuity and skill, we “righted” it. I cleaned away debris, offered flowers, washed the beautiful clay Patanjali sculpture on the ground that Tim Lucy had years ago created and offered, and had a feeling of deep Spring cleansing. Patanjali, pictured here, has come to wear a green patina which I imagine as Pacific Northwest finery, so the new frock was therefore left in place. I have been finding myself refreshed and realigned in my own practice! I am grateful for the outer and tangible mirroring in the yoga shrine area.
A new series of classes begins next week, and will run for 8 weeks, May 2nd through June 28th. As it turns out, the vast majority of Tuesday 9:45 am students prefer at this point to continue on with Zoom. Thus, this form of class will continue as an online class, which also provides an opportunity for students to take the class asynchronously. The Zoom recording, sent out to all enrolled students also can serve as a “make up” class. The Wednesday 5:45 pm class will be at Turtle Haven, in person. Additionally, we have begun a monthly meditation and sutra circle, with the next meeting on May 11th at 6pm.
The Tuesday and Wednesday classes tuition is $120 to $135. If anyone is unable to afford to pay within the sliding fee scale, please contact with me so that money is not an obstacle to practice. The meditation and sutra circle is by donation– please ask for more details if you are interested.
To register, please send an email, and then either a check or a Venmo payment. My mailing address is 6551 Rutsatz Road Deming, WA 98244 and email is elizabethkerwinyoga@gmail.com For Venmo: @Elizabeth-kerwin-3
PLEASE NOTE: Rather than writing to me via this blog, use the aforementioned email address! Thanks in advance.
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Just One Week MNCJ is hosting –
3 Nonprofits Protecting Local Trees and Forest for Climate Resiliency & Biodiversity
More about our panelists:
Alexander Harris, Land & Water Policy Manager, RE Sources will provide an overview of federal, state and local land management in Whatcom County and how ecological forestry can make our communities and ecosystems more resilient to climate impacts, while producing high quality wood and many other co-benefits.
Brel Froebe, Interim Executive Director, Center for Responsible Forestry will define legacy forests and why they are important to protect within our current climate crisis. Brel is passionate about doing what he can to protect the surrounding forests and watersheds.
Michael Feerer, Founder and Director of Whatcom Million Trees Project will show how local urban trees/forests build our community’s climate resiliency, biodiversity, and neighborhood-level environmental equity. In late April the City of Bellingham will release a report for the Urban Forestry Management Plan. This will be an opportunity to review the report and give feedback before City Council considers the recommendations.
Each panelist is passionate about their work, actively involved in legislative actions on the state and local level and will provide ways for MNCJ to individually and collectively support and participate in the work of their organizations.
I had the gift last weekend of going on a forest walk to Brokedown Palace with knowledgeable folks, Alex Harris and Brel Froebe as well as a large group of community members. There is currently a wonderful momentum for protecting Whatcom County’s beautiful trees and forests. As soon as I say this, I am aware of the intricate and interconnected weavings of life that mean forest protection includes protection for plants, animals, bodies of waters, lichens, mosses, fungi, humans, salmon, indigenous culture, PNW culture– and Life itself! We ourselves provide the collective momentum to sustain the efforts that will mitigate the impact of inevitable and already present climate havoc. Please do consider taking actions, some of which can be found below. I offer deep gratitude to those who are taking these steps, and hope you will consider spreading the word through your own mycelial networks!
1. Contact DNR: If you haven’t already done so, please submit a comment to protect Brokedown Palace HERE and share widely with your networks. HERE is the informational webpage (the video is embedded on this page). Over 1,400 people have signed so far — we need to keep up the pressure!
2. Contact your legislators: HERE is the campaign page to ask state leaders to protect “carbon dense, structurally complex” legacy forests as part of the Climate Commitment Act. Please share this widely as well.
3. Urge Whatcom County to weigh in: We need 15-20 people to testify at the Whatcom County Council meeting at 6pm on April 4thto show support for the Brokedown Palace Forest. Let us know if you’re able to show up in person (or via zoom) to testify — more details and talking points to come.
4. Attend a town hall with your state reps: Town halls for the 40th and 42nd legislative districts are happening on Saturday 3/18. We need as many people as possible to show up and raise their hand in support of protecting Brokedown Palace and all WA legacy forests.
40th town hall: 11am-12pm, Skagit PUD #1, Aqua Room, 1415 Freeway Drive, Mount Vernon (MAP)
42nd town hall: 1-2pm, Ferndale High School Auditorium, 5830 Golden Eagle Drive, Ferndale (MAP)
Alexander Harris
Land & Water Policy Manager
(541) 324-1343
P.S. Check out THIS ARTICLE and THIS OP ED about Brokedown Palace, both of which appeared in the Cascadia Daily News last week.
Aniol the Forest Dog on a neighborhood forest walk!
Here is a truly compelling short film about a local Legacy forest you can help to save! Also included here are easy and efficient actions to take. When was the last forest walk you took? Are you noticing the magnificent older trees and forests compared to mono crop tree plantations? The Legacy trees, the Old Growth forests of not too long from now are perilously close to having been completely logged. Only 4% of DNR holdings consist of Legacy Forests. We all use wood products, and the actions on behalf of the older forests are not about stopping this, but instead about more discerning approaches to preserving beautiful forests, and natural habitat protection. Older and ecologically diverse forests sequester carbon most efficiently, and protect culturally important salmon and trees for the Salish Seas peoples, and all of us fortunate enough to dwell on these lands. And that is just the very abbreviated expression of why the Legacy Forests are in need of our protection. Indeed, they protect US! Gratitude for your efforts, and passing this along to others!
Right now, the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is planning to clearcut a rare, mature forest in the Nooksack watershed. This forest is called Brokedown Palace and stands only 500 yards (as the crow flies) from the recently removed Middle Fork Nooksack River Dam, which was removed to provide critical support to the endangered salmon runs.
Please join me in taking 2 minutes to take 2 quick actions:
- Click HERE to submit a comment to DNR telling them to cancel this sale.
- Click HERE to submit a comment to your state legislators asking them to invest in legacy forests like Brokedown Palace in their upcoming budget.
- Click HERE to learn more about Brokedown Palace (this page includes photos, maps, and references to the scientific literature).
About Brokedown Palace
Brokedown Palace is a 69 acre timber sale located on state public land. The majority of timber sale is made up of “legacy forest” that naturally regenerated after the forest was logged sometime in the 1920s. Brokedown Palace has since grown into a biodiverse, structurally-complex forest that not only provides refuge for wildlife, but helps keep the Middle Fork Nooksack River cool and high in the summer, while moderating runoff in the winter, all of which is critical to salmon survival.
Furthermore, since Brokedown Palace stands on steep terrain, logging its protective canopy and degrading its critical root structure could likely lead to erosion, “mass wasting,” and damage to the very habitat that was recently restored by the dam removal. Most of the river’s native salmon species are already declining toward extinction, including Chinook, which make up the majority of our Southern Resident Orcas’ diet. Does it make sense to clearcut a rare mature forest above a dam removal site intended to provide healthy salmon habitat?
DNR is planning to auction off this forest for logging in May of 2023. Without community action, this legacy forest will be clearcut and converted into a tree plantation, a major loss for the forests, salmon, and the community.
To have the greatest impact, customize your comments
HERE is the link with a prewritten comment. We encourage you to personalize your comment by including a sentence or two telling DNR:
- Why mature, mature legacy forests are important to you.
- Why DNR should be considering climate impacts and carbon storage in its management decisions.
- Why healthy forests are necessary for the health of Nooksack watershed.
Thank you for taking a stand to protect Brokedown Palace and all WA State legacy forests!
More information:
HERE is a webpage with more info.
HERE is a Brokedown Palace Public Comment Guide.HERE are some more photos of Brokedown Palace.
| Greetings! It will take only a few minutes to help in the profoundly important task of helping to preserve the small number of precious older forests still left in Washington State. This legislative action requires a few minutes of attention by noon tomorrow. I wish I had had the information sooner, but did not– this is hot off the press! Deep thanks in advance, if you are able to participate. Directions can be found below. If you have trouble with the links in this post, please go directly to the Center for Responsible Forestry’s webpage! |
| Dear Legacy Forest Supporters, The WA State Legislative session is now underway, as are some important efforts to protect legacy forests! One of those is the revitalization of the Trust Land Transfer progra (TLT). The TLT puts previously unprotected lands with high ecological value (like legacy forests) and purchases tree plantation replacement lands so that counties and schools who depend on revenue from logging are made economically whole. Since it’s inception in 1989, TLT has put around 126,000 acres into conservation. Unfortunately, Commissioner Franz discontinued TLT in 2020, but there’s legislation to bring it back and get it fully funded.TLT is a great tool to protect legacy forests that we should bring back! Tomorrow, Thursday, February 9th at 1:30pm there’s a hearing on House Bill 1460. Will you take a minute to click a few buttons saying you support this bill? HERE are easy instructions to follow that will lead you through the process. Please submit your PRO vote before 12:30pm tomorrow (2/9). Another piece of legislation is Senate Bill 5688 to allow the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to enter into longer leases for ecosystem services like carbon sequestration. Under the current law leases can only be 40 years, but this would allow DNR to put forests into conservation for 100+ years and generate revenue by means other than logging.This is would add another tool to protect legacy forests on DNR managed lands! The hearing for SB 5688 is this Friday February 10th at 8am. Please click this LINK and vote “PRO” before 7am on Friday (2/10). |
Come ZOOM with Sister Lucy & Maher!
Dear Friends of Sister Lucy and Maher
Please be our guest and join Sr. Lucy Kurien this Thursday, February 16th at 7AM PST /10:00 AM EST / 8:30 PM IST). You will hear firsthand about all the wonderful blessings that Maher Ashram has shared with those in need in 2022, including photos of new sites, new projects, and friends new and old. Sr. Lucy will share the recent Maher Anniversary celebrations, recent weddings, and other milestones and challenges. There will be time for questions and answers too. You can also hear an update of the new US 501c3 supporting Maher: US Giving to Maher.
Click here to Join Sr Lucy on ZOOM
Don’t worry if you are not able to attend this “Live” Zoom meeting – we will send a “Replay” link out afterwards!
PLEASE SHARE with Friends and Family! (and your network!)
For anyone who would like to join our US Giving to Maher email list to get direct notices, please email usgivingtomaher@gmail.com
Blessings!
If you would like to donate, please send checks to:
US Giving to Maher
1205 NORTH AVENUE STE 13
Burlington VT 05408
Paypal or credit card: (via Satyana)
Use this link: Donate to Maher
Or this link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=GW4G9LLMBUVFN
Click here to Join Sr Lucy on ZOOM
Meeting ID: 812 5131 8219
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If we create peace in our own bodies and minds, the world becomes more peaceful.
Maher, Vadhu Bk, Koregaon Bhima, Tal. Shirur, Pune – 412 216 India
Tele: +91 9011086134 Email: maher@maherashram.org/maherpune@gmail.com
Website: www.maherashram.org |FB Page: www.facebook.com/maher.ashram.india
Visit Maher! Share your time and talents! Sponsor a meal! Choose how you want to give and experience the joy of sharing!!
Elizabeth Kerwin Yoga 