Benefits of Controlled Burns
Coal Creek Farm is a learning lab. I’ve learned about native species; flora and fauna. I’ve learned about water resources. I’ve learned that there is a new species of grasshopper living there. And, I learned that helping the land recover from...
Burning Questions: Forest Management and Fire
Carr Fire 2018, Bureau of Land Management California Image. Pictures and videos of large-scale fires are scary to look at and watch; seeing, feeling and hearing a real forest fire is much much scarier. At Coal Creek Farm in East Tennessee, we burn about 500 acres of...
Expand protection for Tennessee’s rivers
Ecotourism—including hobbies such as paddling, biking, hiking, and birdwatching—brings sustainable jobs and commerce to the region. This year is the 50th anniversary of The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This is the perfect moment to build on the successes of the past…
NON-NATIVE VS. INVASIVE: GOOD, BAD OR OTHERWISE?
I am currently fascinated by the concept of non-native and invasive species. When are non-natives bad? Always or sometimes? Invasive species are always bad. But sometimes non-natives can be good for you. Take the plant, Mullein, for example. It doesn’t belong in East...