Although it’s been a short ride so far, Mollee and I are getting ready to embark on a new and exciting adventure. The idea for WV Explorers started about a year ago with the purchase of my Jeep. It was the impetus for this project, but, literally and figuratively, it’s simply a vessel. We both have a deep love of exploring new places and taking in the wonders of the natural world around us. A capable 4×4 allows us to explore otherwise inaccessible areas.
As we explore, we understand the need to protect these unique places more and more each day. Growing up in the mountain state, I loved being in these forests that always liked wild spaces. As remote as they seem, much of what we see is only the beginning reemergence of the forests we once had. Most of “our” forests are less than 100 years old due to intense timbering that almost all of the state experienced.
The landscape was changed dramatically. While our forests may look like they’ve returned, and in some sense they have, they are often very different. The mixture of trees and other plants that grow back are typically different than the community nature created over thousands of years. As a result, the wildlife that makes use of these spaces has changed.
The world is shrinking. Nature, for most of us, is not a far-off place. We shouldn’t see ourselves as separate from it. It’s all around us. It’s in our backyards, our city parks, and at our bird feeders. And we can’t expect nature to regenerate on its own while simultaneously recovering from previous damage and struggling against new threats that arise every day. More active management and care are needed.
I’ve always dreamt of owning land in West Virginia to be out in nature. As I’ve grown older, more purpose has taken shape. We can do a lot to build the land back better than it is and, more importantly, faster than it will do on its own. Our next big adventure is 40 acres of overlooked land in Preston County, West Virginia. It may not seem as exciting as hitting the trail, but I’m sure it will provide plenty of room to learn, grow, and, most importantly, to share.
Creating a Refuge
Neither of us is an expert, but we hope to become ecologists of sorts as we try to give back. Understanding the myriad ways that life interacts seems like a herculean task to someone that has, to this point, been a casual observer. We’ve started by searching out great sources of information and enlisting the help of organizations to advise us that I imagine will prove to be very fruitful.
We plan on documenting our process and gauging how our work impacts the plants and animals on the land the best that two amateurs can. We believe lessons can be learned for people with similar goals, whether you have 1000 acres or a small patch of grass in your front yard. At the very least, hopefully, you enjoy following along on this journey. And maybe we’ll see you on our property one day.
We plan on documenting our process and gauging how our work impacts the plants and animals on the land the best that two amateurs can. We believe lessons can be learned for people with similar goals, whether you have 1000 acres or a small patch of grass in your front yard. At the very least, hopefully, you enjoy following along on this journey. And maybe we’ll see you on our property one day.
