Begin Again
by Sandra Alcosser Because of open woodlandWith quivering sun patches A bird’s eye might observe a wormChiseling under earth’s Skin—because of granite bouldersFull of egg cases holding Spiderlings—because of purple berriesCome sweet in July—chokecherry Shadblow NankingHips and haws ripening— Branch nesters build summer nurseriesOn the face of our cabin—the same family Every year or theirContinue reading “Begin Again”
Two Nations Together Again at Boquillas
by Joe Holley Boquillas Crossing—On a cold, gray afternoon in Big Bend National Park, the rugged peaks and buttes wreathed by graceful low-hanging clouds, thirty or so American tourists are slouched against walls or sitting cross-legged on the hard floor of a small building manned by the National Park Service. We’ve all spent a portionContinue reading “Two Nations Together Again at Boquillas”
Rocío Guenther: Mujer Renacentista
by Elena Negron San Antonio is famous for its unique mix of Texan and Mexican culture, and this is encapsulated no better than in the experiences of Rocío Guenther, a Trinity University alum who holds dual citizenship in the United States and Mexico. I recently had the pleasure of meeting virtually with Guenther, who isContinue reading “Rocío Guenther: Mujer Renacentista”
Each One a Bright Light by Lee Herrick
I was born outside of you, in Korea, in 1970, a year of upheaval and revolution. I was adopted and arrived in America in October 1971, at ten months of age, on your west coast, the San Francisco International Airport to be exact, where I was adopted by a White American couple. In the yearContinue reading “Each One a Bright Light by Lee Herrick”
Revolutionary Women: Nahui Olin
Nahui Olin (b. Mexico City, Mexico, 1893; d. Mexico City, 1978), an artist and writer, used hertalent in the 1920s to express her intellect and her sexuality and to break down genderbarriers at a time when Mexican women were severely constrained by law and social custom. Apainter and photographer who organized her own shows, OlinContinue reading “Revolutionary Women: Nahui Olin”
La Finca Caribe
We learn that most people are reluctant to break down these barriers on their own, especially on their first night, and sometimes for days, or all of their stay; but at the same time, they are really grateful to be gently ushered into it by our efforts. People want to connect. This knowledge comes inContinue reading “La Finca Caribe”
Elephants: We Hardly Knew Them, a Conversation with Dale Peterson
Dale Peterson has spent his career writing about subjects ranging from art and literature to computers to psychiatry to travel, including penning the biography Jane Goodall: The Woman Who Redefined Man. When it came to elephants, Peterson decided the history, strength, intelligence, and dominance of the world’s largest land animal were better explored in wordsContinue reading “Elephants: We Hardly Knew Them, a Conversation with Dale Peterson”
Best Animal Books of 2020
When I’m getting to know someone, a common icebreaker is the question, what’s your favorite animal? Everyone, even the meanest and grumpiest person, has a favorite. We find aspects of these nonhuman creatures enjoyable or intolerable, relatable and lovable. Being curious about animals is part of being human. Here’s a list of some of theContinue reading “Best Animal Books of 2020”
Write-Ins for President by Leath Tonino
I elect that bull elk in the Snake River. I elect that raven in Canyonlands National Park. I elect autumn moonlight on metal roofs. I elect the strand of barbed wire that fell from the post and is now woven into the tall brown grass. I elect the tall brown grass. I elect my neighbors’Continue reading “Write-Ins for President by Leath Tonino”
We Tell Stories
Disasters bring home this truth: we live in place. Precise locations that can flood, burn, shake, and slide (and if you live in Southern California as I do, all four are possible, imminent). Wildfires, for example, can incinerate large swaths of forests, chaparral, or grassland, but their individual burn patterns are site- and vegetation-specific. EarthquakesContinue reading “We Tell Stories”
What-a-Bunch of Creatives
Texans have a lot in common. We love wide open spaces. Bluebonnets. The Spurs. And if you can brag about calling the Lone Star State home, you definitely have a love for Whataburger, which has restaurants all over Texas and the South. People around these parts are as passionate about the fast food chain asContinue reading “What-a-Bunch of Creatives”
Still Birding While Black
Hey America, Was out birding a while back, black as I am and have always been, checking out my white-crowned sparrow honey hole, absorbing one of my fave winter birds. Fully engrossed in their melancholy leftover Northwoods songs and snazzy namesake stripe-headed plumages, I wasn’t expecting to have my identity challenged as I was identifyingContinue reading “Still Birding While Black”
ABOUT
Terra Firma is a stage for exploring the relationships between humans and the physical environments they engage. From publishing to a vibrant education and event programs, we work to contribute to meaningful dialogue, advocacy, and conservation focused on; nature, landscape, and wilderness; environmental sustainability and climate change; animals and wildlife; architecture and the built environment; cultural heritage and the importance of place.
