When the whole world is quiet, joy emerges from the smallest of places.
Often I find myself trying to fall asleep listening to the numerous mice scratching in my walls, trying to remember why I ever thought moving to the woods was a good idea. Why would I choose to move from the coastal suburbs, to live in a town that boasts no more than 1,500 residents? It’s not easy. But it is beautiful.
Since moving here, I’ve developed a new sense of place. I would have never thought I could feel a connection to places other than the ocean. But with the mountains comes a different kind of vastness, that I have developed a kinship with. They have a unique sense of grandeur and age that commands respect. Since my AmeriCorps position is so intertwined with the ecological health of the land, I have no choice but to feel protective of the Ossipee Watershed that my organization protects. It’s now my watershed.
The Ossipee watershed is a sub-watershed of the Saco River, and ecompasses 7 towns in Carroll County. This watershed contains the largest stratified drift aquifer in the state, making it particularly prone to contamination. But why should I care? I’m just a temporary visitor, and will be gone before the Thanksgiving turkey (or Tofurkey for my vegetarians) hits the table. This place matters, that’s why. There is inherent value in the environment, regardless of what it can give me. This land was here way before I was and will continue to be way after I am. The least I can do is use my short time to help it along.
As the coordinator for GMCG’s volunteer water quality program RIVERS, I’ve had the privilege of coordinating with over a dozen volunteers that have dedicated years (sometimes decades) of their life to collecting this data. They have a true passion for environmental stewardship. I simply caught their bug. I can now see the beauty in the beech trees, in the Ossipee Lake and Pine River. There may not be a whale in sight, but there are brook trout, and spotted salamanders, and bald eagles. There’s no crashing waves, but there is a rushing river.
There’s a saying that “to love someone is to know them”. I now know the Lakes Region. Or at least I am trying to.
Grace is a full-term member serving as GMCG’s Water Quality Resources Assistant. Her favorite sweet treat is cheesecake! Learn more about Grace here.