This week at Spencers Butte the earth was still wet from all the rains but not

so much so that it
was forming mud puddles. The temperature was in 47 degrees and there was light fog in the area.
I am starting to see some decay of old fruiting plants, not so much in the leaves but in the fruit.
The oaks age gracefully and although they are losing their leaves dont look barren. All the trees
are draped in lycan. On the ground the smaller mushrooms are popping up and some have begun
to die. The ponderosa pine is on the outskirts of the conifer forest I think it may be a precursor
for an advancing forest. The green grass is really starting to come up now after all the rain, and it
doesnt require close examination any longer to see it. As the rain comes down it breaks down
the old tall grasses, and the new green grasses are now shining through. I cant see any birds
again this week but I can hear several so the ones that have stuck around either have adapted
better to the inside of the forest or are moving there for more protection during the cold season.
In the readings this week indigenous peoples locations in relation to edges is discussed. In the
first article by Turner indigenous Canadian people often would settle along water edges. This
had many advantages for them where they could draw resources from both edged and survive
better. Though, the article seemed to lack the fact that living along river edges and deltas also
produced an area rich in agriculture because of its fertile soil which that made for a very good
reason to settle down there. This was so often done that archeologist began to find old
settlements based on where these edges were, archeologist sites also reflect peoples long-term
preference for situating themselves on ecological edges. In the second article by Boag the
ecological edges on native Oregon indigenous people is discussed. First the article talks about
the weather and changing landscape of the area and how it had affected the area before people
arrived. Once people arrived they produced intentional burns to be able to grow their foods. This
would have a dramatic effect on the landscape and the edge. This would help clear out old forest
and was fairly controlled due to the moist climate. The article also discusses foothill species and
their usefulness. This is all largely due to the fertile soil in the area due to all the different glacial
periods, flooding, and volcanic activity. In relation to the first article they both do draw heavily
on how much easier it was for indigenous people to live in a area with lots of water and that
living on an edge produced more opportunity for survival.
After reading the articles and studying Spencers it becomes apparent that the habits of
indigenous people were very in sync with the natural cycles of the area. Along the foothills the
species described in the article by Boag are still visible and relevant. Although Spencers isnt
resting near a large body of water it still retains quite a bit of moisture and in fact has a
functioning orchard, although it isnt taken care of. This speaks to the fruitfulness of the area.
Along the river here in Eugene there is even more abundance of fruit bearing plants and it is easy
to imagine a native people settling down there for a season. Could the migration of native
peoples during the winter be contributed to the flood plain of the river in the winter?