Geerbos Logging

Monday, 29-December-2014 - Veghel - Hired by Veghel Township and using state-of-the-art logging equipment, Van Weert Rondhout BV was clearing tall popular trees from Geerbos woods across from our housing area.  According to Van Weert, this was to give shorter oak trees a better chance to grow.  I was sad to see these tall trees go. When we moved here 18 years ago, we were happy to be situated near a stand of tall trees.  In recent years, many these populars have been harvested to comply with a European subsidy obtained more than 25 years ago.  pics (46)

Garden Bench Destiny: Circular Economy

Friday, 13-June-2014 - Veghel - Rik Ruigrok (photo) came over to pickup our teakwood garden bench.  I got it for free and repaired it a few years ago.  I enjoyed it in our backyard, but I knew it would get a new life at Herso.  Rik took time to share circular economy ideas and real world examples of how it works.  I felt so rejuvenated after bathing in Rik's energy. pics (2)

Popular Trees Re-planted

13-March-2014 - Zijtaart - The township of Veghel came through with their promise to re-plant popular trees along the Erpsesteeg in Zijtart.  Oak trees were also planted along the Holstraat.  pics (13)

A Good Day to Die

Monday, 24-Feb-2014 - Veghel - Yes, I did feel as if I were the man standing in front of the tank on Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989, in Beijing.  No, I was not protesting the government slaughter of innocent human beings, I was protesting the cutting down of 21-year-old healthy living beings, alder trees my town had planted in front of my home 17 years ago, shortly after my family moved to the then new residential area Spoorven.  Unlike the Chinese man, I felt certain the tractor driver would not harm me, but I was certain the trees would be cut down if I did nothing.  Township officials Kees van Os, team leader and Jean-Paul de la Roy, project leader, Beheer Openbare Ruimte (Management of Public Space), temporarily postponed cutting down the trees immediately in front of my home, and came to my home for and hour and a half to listen to my proposal to leave six trees standing.  I couldn't convince them to save the trees; however, Mr van Os did promise us he would officially propose putting stricter controls for trees on city and township grounds.  Current rules in the township tree management policy (bomennota) do not require a felling permit for most trees on public ground (see tree map). Without a felling permit requirement, citizens to not have any legal ground to disagree with planned felling of trees--trees that have established themselves to become part of the surrounding environment.  Further, planned felling then falls under a protocol which specifies timely notification to all community residents. The current slogan "de juiste boom op de juiste plaats" (the right tree in the right place) is a deception--a justification for felling trees, not to maintain them, along with the street and sidewalk pavement around them.  Veghel township said a wrong choice of tree was made.  I say this was a well-thought choice and that wrong economic choices are now being made.  Funds for tree and associated pavement maintenance are used for other projects.  It takes 15-20 years to grow a tree.  This requires patience and restraint during economically-challenging periods.  One cannot replace a tree in the same manner as replacing an automobile or a piece of furniture.  I encourage Veghel and its citizens to understand the importance of trees, and to regain the courage to care of them.

When death is inevitable, some humans may say "It's a good day to die."  On this sunny day, after 17 years of service to the residents of Spoorven, these alder trees, stood tall, felt the wind flow through their branches, and accepted their fate.  It was a privilege  and an honor to share moments of my life with them.  I stood by as they were felled--it took 25 minutes.
pics (75)
tree cutting clip (4:04)
alder tree feeling the wind through its branches (36 sec)
alnus spaethii spaeth (Spaeth's alder, the correct name for these trees)
Diemen alder inspection report (Dutch)
kliknieuws (online news Veghel) Citizen of Veghel Takes Action against tree felling Spoorven, 24-feb-2014
brabants dagblad (regional newspaper) 'Chinese' one-man protest against felling of trees in vain Spoorven Veghel, 25-feb-2014

Leave Me Standing tall--Let Me Live

Saturday, 22-February-2014 - Veghel - My Dutch name is Els (Alnus incana).   I'm 21 years old. I'm strong and healthy. I've been standing here on this spot, growing up, since 1997, after the homes around me were built and people started to live here, on what used to be a green meadow.  The town of Veghel is planning to cut me down along with 72 other grey alder trees circling, protecting, the Spoorven, the residential area where I live.  Please leave me standing tall--let me live. I can't speak, but you can.  What can you do? 
1) Press "like" here on Facebook to tell Veghel that you want me to live.
2) Stand next to me, or the alder tree nearest you, for an hour from 0600-0700 on Monday, 24-Feb-2014 and hold up this sign. Tape it over the orange dot before you leave.
3) Report your concern to the Town of Veghel using the digital form here.


Thank you.
 
On behalf of Els,
Spoorven residents:
555 Quirin van Aspert
557 Hans and Marie-José van Duinhoven
613 Johan van den Oord
614 Dennis Srigopal
616 Dale Weiss
617 Tineke Beuving

links
pics (32) 
bomennota_veghel_2007-04-19 (99 pages)(tree management statute)
drawing of "repair of root pressure damage" activities Spoorven, 12-Feb-2014
Township Veghel letter, 10-Feb-2014, to nearby residents, "repair of root pressure damage"
Public notice, Stadskrant Veghel, 12-Feb-2014, Start of Work Spoorven
dale weiss protest message to Veghel Township , 22-Feb-2014

Treaty of Washington (1836)

Saturday, 20-July-2013 - Veghel - Derek Bailey, chairman (retired), Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (Anishinaabek Original Peoples) is one of the individuals endorsing the campaign to Ban  Fracking in Michigan. In 1836, 13 years before my ancestors Christina Feinauer and Johann Georg Weiss arrived in Frankenlust Township, chiefs, including those of the Grand Traverse placed their mark on the Treaty of Washington, relinquishing ownership of 37 percent of the current land area of what is now the state of Michigan (photo).
Anishinaabek Turtle song (2:46)
First Speakers: Restoring the Ojibwe language  (56:41)

Hydraulic Fracturing 101

Saturday, 20-July-2013 - Here is a short animated presentation by the El Paso Corporation on how hydraulic fracturing (commonly referred to as fracking) is performed.
Hydraulic Fracturing 101 (4:16)