Outdoor Living

Do you ever wonder in awe and amazement at a tree? I recently shared the book, Be a Tree by Maria Gianferrari, with a local preschool class. The poetic text invited our bodies to stand tall like a tree, stretching limbs to the sky and curling roots into the ground. We investigated bark which protects the tree like our skin and the inner layers of the tree that give support like our bones and carry nutrients like our vascular system.

We also learned of the diversity of trees, how their canopies have different shapes and the leaves blow in the wind. It reminded of a period of great change with my work. Our supervisor had us all stand with planted feet and branches up high, saying, “I’m a tree. I can bend.” Trees are resilient in gusts and storms.

In the book, we were reminded that the trees’ roots are all intertwined along with an extensive fungi system. Trees “talk” and care for other trees, letting them know of danger and sharing resources. The canopies allow space for other nearby trees and shade younger ones. Trees also become homes for many other animals and organisms in the ecosystem. If you’d like to learn more about how trees communicate and care for each other, check out The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben.

Be a Tree reminds us that forests are strong together, taking care of the new, weak, sick, and young trees, with illustrations that we, as humans, also care for those in need in our community. As the book mentions, “There is enough for all,” including all of us in our community, together as a forest. The book share with ways to help save trees and to be a forest in our community. The children gave many suggestions like giving a hug, handshake, or smile. The book also recommends many ways I see our community pulling together like helping with stray animals, visiting “grandfriends” in nursing homes, having buddy systems at the schools, and sowing native plants in local gardens.

How are you a part of our forest community? How can we make space for all, caring for and nurturing those around us?

Dr. Carla Gull blogs at www. insideoutsidemichiana.com and hosts the podcast Loose Parts Nature Play. She is often seen with four tag-along explorers in the greater Michiana area.

Adding public art to Middlebury’s parks and trails polls high on numerous Park surveys and community input meetings. Watch for several new outdoor art installations in 2022 designed to entertain and inspire our citizens and attract visitors to our community. • Limited edition Seward Johnson sculpture on display May through September at the Krider Quilt Garden to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Northern Indiana Quilt Garden Tour. • A marble replica of the late Sam Graber’s much loved “faces in the trees” carvings donated in memorial by his family. This nostalgic piece will find its way to Krider Garden along the bike trail Sam used daily into his 90’s. • “The Gathering Place”, a commissioned metal tree sculpture created by a local Goshen artist and inspired by Indiana’s natural world and Krider World’s Fair Garden’s spirit as a place of family gatherings of many kinds. Lower Krider Garden will be the destination of this special piece created for a special place.

Gotcha! by Seward Johnson ©1993 The Seward Johnson Atelier, Inc.

The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail through Middlebury has continued to get plenty of use. From Nov. 2020 to Nov. 2021, there were 118,383 passes of the trail counter on the north side of the Trestle Bridge, with the highest single day count of 2,238 passes on September 5, 2021. The Friends of the Pumpkinvine have received lots of positive feedback about the new Krider Garden Rest Area completed in 2021.

“Great addition to the trail.” – Paul Ewing “A drinking fountain on the trail!!!

THANK YOU!” – Michelle Meengs Bache “ They are very nice and well appreciated! Can’t wait till spring!” – Linda Walker

Your donations to the Flower and Fixture Fund bring life, beauty and vibrancy to your parks and Town Center. Not funded by taxes, but by a caring community, the annual plantings show the world that you love Middlebury. Individuals, families, civic groups and companies may make tax deductible donations by contacting Middlebury Parks. “These are a wonderful addition to the trail. THANK YOU to Middlebury and all who made this happen.” – Judy Frey

This will be an excellent addition to the PV! Visionary planning on the part of Middlebury Parks and Town Council. – Joel Zwier

Helping young members make smart choices. That’s the goal of the social skills programs at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County. Kids at the Middlebury Clubhouse are learning ways to tell others that they’re “Too Good For Drugs And Violence.” As part of the program, they just created “Me Books” which encouraged them to list areas where they excel, what they like, and words that describe them. The members practiced giving each other compliments based on how they designed their books and what was included inside. It’s an overall lesson in how compliments make people feel and how to give and receive them respectfully. “It’s all about choices and actions. We want them to know they have a choice in how they respond to different situations,” said Youth Behavioral Specialist Natasha Lantz. Between 15 and 20 members at the Middlebury Club take part in the program. It consists of 35 sessions during the school year that cover everything from conflict resolution, community involvement, how to deal with bullies and ways to avoid drugs and alcohol. “The goal is to teach them how to deal with situations they will encounter in everyday life,” Lantz said. She said the kids involved in the program enjoy the activities. They are designed to teach a lesson while being fun and hands-on.

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There are so many committees but the one that is probably the most un-known is the Tree Board. They beautify our town by planting and maintaining the tree’s in town and along the pumpkin vine, at the schools etc. Middlebury is know as the Crystal Valley for the beautiful winter days that freeze and shine like crystals, but did you know we are also a Tree City. The board has to renew their status every year. Right now we have 7 Tree board members and they would like to get that number up to 10.

Mike Miller serves as the President, Doug Yoder (who doesn’t even live in Middlebury anymore but wants to help the community where he was raised,) Al Spice, Larry Carlson, Phil Meister, Eric Risser and Joseph Parks.

A few years ago they planted 32 trees at the new Ridge Run Trail near the covered bridge at the Essenthaus. This past spring in conjunction with the Park Department they applied for and received a grant for a project to plant 50 trees. Forty six of those were planted art the high school, near the county road 35 entrance, and 4 were planted in town. Annually they average 15-20 trees. Arbor day is when they typically do their one big project each year. A large part of the work involves pruning the trees that they’ve planted in previous years, because planting a nursery tree and then ignoring it rarely results in a good tree with a good strong structure.

The Board would love to get some new young blood on the Tree board. If you don’t know much about tree’s it it could be a great learning experience For more information about how to get involved and keep a great thing going for our community contact :Mike Miller, 574-596-9163 robmik2000@yahoo.com.

In an emergency-every second counts. It is important that Police, Fire and or Ambulance personnel be able to locate your home or business quickly. Reflective house number signs are an effective way to help us pinpoint your address and may help save property and lives. The Middlebury Township Fire Department has these reflective signs available for $15.00. The signs, which are green with white reflective numbers, are highly visible at night and during snow or fog. They can be mounted on your home or business, on your rural mailbox post (if it is located on the same side of the street as your home or business), or on a post- as long as they are visible from the road. We encourage you to participate in this offer so that we can quickly locate your home or business in the event of an emergency.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Please return this order form, along with $15.00 (cash or check) to:

Middlebury Township Fire Department, 117 North Main Street, Middlebury, IN 46540 Name:

Street Address:

Mailing Address:

City/State/Zip:

Phone #:

Rural 4 or 5 Digit Address – Sign is 6” x 18”- Numbered on Both Sides. Horizontal Mount (across) Vertical Mount (up & down)

City 3 Digit Address – Sign is 6” x 9”.

******** Someone will call you when your sign is ready for pick-up at Fire Station. ******** If you need assistance in mounting the sign, or if you need a post, please indicate so in the space below.

If you have any questions, please call the Non-Emergency Numbers for the Middlebury Township Fire/EMS Department, (574) 825-1484 or (574) 825-1492.