Yelena and I had a great time taking part in a workshop at the Opal Creek Ancient forest center. Opal Creek forest center is located in the Opal Creek wilderness, less than an hour from Salem. This workshop consisted of time spent with an expert guide harvesting wild mushrooms like Golden Chanterelles and Angel wings along with some of natures other delectables like Salal and huckleberries. We made medicinal tinctures from Oregon grape roots and Red Cedar needles and sipped on tea made from wild ginger. It was all hands on so we were quite involved in the whole process as well as learning to identify what to eat or more importantly what not to eat in the forest. It's amazing how many edible plants there are that can be harvested for medicinal purposes or for the sheer pleasure of eating.
I was astonished at the biodiversity that exists in a place like this. This Old growth forest consist of trees that are 250 to 1500 years old. It's awe inspiring to stand next to a 1000 year old tree, to ponder it's existence and the complex processes that took place for it to come into being.
I can appreciate those who had enough foresight to preserve a place like this for generations to come and the efforts of Opal Creek forest center to educate the public about this magnificent forest.
Through their many workshops OCFC share there knowledge and love for the forest which has opened up a whole new world that is hidden to most. It is amazing to discover a circle of life that has stood the test of time, continuing on for thousands of years; a living system dependent on each stage of its life cycle to develop and survive,from to the microscopic organizims that breaks down the rotten logs on the forest floor to the spotted owl which stands at the top of the food chain.
God in his infinite wisdom has designed everything to work together for the benefit of all. If you take one organism out you risk altering what God has designed to work together.
" There is no creature so little and contemptible as not to manifest the goodness of God."Thomas A Kempis
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