On this year's holiday tour, actively turn youngster's attention to the fascinating excursion going on outside.

The only constant is change.

A saying attributed to Heraclitus that resonates strongly with those of us who spend time in forests. You have to look closely for the clues: stumps or lack thereof, holes and mounds, scars, downed logs, clues that tell the story of an ever-changing landscape.

Christine Byl writes about place and our connection to land and the reasons why we labor rather than sit. Byl eloquently reflects on her chosen path of work: "If I felt my work aligned with damage and asphalt over trees and space, I would like to think I could never have done it this long."

Hunting for persimmons on our little 30-acre wood is something that I look forward to all year.

Fall is finally here in parts of the South!  Trees are beginning to change color, hunters are getting ready for the season, nights are finally getting cooler, and campers and homeowners are thinking about enjoying those nice, cool evenings with a fire in the fireplace or chimenea.

Caring for your land to promote resilience requires active management, or manipulation, of the woods.