Call me erratic, but my new year always begins in February with the first signs of spring. As Adam Moore, director of Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, pointed out in his article in last Friday’s Gazette on this subject, it is the challenge of the erratic boulder, the excitement of the ocean, that draws his children out of themselves and into nature, hopefully into a world which will offer them lifelong joys. But it can also be done by smaller things.

A seasonal Vineyard visitor, due to snow, timing and ferry reservations, I spent an unexpected Christmas on the Island. I didn’t buy a tree — instead, at the last minute, I hung several inexpensive seed bells in the lilac bush outside my window. Was that a spot of bright blue? Red? By this simple gesture, I welcomed in a whole world of life at Christmas — cardinals, chickadees, blue jays, even a woodpecker, not to mention the squirrel who gorged himself hanging from the bell.

As a part of nature, we are never alone; simply opening our senses to this world can meet the needs of young and old alike for challenge, excitement, color and music in a dark season — even friendship. These birds keep coming back — I am up to two large feeder tubes and a bag of sunflower seeds every three days — and yes, I am still on the Island, looking forward to nature’s sentinels of spring.

Mr. Moore’s point is subtle. Knowing about nature is the first step to caring, and caring leads to action. How many of us will step up to the challenge of visiting every conservation and land bank site on the Island? How about a bumper sticker for this achievement? For my new year’s resolution, I plan to visit at least six sites (one for each eco-region of the Island) once in each season of the year. That’s two hikes a month. Shouldn’t kill me — in fact, I’m sure it will be good for me. Is that too erratic? (Webster’s Dictionary derives the word erratic from the latin erraticus, meaning wandering.) Any takers? Sheriff’s Meadow, the Trustees, Vineyard Conservation Society and the land bank — all of these conservation entities sponsor wonderful, informative walks. Thanks, you have all become my winter friends.

 

Trina Gay is a resident of West Tisbury.