A few years ago I attended a two day non-violent forest defense action training and learned about tree sitting in redwood trees but wasn’t sure when an opportunity would arise to actually tree sit. This winter I started hearing about CalFire’s plans to log in Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF.) The proposed timber harvest plan is to do a “selective” harvest, which includes cutting many 100-plus-year old redwood trees. One of the trees that is marked to be cut is “Mama,” which is a beloved 200-year-old redwood with a diameter of 78 inches. CalFire’s reason for doing the cut is to raise money for their organization. I instantly knew I wanted to do something about it but wasn’t sure how I could help, for long time frustration has been building in me about current state of logging in Northern California. A month ago I joined a group doing a training specific to tree sitting in JDSF, in order to protest the current timber harvest plan. I ended up being the first to stay in the tree sit. This is my journal of the time I spent tree sitting:

Day 3, April 10th:

Today I woke up and became more and more uncomfortably warm, ate some banana and jerky for breakfast. The last few days I have been just getting used to living in a tree. My platform is about the size of a California king size mattress and I only have about 3×5 space to move around. My legs feel like they are going to atrophy. At around 11:30, I rappelled half way down and got interviewed by KZYX and the Mendocino Voice. It started getting super windy in the mid-afternoon and my platform sways a lot. Thankfully the tree, who locals call “Mama” is around 200-years-old and very sturdy. I have been feeling increasingly connected to the tree; I feel very held. There are about four to six 100-year-old plus redwoods within my view, all or most marked to cut, including Mama. In the late afternoon, a squirrel came to visit. It just gave a look like “How the hell did you get up here?” Had some yummy ramen for dinner, then tried to sleep but my friend Bearly was setting up another platform in the neighboring tree. 

Day 4m April 11th:

Woke early, my sleeping bag was still moist from the morning dew. My friend Bearly came back to finish setting up the new platform. In the afternoon my friend’s mom came by and brought me some pizza. Eating pizza in a tree was definitely a first. An official looking guy walked by yesterday and today he came by again wearing the same outfit at the same time. I’ve been having a lot of time to look introspectively about my past and future. Finally in the late afternoon Bearly finished setting up the second platform, and Bugs became my new tree neighbor. Had a very nice evening listening to a chanting ceremony going on on the ground. Ended the night with an old anime movie and some delicious homemade empanadas.

Day 5, April 12th:

I’m bound to a tree   It’s all I see

I see a squirrel   Upon a burl

I float through the canopy    All despite my sanity

         Unarmed and unharmed   

Held by the tree    Meld to the tree

Branches so long    Branches so strong

I sit in my spot   Atop the redwood

       Whose name is Mama

Today I woke up to the sound of whispering voices. It was 4:30 in the morning, and people were gathering to create a roadblock in an attempt to stop logging trucks from entering the road. Around 40 people showed up but thankfully no loggers. A bunch of friends from Elk came and visited me in the morning, but due to it being so early, I struggled to converse. My voice has been getting hoarse from all the yelling, so thankfully someone brought walkie talkies. People have been bringing so so much food. I legitimately have been turning down food. In the afternoon, Cal Winslow interviewed me over the phone for a magazine article. I tried to do my tree sitting friendly workout; I can feel myself getting out of shape. I pretended like I was ordering  take out through the walkie talkies. I ordered a turkey sandwich. The best dinners are sandwich dinners. Then I gently fell asleep to the gentle rock of the mama tree.

Day 6, April 13th:

Today was pretty relaxing, had some bad breakfast.  In the afternoon nothing much happened. At 4:30 I rappelled half way down to get interviewed by an Instagram activist who has 83,000 followers.  I sat on a tall stump above the ground. I never actually got interviewed, so I basically just listened to my friend and the activist talking about how to make the story more viral. I started feeling homesick and antsy, but then some people brought some delicious  beet soup and I felt better. I watched some pre-downloaded documentaries and nodded off.

Day 7, April 14th:

Today I woke early and cooked raw milk oatmeal with a snickers bar and popping candy. Another KZYX reporter was set to climb up and interview me. I cleaned up and then had way too much coffee. The reporter, Alicia Bales, decided not to climb up, so I repelled halfway down. The reporter asked really great questions.  She had actually tree sat herself back in the 90s.  We chatted a bit after the interview, and she told me about how she interviewed Julia Butterfly Hill in her tree.  In the afternoon, Spruce came by; she had just been to a meeting about Jackson State Forest.  CalFire said in the meeting that they postponed the logging. I am glad that they postponed logging, but I’m skeptical about whether or not they will stick to their promise. Ate some bread, sausage and cheese for dinner. Then slept.

Day 8, April 15th:

Today is my last full day; I feel a mixture of happy and sad. I feel happy that I will soon be able to run and jump; I’m excited to feel connected to the ground again. I’m also sad because I won’t be living with the rhythm of the Mama Tree, though I am glad that someone else will have the experience that I did. Since it’s almost my last day, my tree neighbor Bugs made me a fried egg and avocado toast. I swear food tastes better up in here. Did some preparation for my departure, then just relaxed. Had some soup and chorizo for lunch. Got in my sleeping bag just as it started getting dark. Bugs made me couscous for dinner, hmmmmm. 

Day 9, April 16th:

Got up very early and Spruce yelled up to me, “You need to write a message to Senator McGuire, but you only have 15 minutes.” My tired brain wrote as fast as it could. This is what I wrote:

Senator McGuire:

I strongly believe that preserving our forests will not only provide carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat and recreation but it will also give our future generations inspiration to protect their local ecosystems and the earth as a whole. I hope that in hearing our story it inspires you to help us in our fight to protect the forest.

Sincerely, 

Greasy Pete

I made some soupy oatmeal and savored my last moments with mama. Next I cleaned up my platform and lowered down all my stuff. My parents arrived, and I rappelled down, gathered my items and went on my way.

Postscript:

Overall my experience tree sitting was a fascinating one. It was incredible to have the feeling of living so in tune with another organism. I look back on my time in the Mama Tree with wonder and amazement. I am proud of what I did, and I hope it inspires others to take action in protecting their local ecosystems.