I was introduced last night by Mike Callahan to author Leila Philip author of “Water Rising” who is publishing a book next year about beavers. So you know I went straight to google and looked her up. I was surprised to see her work had evaded me this long, since I usually hear of all things beavers in most parts of the world.

From The Hill News at St, Lawrence University

The title piece in her recent book, “Water Rising,” inspired Philip’s current project, “Beaverland.” The title piece is about an encounter with a beaver, but also explores the concept of change. “It’s about transformation,” said Philips, “and the beaver is the vehicle for exploring those things.”

Philip fell in love with beavers and possessed a desire to learn more, which soon led to five years of research and the creation of “Beaverland.” “Through destruction beavers create, and that’s a really profound and complicated thought the more you think about it.” The mystery of the beaver had to be engaged before researching the facts, she further explained.

For those of you following along at home, you may be amused to learn that “Beaverland” was the working title of Ben Goldfarb’s book before his editors had their way with it and launched EAGER. Her writing sounds like this is more about the symbol of beavers than the beavers themselves, but I am all for talking about all their meanings.

In addition to its metaphorical use, Philip also utilizes the beaver to trace the historical nature of American imperialism. The fur trade founded the first American economy and, according to Philip, the beaver also offers a story for the ways in which humans can alter their exploitative relationship to nature. “I had never thought about it as a lens through which to look at American history,” she said. “But in storytelling you’re often looking for a lens or a way into a more complicated story.”

For Philip, asking questions is an important aspect of the writing process. “It’s about asking questions, and just pushing at the paradoxes and contradictions of what it means to be human,” she said. And what started as a poem in “Water Rising,” soon led to five years of extensive research. Philip delved into documentation of the fur trade, and in addition, immersed herself in all things beavers by going out in the field with trappers, wildlife biologists, environmental vigilantes and Native American Environmentalists.

Hmm she’s been working on this book for five years and this is the first I’m hearing of her? That is actually surprising since Worth A Dam pops up in mostly any google search about beavers. Maybe it’s an east coast thing. Or a literary thing, Maybe I’ve lost my touch.

She discovered that environmental projects in western parts of the US, and somewhat in eastern regions, are focused on returning beavers to their habitats. So she “began to think this was also a really interesting way to think about environmentalism, climate change and the environmental challenges we face today.”

“Beaverland” is currently in the writing stage and will consist of 14 chapters. Philip has completed four and chose to share a chapter with the St. Lawrence community. “It’s an exciting stage to read from,” she stated.

Beaverland will be coming to you next year. Let’s hope 2022 is a transformational year for us all.

Taos is a historic and artist mecca in the upper middle of New Mexico. With an elevation of nearly 7000 feet, you will definitely feel the visit all the way down to your lungs. There’s plenty to keep you busy whether your hiking, painting or meditating. But save some free time tomorrow evening because Ben Goldfarb will be talking at the Harwood Museum about beavers and his new book.

Talk targets beavers and ecosystems

Environmental writer Ben Goldfarb will spend his October residency at the Aldo & Estella Leopold Cabin putting the final touches on a manuscript about the importance of beavers in restoring ecosystems.

Goldfarb holds a master’s degree from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies – the same school that Aldo Leopold attended and was among its first graduates. And the Leopold Cabin sits across the valley from the historic seat of the beaver pelt trade in the early 1800s at Taos Pueblo.

“I can’t think of a better venue at which to complete my present project, ‘Song of the Dammed,’ a book about the ecological and hydrological benefits of North American beaver restoration,” said Goldfarb, who spent last summer surveying ranchers, scientists and public land managers about beaver restoration. “Northern New Mexico plays in integral part of the story I want to tell. And I’m happy to be invited to U.S. Forest Service property, as that is an agency that gets the importance of beavers the most.”

Ooh that’s so exciting! I wrote Ben yesterday to see if someone will be filming or taping the talk so the poor souls not in Taos could see it. He said he wasn’t sure and corrected that the books title is now “Beaverland”.

Goldfarb will present elements of his book, including a history of beavers in North America, the ways beavers influence restoration, and several case studies that support his findings at a presentation planned Wednesday (Oct. 4), 7 p.m., at the Harwood Museum of Art, 238 Ledoux Street in Taos. The presentation is free and open to the public.

The Aldo and Estella Leopold Residency began in 2012 as “an inspiring retreat for writers to reflect and create in the home where Aldo and Estella Leopold first lived as newlyweds from 1911-12,” a press release states. “Now in its 6th year, the Leopold Writing Program selects one to two writers for one-month-long residencies, depending upon funding. Participants receive a $500 stipend to help defray travel and living expenses. In exchange, residents give a public presentation of their work in Taos.”

Past residents include Courtney White, John Hausdoerffer, Bonnie Harper-Lore, Leanna Torres, Gavin Van Horn, Tovar Cerulli, Priscilla Solis Ybarra, Andrew Gulliford, Maya Kapoor, Andrea Clearfield, and Ariana Kramer.

Could Ben be in better company than the spirit of these great writers? I don’t think so. He asked me what I thought of “Beaverland” as a title and I said it was nice maybe kind of similar to “Beaver World” and Enos Mills territory? My personal inclination would be more to something about the way they are an extremely unappreciated resource that gets ignored. Like “Untapped” or “Unsung” or more specifically focused as to their function, “Water-Savers”.

I also tossed out the notion I had been toying about thinking of beavers as “Stream-catchers” (playing off the idea of dream catchers being the Ojibwe belief of the woven hoop you place near the infants crib to keep out the bad dreams) Maybe the beaver dam itself is the web? Keeping out flooding and drought, and the stream that it brings are the ‘good dreams’ vibrant with fish and full of life?

Ben liked that idea and thought it might become a chapter, so we’ll see what happens. In the mean time I’m excited that beavers get a book and Ben gets to talk about it tomorrow night.