The OTG Daily #21 Insulation and Shelter

Snow again! And not a little. For a girl raised near Boston this feels normal despite what is happening in the dry hills of California and the flood plains of the South Eastern coast.  

Maybe I was anticipating perpetual summer because I forgot to take the hammock nets off the frames this fall and they are now greening up with algae and freezing.  And they make me think of shelter.  

Goose statue on our wall

Last night D and I went for our walk in the nearby industrial park after 5:00 pm wearing our fluorescent vests in the dark. Forecasts had said the storm would arrive at 5 pm and then was changed to 10 pm and eventually midnight - with anywhere from 3-8 inches. We went safely before a flake had appeared, but you could smell the snow in the air, that thick crisp wet smell.  As we turned the corner on our regular route through the empty buildings, mostly filled with cars and boats in storage, we came upon a man dressed in black with a large pack on his back, holding a flashlight. He seemed startled to see us and we him. The park was otherwise empty. He apologized and starting telling us he had just been to the nearby gym (there is one in among the storage buildings, but it was closed and dark).  He said, "I've been living outside and use the gym sometimes. Otherwise, Jesus provides me everything that I need." He seemed harmless and was indeed smiling, even beaming at us, from underneath his hood and heavy jacket and large frames glasses. We weren't sure what to think. He added, "Just happy to be able to spread the word to you about Jesus." With that, we thanked him and wished him well and went on our way, but I had so many questions. He certainly seemed equipped with his large pack, but it was cold and I thought of the impending snow. I wondered where he would shelter. Did he have a tent or a small portable stove and food? Should we have offered him a space in our garage? D and I debated. Was that a can of worms? By the time we reached that point on our circuit again he was gone.  

He was unusual as an unhoused person, which many have become accustomed to seeing, especially on the streets of NY city, often above a heating vent in a sleeping bag surrounded by cardboard and bags. Here he was in this solitary location and preaching to whomever would hear him. A pilgrim or spiritual seeker or to some perhaps mentally ill.  As we passed the big trucks parked near the various shuttered businesses in the park, I wondered if he knew of one that was unlocked and perhaps slept in there. And I thought of the snow and its insulating properties. Did he create himself a shelter in the nearby woods with branches and packed snow? 

Igloo or iglu, is the Inuit word for house, and represents a temporary housing that a whole family can use to be close to hunting ranges. While not generally used anymore for dwelling, they are still practical for hunters during the winter season, especially small structures that can provide shelter from a storm (The Canadian Encyclopedia). Ice does not retain heat, but blocks of solid snow do, especially if packed with loose snow that melts and freezes into place providing a good insulation for body heat and small fires to make the iglu comfortable. 

Cellar of the Chase Farm Homestead 18th century

Snow is also insulating for plants (NatureHills.com). It raises soil temperature and protects dormant plants through drastic weather cold and wind by creating a barrier and providing moisture for roots. Some plants also have built in anti-freeze proteins which protect them all through the winter (Eskandari et al., 2020). While they may look dead and frozen, they have simply gone into their frozen state soon to revive with warmer temps and brighter sun. It's amazing how much life remains in trees especially with potential waiting for the spring.

Holly

Without a period of freezing cold temperature, we would actually not have many plants or trees, especially those that flower. Plants need a period of vernalization where their seeds and growth depend on a period of deep rest or suspended growth or hibernation (Hanrahan, 2015, University of Illinois, College of Agriculture, Consumer & Environmental Sciences).  The lack of cold and snow in recent winters is a real cause for concern then, and not just for the reservoirs. 

Many of the birds are experts at sheltering in winter and surviving on what plants leave behind. Especially Robins who mass around berries and in shelter of bushes.

The snow reveals the extent of animal life around us in Winter. Their comings and goings. Where do deer head off for shelter in the storm? 

We can see their highways: coyote following deer following rabbit.  I am wishing our pilgrim neighbor finds his place of shelter throughout the winter storms.

So many reasons, once again, to be grateful for snow. 

What are you grateful for today?