Site Discussions

Fascinating. Thank you.

The writer skillfully draws our attention to the complex ecosystem at work under the layers of winter snow. Understanding how soil stores or releases carbon is useful and essential, regardless of the percentage, especially if it is changing. I found it interesting. Thank you! P. Graham.

Typically, winter microbial activity leads to a surplus of just the right nutrients during the growing

“If these processes are slowed or altered, plants will take longer to put out fresh growth, dragging stick season into mud season and leading to increased uncertainty about when to plant crops.”  Well written article, and I’m glad for the study.  But, the study seems to be about winter snow and forest soil.  Can this be translated to meadows, agricultural fields?  Thanks!  Carol Kulp

Congratulations Jessica, on being named the PA DCNR Service Forester of the Year at the 2026 Bureau of Forestry Winter Meeting!  So Well Deserved!

This story misses an important point, which is that soil micro organisms contribute a significant amount of CO2 to the atmosphere through their respiratory processes.  An estimated one-fifth of atmospheric CO2 comes from soil organisms including microbes.  Warming trends which favor soil micro organism growth are projected to cause increases in CO2 emissions; that may be good for breaking down detritus for plant nutrients, but imposes a carbon load which is not so good.  Most CO2 from soil microbes comes from tropical regions, while temperate regions produce less than 10% - and probably have always been slowed down by winter, snow cover or not.  The author states that ‘microbes… draw down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and fix it in stable forms.’ which is partly true, of the ‘autotrophic’ microbes, but those contribute less that 1/2 of 1% of carbon stored in the soil - the majority of microbes are heterotrophs which respire using oxygen and releasing CO2.  Please correct me if I’m wrong.

Hello Ramona!
Hope you’re doing well.  I miss my roommate from Bacone College.

I have lived all but a about a half decade of 7 decades in the Upper Valley. My dad was an outdoorsman who shared his deep knowledge of all things like some of those explained so well and properly above. I learned it hearing words like “partridge, poplar, popple, curly birch, ironwood”. The sign (scat) of wild animals and the sign (seeds) of trees are wonderful to explore in winter. So glad there are people in my world still sharing this information and beauty. My dad would appreciate this as well.

I live in the foothills and my cat kills theses little rat type of animal but we are supposed to be rat free Alberta so someone told me theses critters could be pack rats ! I enjoyed your article.

I saw a hawk in my yard. They eat my rabbits and other animals. I threw a snowball at it. Scared and flew away.

Wonderful article, have seen this author on NEW HAMPSHIRE CHRONICLE. Love the books!

I enjoyed this article so much: a new-to-me ecosystem: The Subnivean Zone: temporary and mostly hidden, but fairly snug while it last.  GrowNative Masschusetts steered me here.  Thank you, Barbara Mackay.

Maine I own a 25 acre lot that I harvest firewood from. The area is surrounded by wetlands and my harvests are restricted. One thing I have noticed over the years is that the wet lands seem to be shrinking and are being gorged out deeper by heavy rain storms and then drought. The bogs don’t seem to have the wild life that they used to have.

I am not sure, but I think I may have a bat or bats living on my porch. My camera detects motion almost every night. The images are always fuzzy or grainy.  Even with freezing temperatures. I would like to know how to confirm if so or not. I have open areas I would like to close up, but if bats are living there, I do not want to harm then or close them in. Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Paul C

This is so cool! I love this!

Beautiful about the protection of long snow-cover (and sad about the lessening, though I am glad to know there is a detailed witness to the changes.)  I wish there were even a little more detail about the kinds of microbes at different layers and wetness levels of soil - the processes of decomposition with oxygen as well as with less (sounds like more of a stinky swamp effect, with ice and water in different form?) Thank you.

Day at a time for the trees!

I am glad and entertained to hear your story, Julie. Thank you for sharing your story.

An outstanding article.  I just refinished a cherry table but even with stain was shocked at how light in color it was.  I had always thought of cherry as darker.  I had to find out why and this article explains it wonderfully.  Thank you for the education.

I have a Polyphemus moth caterpillar that cocooned in a big box on my balcony this last fall. I saw a blue Jay TWICE land on my balcony near it and act as if he was looking for it and had smelled it. I have NEVER seen a blue Jay land on my balcony before or after this. I have had sparrows and robins on occasion .. but never a blue Jay. I’m pretty sure he smelled that caterpillar and was looking for a meal!

Hi Matt, I loved reading the story of your life.  I know that you were always interested in saving trees vs blatantly cutting them down.  I will always remember your son coming to the door of my apartment house and asking for permission to drive your equipment onto my property to remove a tree from my back door neighbor’s yard.  The next thing I saw was a Largess Tree Company crane in my driveway lifting the cut tree over my house, your crew cutting it into pieces and loading them onto one of your your trucks. I gave permission because of my trust for your judgment. Now i know why!