Matt Neer: Wide Angle Views of Climate Change
Arguably the most pressing issue we face today as a society is climate change. OK, actually it is the the most pressing issue, no argument needed. But before we go
Ben Scott: Grazing on the Middle Ground
The clouds shade us as we cross the fence. The swing gate sways in the wind, the mass of wood and jumbled barbed wire is a strange sight in the
Katy Hopkins: Quicksand and Other Things that Exist
As a kid, I thought a lot about quicksand. After watching The Princess Bride, I assumed it would be an inevitable problem I would have to address in adulthood. Before
Ella Norris: The Nurture in Nature
“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” -Khalil Gibran The intrinsic value of nature is hard to
Aly Kellogg: Why Natural History is Relevant!
It can seem to the untrained observer that natural history isn’t very relevant in society today. What can a sophisticated urbanite learn from a bunch of plants anyway? Let me
Natalie Stockman: Shadows and Leaves
I picked up a branch of leaves and observed the shifting shadows as it spun between my fingers. There I sat, starring at an unassuming desert plant. My three-hour plant study
Katie Revels: In an Outlaw’s Footsteps
What do you think of when you hear about the Wild West? Tumbleweeds, outlaws and cattle rustling? Well, this lore is true on the Colorado Plateau in Utah. Here, those
Rosie Smith: A Sense of Place
Perched on a cliff, overlooking the Missouri River and surrounding plains, I was confronted by the expansiveness of this place. The vast open space was overwhelming and made me
Ariana Matthews-Salzman: A Matter of Perspective
“Land is many things to many people,” writes Richard Manning in his book, Rewilding the West. What land means to one individual is a matter of perspective. It is
Danielle Norris: Grass Growers
A lot goes into our perception of the West, and a conversation with two Montana grass growers can help clarify what actually shapes the landscape. Our WRFI group was lucky