Old trees are awe inspiring links to the past that fire our imagination. What are their stories? Seasoned arborist and amateur historian Doug Still interviews local experts, historians, and regular folks to celebrate the myths and uncover the real tales. If you're a tree lover, join in to look "beyond the plaque" at heritage trees and the human stories behind them. Monthly.
The This Old Tree podcast is an absolute gem for anyone who has a love and appreciation for trees, history, and storytelling. Hosted by Doug Still, a tree care professional with extensive experience in the field, this podcast delves into the fascinating world of ancient and historical trees, exploring their significance and the stories behind them.
One of the best aspects of The This Old Tree podcast is Doug Still's warm and inviting voice. Listening to him speak is like being wrapped in a cozy blanket on a chilly evening. His soothing voice adds an extra layer of charm to the stories he tells and keeps listeners engaged throughout each episode.
Another highlight of this podcast is the wealth of information it provides. Each episode not only explores the history and significance of a particular tree but also branches out to include topics like art, literature, music, and even general historical context. Listeners are treated to a rich tapestry of knowledge as they learn about various artists, authors, and historical figures associated with these remarkable trees.
Additionally, The This Old Tree podcast superbly blends history with horticulture. Doug Still's expertise in arboriculture and urban forestry shines through as he discusses the biology and care of old trees. This combination of historical context and horticultural insights creates a well-rounded listening experience that caters to both tree enthusiasts and those interested in cultural history.
In terms of drawbacks, one potential criticism could be that some episodes might feel overly focused on specific trees or regions. While this may limit the appeal to listeners who are not particularly drawn to certain areas or species of trees, it also allows for a deep dive into these particular subjects. Moreover, given the vast variety of topics covered in The This Old Tree podcast, it is likely that there will be episodes to captivate every listener at some point.
In conclusion, The This Old Tree podcast provides an enchanting journey through time and nature. Doug Still's passion for trees shines through in every episode, making it impossible not to fall in love with these majestic beings. Whether you are a tree lover, history buff, or simply interested in hearing captivating stories told with warmth and charm, this podcast is an absolute must-listen.
Have you seen those breathtaking aerial photos of a solitary ginkgo tree in a courtyard, its leaves creating a perfect golden carpet of fallen leaves? This isn't just any tree—it's a 1,400-year-old living witness to history, standing tall within the walls of China's Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple.While its stunning autumn transformation goes viral online each year, the story behind this magnificent being remains largely unknown to Western audiences. Why was this particular tree planted at this particular temple? Could it really have been placed there by Emperor Taizong himself, one of China's most celebrated rulers? Why are ginkgo trees so special?Join us as we unravel the mysteries of this famous ginkgo tree and explore its remarkable connection to the golden age of the Tang Dynasty.GuestsProfessor Ruihong DiNorthwest UniversityXi'an, Shaanxi Province, ChinaPeter Del TrediciUrban Ecologist and BotanistArnold Arboretum of Harvard UniversityBoston, MAwww.peterdeltredici.comWild Urban Plants of the Northeast: A Field GuideReaderWiley WangMachine Intelligence EngineerPalm Springs, CA"Traditional Folk Tale of Gu Guanyin Temple" edited by Doug StillVoiceover Reading for Ruihong DiMartha Douglas-OsmundsonLinkedIn ProfileMusic"Farewell at the Yangguan Pass," traditional, Tang DynastyXiao-zhong Wu soloistPeople's Association Chinese Orchestra1992 Yellow RiverOther ReferencesThe Ruler's Guide: China's Greatest Emperor and His Timeless Secrets of Success, Chinghua Tang, Scribner, 2017.Ginkgo: The Tree That Time Forgot, Peter Crane, Yale University Press, 2013.Photo CreditFlyOverChina, Xinhua News AgencyTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
Welcome to the fourth edition of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, where guests get to tell their own tree stories! Salacious pepper trees, historic oaks, a tree named after a Marvel character, a beech tree's farewell at a college reunion, big tree hunters, an old growth tulip poplar in Queens, a neighborhood ash tree in Amsterdam, and the largest tree at Kew Gardens - this episode has it all. Listen to what people have to say about the trees that inspire them.GuestsStephanie CarrieScreenwriter, Sketch Writer, ComedianLos Angeles, CATrees of LA @treesofla (Instagram)https://www.stephaniecarrie.me/Denise LewisMasters Student, Urban ForestryUMASS AmherstAmherst, MADevi LakhiaStudent, The Learning CenterGoa, IndiaFred BregliaExecutive Director, The Landis ArboretumAncient Forests and Champion Trees (Facebook)Big Tree Hunters (Instagram)Ellen CliggottFreelance Content Marketing Writer and EditorLinkedIn ProfileBarnstable, MAMagali DuzantArtist and WriterWebsiteA Tree Grows in QueensNadina GalleEcological Engineer, Technologist, Writer, SpeakerWebsiteThe Nature of Our CitiesThe Netherlands and CanadaMark JohnstonArborist, Urban Forester, Consultant, Professor, AuthorWebsitePlanting Ideas in the Urban Forest: Autobiography of a Tree ExpertBelfast, Northern Ireland, UKTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
Meet Kabirvad, a 500 yr-old, 4 acre banyan tree in the heart of Gujarat, India. The spectacular tree is a national treasure associated with Saint Kabir, a 15th century mystic poet known for his timeless poetry. He challenged institutions, religions and social convention. Who was he, and how is his legend tied to a banyan tree? Journey to India to learn about Kabirvad. In understanding the tree, you may find the essence of Kabir himself.GuestsProf. Srinivas ReddyGuest Professor, Humanities Indian Institute of TechnologyGandhinagar, IndiaAuthor, Illuminating Worlds: An Anthology of Classical Indian LiteratureSankalpanaDr. Linda HessProfessor Emerita, Stanford UniversityLinda-Hess.comBodies of Song: Kabir Oral Traditions and Performative Worlds in North IndiaRonak KevadiyaRange Forest OfficerForest and Environment Office, Govt. of GujaratBharuch, IndiaDr. Vikrant JainProfessor, Earth SciencesIndian Institute of TechnologyGandhinagar, IndiaShort Kabir InterviewsAbhia LakhiaJayraj BhattAnuja BhattDr. Sudhanshu SharmaKabeer JesusaKabir Poems ReaderGairik SachdevaCambridge, MALineages of Innovations (Substack)Kabir poems translated and provided by Linda HessMusicRaga Ahiri, performed by Srinivas Reddy (sitar), Rajiv Bhatt (tabla) and Sameer Sahasrabuddhe (tabla)Other ReferencesBurn Down Your House: Provocations from Kabir, Shabnam VirmaniGods, Wasps and Stranglers: The Secret History and Redemptive Future of Fig Trees, Michael ShanahanSpecial thanksOsco Pharmacy, for providing all of the vaccinations I needed for my trip!Theme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
Did you know the British are mad about mulberries? A 415 yr-old black mulberry tree stands at Charlton House & Gardens, the oldest specimen in London and highly beloved. Its story involves King James I and a courtier named Sir Adam Newton, the tutor to the King's eldest son Henry. It also involves a government decree gone awry.GuestsPeter ColesAuthor, MulberryMorus LondiniumDr. Stella ButlerTrustee, Royal Greenwich Heritage TrustChair, Charlton & Blackheath Amateur Horticultural SocietyJason SylvanHead Gardener, Charlton & Blackheath Amateur Horticultural SocietyKathy AitkenVolunteer, Charlton & Blackheath Amateur Horticultural SocietyMusic performed by the RenaissonicsTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
John Bartram was a Quaker farmer near Philadelphia in the mid 18th century. So how did he become North America's first great botanist? And how did he and his son William find themselves in the wilds of southeastern Georgia, fighting off rain, hunger and mosquitos, in order to find the rare and beautiful Franklin Tree (Franklinia alatamaha)? Come hear the story about why this tree at Bartram's Garden symbolizes the spirit of science and discovery. GuestTom ReberDirector of Landscape and FacilitiesBartram's GardenPhiladelphia, PAReadersNigel HolmesMike SavardMike SweneyJosh AbramsHarpsichord Music performed by Miyuke Tsurutani"The Saint Catherine," John Barrett"Saraband," John Barrett"Hornpipe," Henry Purcell"Ground," John BlowReferences"The Life and Travels of John Bartram: From Lake Ontario to the River St. John," by Edmund Berkeley and Dorothy Smith Berkeley. University Presses of Florida, 1982."Franklinia alatamaha, A History of That 'Very Curious' Shrub," by Joel Fry. Bartram's Broadside, Winter 2000. Theme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
Legend has it that Col. William H. Jackson of Athens, Georgia loved his old white oak tree very much. So much, that he created a deed for the tree and the land immediately surrounding it, giving ownership unto itself. Could it be possible? Who owns a tree? The answers aren't always as simple as they may appear. GuestsMateo FennellCommunity Forestry CoordinatorAthens-Clarke County Unified GovernmentAthens, GAhttps://www.accgov.com/274/Community-ForestryJames KomenConsulting Arborist and Tree Law ExpertLos Angeles, CAhttps://www.jameskomen.com/Pat McAlexanderRetired Professor and Neighbor of The Tree That Owns ItselfUniversity of GeorgiaAthens, GAMusic"It's Fund Being a Cat," Ziv GrinbergTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
A large old mulberry tree at Truro Vineyards on Cape Cod comes with a legend. A sea captain brought it back from the South Pacific and planted it for his young wife. Or his girlfriend. Or someone named Amelia. Is this story true? Who was the captain, and what became of him? Come along to open dusty books, unfurl old maps, and decide what you think. GuestsKristen RobertsOwner Truro VineyardsTruro, MAKen MacPheeArborist RepresentativeBartlett Tree ExpertsOrleans, MAJanice PelosiManagerTruro Historical SocietyTruro, MANorman PopeVolunteerTruro Historical SocietyTruro, MAPeter ColesAuthor of MulberryMorus londinium London, UKConsulting EditorDavid Still IIRecorder Music David Bor and Kimberly Wass"The Wellerman""Sleep Soond I da Mornin'""Leave Her Johnny"Other MusicThe Hill Top Trio"Spanish Ladies"Theme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
This is the third edition of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, where guests get to contribute and tell their own tree stories! Charles Darwin, bride and groom trees, a massive American elm in Illinois, Al Capone, original tree-inspired music, a tree used for meetings at an army base, a moving story from war-torn Ukraine - this episode has it all! Listen in to hear what people have to say about the trees that inspire them.GuestsRob McBrideThe Tree HunterGeorgia BarnhillAmherst Historical SocietyAmherst, MAJoe HansenThe Municipal Arborist PodcastIllinoisGrayson Bo GuthrieBaltimore Tree KeeperBaltimore, MDKamala SankaramComposer and SingerLawarren PattersonRetired Army Major GeneralHouston, TXOlena KozakUkrainian Ecological Club - Green WaveTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
The Fabrykant Oak, translated as the "Factory Owner's Oak," received 45,000 votes to become Europe's Tree of the Year. Located in Łódź, it captures the hearts of people in its home country of Poland and around the world. Full of personality and stunningly beautiful, the story of this Quercus robur strikes deep into the city's culture and history. How does an old tree overcome the past to become a symbol of rebirth and a brighter future? GuestsAdam GolubProject Manager and Brussels RepresentativeEuropean Tree of the YearEnvironmental Partnership Association treeoftheyear.orgBrussels, BelgiumPrzemek BartosEcologist and BloggerPrzyroda dla SosnowcaThe Oak Fabrykant - VideoSosnowiec, PolandJacek BoźekDirector, Klub GajaEcological and Cultural Associationklubgaja.plWilkowice, PolandAnna WierzbickaDirector of Environmental Management DivisionCity of ŁódźPolandGreen Bond FrameworkMaria Duszynska McCauleyCenterville, MA, USAConsulting EditorDavid Still IIMusicFrédéric Chopin - to be updatedPhoto CreditJakub KubkaTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
A 300 yr-old Live Oak tree on the campus of Hampton University in Virginia stuns visitors with its strength and beauty. It's also an enduring symbol of a watershed moment in American history - the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War, which freed enslaved people in the rebel states. How could a tree play a role in that momentous event, at least locally? What did emancipation truly mean to African-Americans in 1863? How does the tree still inspire the hearts and imagination of people today?GuestsAbra LeeGarden Historian, Writer, Lecturerconquerthesoil.comDirector of Horticulture, Oakland CemeteryAtlanta, GAProf. Robert WatsonAssistant Professor of HistoryHampton UniversityHampton, VATim NuckolsOwner, Nuckols Tree CareVirginia Beach, VAConsulting EditorJosh AbramsMusic"Steal Away" - Wallace WillisArranged by Roland CarterSung by the Winston-Salem State University ChoirPhoto CreditHampton UniversityTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
A stunning copper beech tree in Ireland's County Galway attracts tourists from around the world. Lady Gregory was its owner, and she drew legendary writers of her day to her house and garden at Coole Park - William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, and others. If they were lucky, they were allowed to etch their names into the bark of what's now known as the Autograph Tree. Learn the full story steeped in Irish literary history.GuestsJenni McGuireHead Guide, Coole Park Nature ReserveGort, County Galway, IrelandMargaux PierrelConservation Ranger, Coole Park Nature ReserveGort, County Galway, IrelandDr. James PethicaSenior Lecturer in English and Theatre, Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MA, USADr. Anna PilzIndependent ResearcherAcademic Developer & Trainer, University of EdinburghEdinburgh, ScotlandConsulting EditorDavid Still, IIMusic"Cailleach An Airgid" - traditionalArranged by Katharina BakerPerformed by Sonic Strings from Coole Music & Arts in Gort, County GalwaySoloist - Lilian OwensSee Sonic Strings performing the piece on Inis Mór on YouTube hereTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
This season 1 recap features thematic highlights from the first 18 episodes, Doug's favorite songs about trees, and an interview with Dee Lee, arborist and songwriter!Featured Songs and ArtistsRedwood Tree, Van Morrison Saint Dominick's Preview, 1972Warner Bros, Inc.English Trees, Crowded HouseTime on Earth, 2007Parlophone & ATO RecordsTrees, Louis Armstrong & George Jenkins and His Orchestra(Lyrics from Trees by Joyce Kilmer) 1954Big Yellow Taxi, Joni MitchellLadies of the Canyon, 1970Reprise Records, Crazy Crow MusicKing of Trees, Yusuf/Cat StevensBuddha and the Chocolate Box, 1974A&M Records, Firecat Music Ld.Boys in the Trees, Carly SimonBoys in the Trees, 1978Elektra Records; C'est Music; Universal Music Corp.Mango Tree (Feat. Sara Bareilles), Zac Brown BandJekyll + Hyde, 2015Writers: Zac Brown, Anna Elizabeth Harwood, and Niko MoonBig Machine Records; Republic; BettimusicIt's the Roots, Dee LeeThis Old Tree, Dee LeeDeeLeeTree.comConsulting EditorDavid Still IITheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
The Founders' Oak in New Braunfels is a "Famous Tree of Texas." The 300 yr-old live oak has given shelter to a Spanish Mission, a German Prince who brought thousands of settlers, old Texas families that date back to the Alamo, and the Comanche Nation. Its cultural history is rich, and includes a new designation as a "Comanche Marker Tree." What is it about this tree's history that mirrors the founding of Texas itself?Co-HostEmily KingUrban Forester, Community Tree Preservation DivisionCity of Austin, TXAustin's Community Tree ReportAustin's Tree CanopyGuestsTim BarkerPresident, Friends for the Preservation of Historic Landa ParkNew Braunfels, TXKelly EbyUrban Forester, Community Forestry ProgramCity of San Marcos, TXSteve HouserOwner and President, Arborilogical ServicesChairperson, Indian Marker Tree CommitteeTexas Historic Tree CoalitionWylie, TXJimmy ArterberryCultural Resource/Environmental ConsultantFormer Tribal Administrator, Comanche NationMedicine Park, OKBooksNew Braunfels Historic Landa Park: Its Springs and Its PeopleFamous Trees of TexasComanche Marker Trees of TexasFeatured songs by Jimmy Irby(Published by ...And More Bears, Vollersode, Germany)One Cup of Coffee and a CigaretteDon't Count Your ChickensI'm So DisgustedI've Got the Blues for TexasConsulting EditorDavid Still IICover PhotoSteve HouserTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
The Brontë Oak is a massive white oak tree in Oakville, Ontario that has been threatened by every type of construction project imaginable. Logging, overhead power lines, a regional water conduit, highway expansion, you name it. But in the face of multi-billion dollar corporations, it still stands thanks to the collective efforts of a persuasive neighbor, two savvy arborists, an 87 yr-old schoolteacher, a tuned-in Town Councilor, and a favorite Canadian folk rock singer. GuestsJohn McNeilConsulting Urban ForesterMcNeil Urban Forestry, Inc.Burlington , OntarioLinkedInPete WilliamsConsulting ForesterWilliams & Associates Forestry ConsultingRockwood, Ontariohttp://forestar.ca/Allan ElgarRegional and Town CouncilorOakville, Ontariohttps://www.oakville.ca/town-hall/mayor-council-administration/mayor-council/councillor-allan-elgar/Sarah HarmerSinger/Songwriterhttps://sarahharmer.com/Featured songs by Sarah HarmerPendulumsTetherSqueaking VoicesThe RingConsulting EditorDavid Still IIAudio EditorMarta Abrams Cover artworkBetty Goodfellow, artistCollection of Sarah HarmerTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
In 1946, 153 "Moses Cleaveland Trees" were chosen as landmark trees to represent the City of Cleveland's 150-yr anniversary. Not only did they harken back to the pre-settlement forest - they were in fact part of it. The existence of each one became hazy over time, until a group organized by the City and the Early Settlers Association set out to find them again. Do they still survive? GuestsDr. Roy LarickRetired ArchaeologistOwner of Bluestone ConservationVice Chair of the Euclid Shade Tree CommissionMember of the Early Settlers Association of the Western Reserve https://www.earlysettlers.org/Margeaux AppleCollections CoordinatorCambridge University Botanic Gardenhttps://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Dr. Michael MelampyProfessor EmeritusBaldwin Wallace Universityhttps://www.bw.edu/Consulting EditorDavid Still IITheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
The stately "Imperial Pine" is the only bonsai ever to leave the Japanese Emperor's collection, and it resides at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC. Listen to the behind-the-scenes story about how it got there during a key moment in diplomatic history between Japan and the United States.GuestsKathleen Emerson-DellCurator of ExhibitionsNational Bonsai & Penjing MuseumU.S. National Arboretumwww.usna.usda.govMichael JamesCuratorNational Bonsai & Penjing MuseumU.S. National Arboretumwww.usna.usda.govConsulting EditorDavid Still IITheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
Meet the charming old katsura tree in Beatrix Farrand's famous garden at Dumbarton Oaks. It might be the oldest katsura in North America, or maybe not, but its origins relate to the burgeoning interest in Japanese trees and plants in the second half of the 19th century when Japan opened up to the world. Listen in, as the tree receives some traditional care from Japanese Master Gardener Kurato Fujimoto.GuestsRon HendersonFounding PrincipalLirio Landscape ArchitectureProfessor of Landscape Architecture + UrbanismIllinois Institute of TechnologyKurato FujimotoMaster GardenerKenroku-en GardenJohann (Hans) FriedlMasters Student of Landscape Architecture and UrbanismIllinois Institute of Technologywww.linkedin.com/in/johann-friedlJonathan KavalierDirector of Gardens and GroundsDumbarton OaksAbner AldarondoHumanities FellowDumbarton OaksConsulting EditorDavid Still IITheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
This is the second edition of Tree Story Shorts on This Old Tree, where listeners get to contribute and tell their own tree stories! From New York to California to China and Nepal, listen to what people have to say about the trees that inspire them. GuestsGil ReavillAuthor, screenwriter, journalisten.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_ReavillJames VoorhiesRetired grounds manager and entomologistPaul Smith College '72Georgia Silvera SeamansFounder, Local Nature LabHost, Your Bird Story podcastChi Ngai ChanStaff Scientist, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical Schoollinkedin.com/in/chingaichan/Fran Hutton LeeRetired GIS specialist and cartographerlinkedin.com/in/fran-v-hutton-lee-4184a125/Brandon NammTree Inspector, City of Portland, ORPrincipal Consultant, Laurelin Tree Consultinglaurelinconsulting.comEva MonheimSpeaker, consultant, garden coach, designer, writer, photographerCo-host of The Plant a Trillion Trees Podcastevamonheim.comLeena ChapagainBotanist and gardenerDumbarton OaksSteven KoehnDirector of Cooperative ForestryU.S. Forest Service, Dept. of Agriculturewww.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/state-private-forestry/coop-forestryTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
Sherwood Forest in the County of Nottinghamshire lays claim to a world famous tree, The Major Oak. It may well have harbored Robin Hood and his merry men, or perhaps people like them. Admirers from all over the world visit the beloved English oak, drawn by the legend. Two guests from the Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve help describe why the tree is so special. One is Paul Cook, the Warden tasked with maintaining the woodland and the landscape. The other is the Sheriff of Nottingham, or, that is, Richard Townsley, a tour guide and local authority on Robin Hood. There's an aura around this tree thanks to the legend, but the allure and lasting popularity of England's arboreal icon has become about so much more. GuestsPaul CookWardenSherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, RSPBRichard TownsleyTour Guide - Sheriff of NottinghamSherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, RSPBConsulting EditorDavid Still, IIReader Nigel Holmesnigelholmes.com(excerpts from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle, edited by Jonathan Kelley, The Townsend Press, Inc.)Recorder MusiciansDavid BorKim WassRecorder Music"Light of love," Anonymous"When that I was and a little tiny boy," anonymous Shakespearean stage tune"When lo, by break of morning," Thomas Morley, 1595"It was a lover and his lass," Thomas Morley, 1600"Tres douce dame que j'aour," Guillaume de Machaut, 14th c."We Be Soldiers Three," Thomas Ravenscroft, 1609Special thanks to:Rob James, Sherwood ForestPhoto creditSherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, RSPBTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
There's a huge, spreading, 350 yr old plus white oak in McMinnville, Tennessee with a legend. It was known to the early pioneers, and it's now a state landmark tree. Listen to its story told by Warren County Historian Jimmy Haley, and former state urban forester Tom Simpson. Come along and discover the Birthing Tree through the eyes of a real pioneer family.GuestsJimmy HaleyHistorianWarren County, TNTom Simpsonformer East Tennessee Regional Urban Forester Department of Agriculture, Division of ForestryConsulting EditorDavid Still, IISpecial thanks to:Gene HydeCheryl Watson MingleElizabeth BentonDana Phillips SorrentinoKasey Krouse Josh AbramsMichelle SuttonPhoto creditNick KuhnTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
Gilgamesh, the Sumerian king of Uruk, threatens to cut down the sacred Cedar Forest and claim its wood for his people. First, he must kill the terrifying guardian of the forest, Humbaba. Can he do it? What will the gods think, and what will it mean for humanity? The story's message is central to John Perlin's republished book, A Forest Journey: The Role of Trees in the Fate of Civilization. Forests, and the wood they provide, have been crucial to human society since the beginning of recorded time, and now the fight against climate change. But what does history tell us about how we treat them? GuestJohn PerlinHistorian, author of A Forest Journey: The Role of Trees in the Fate of CivilizationPatagonia Booksjohn-perlin.comVoice DramatizationMartha Douglas-OsmundsonLinkedInConsulting EditorDavid Still, IISpecial Thanks to:My father, David Still, for his advice and interpretation of The Epic of GilgameshAll readings from the Epic of Gilgamesh translated by Andrew George.Theme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
King James II of England threatened to revoke the precious Charter of Connecticut in 1687, and sent one of his men to retrieve it. That meant an end to the colony's limited democracy and independence. But before it was exchanged during a key meeting, a hero slipped out of the room with it under his arm and hid it within the cavity of an old oak tree. That tree - the Charter Oak - is now a state icon. Get the full story here!Guest Co-Host and ResearcherJean ZimmermanArborist and authorjeanzimmerman.com"In the Hidden History of Connecticut's Charter Oak" (blog)GuestsRobert StormHonorary Governor General of the Society of Colonial Wars, ConnecticutSociety of Colonial Wars in ConnecticutJack HaleChair, Hartford Tree Advisory CommissionChristopher MartinConnecticut State ForesterCT State Forestry - Dept. of Energy and Environmental ProtectionAllan FennerConsulting ArboristRobb Barnard (Voice of Mark Twain)Head of Performing ArtsLincoln School, Providence, RIlincolnschool.orgConsulting EditorDavid Still, IITheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
Picture yourself in Harlem in New York City, and it's the 1920's. There's a cultural awakening going on - there's jazz and dance, theater and literature, big celebrities and lots of new talent looking for a break. And of course - because this is a show about trees - there's a tree that becomes a symbol of the Harlem Renaissance. It's the Tree of Hope, and it was a good luck charm to black performers looking to make the big time. Garden historian and storyteller Abra Lee tells the story of this particular tree's rise to fame, its demise, and its enduring legacy.GuestAbra LeeGarden Historian, Horticulturist, ArboristAuthor of the forthcoming book, Conquer the Soil: Black America and the Untold Story of Our Country's Gardeners, Farmers, and Growers (2025)conquerthesoil.comConsulting EditorDavid Still, IITheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
This a special episode of This Old Tree, the show that features heritage trees and the human stories behind them. This time, listeners tell their own tree stories! From Vermont to California to Hawaii, listen to what people have to say about the trees that inspire them. GuestsTom MorraArborist and Owner, TF Morra Tree Caretfmorra.comKatie BreukersArborist and Host of Tangled Trees podcastStudent at University of New Brunswickanchor.fm/tangledtreesJean ZimmermanAuthor of numerous books of fiction and nonfiction, articles, and a blogCertified arborist, currently consults with New York City on tree preservation jeanzimmerman.comAndy HillmanRetired Urban ForesterCity of Ithaca, NY and Davey Resource GroupThomas SpadeaPark Ranger and Host of My Favorite Trees podcastmftpodcast.comBear LevangieArborist and Co-Founder of Women's Tree Climbing Workshopwomenstreeclimbingworkshop.comWalt WarrinerConsulting Arboristwwca.zenfolio.comwarrinerassociates.comMike MainoRadio Show Host - WCRI, Barbershop Singer, Entertainerhttps://classical959.com/about/mike-mainoTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
Luna is a 200 ft tall redwood tree that towers on a ridge deep within a privately owned forest in northern California. You may remember Julia Butterfly Hill's remarkable 2-year "tree sit" in the 1990's that helped save the tree and shed light on the indiscriminate clearcutting of redwood forests. But after an agreement was reached to save the redwood and the national news media left, another crisis arose that threatened Luna's existence, introduced new heroes, and ushered in a new era of collaboration.GuestsStuart MoskowitzBoard Member and lead "Luna Covenant" monitor, Sanctuary Forestsanctuaryforest.orgDennis YniguezRegistered Consulting Arborist (ASCA), and a Board Certified Master Arborist (ISA). He received B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and his J.D. degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.treedecisions.comTree Story ShortCarol KingsburyBooks About Luna and Redwood TreesCook, Diane, and Len Jenshel. Wise Trees. Abrams Books. New York. 2017.Davis, Erik. The Visionary State: A Journey Through California's Spiritual Landscape. Chronicle Books. San Francisco. 2007.Harris, David. The Last Stand: The War Between Wall Street and Main Street Over California's Ancient Redwoods. Sierra Club Books. San Francisco. 1996.Hill, Julia Butterfly. One Makes The Difference. Harper Collins. San Francisco. 2002Hill, Julia Butterfly. The Legacy of Luna. Harper Collins. San Francisco. 2000Hill, Niklas. Julia räddar skogen. Trinambai. Stockholm. 2017.Kostecki-Shaw, Jenny Sue. Luna and Me. Holt. New York. 2015. Lyon, George Ella. Voices of Justice: Poems about People Working for a Better World. Holt. New York. 2020.Podcast ConsultantRobb BarnardSpecial thanks toScott Parsons, for suggesting this episode and introducing me to StuartTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
A big, old, thorny honeylocust tree on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago has a place within the history of modernist architecture and landscape design. How so? Professor and landscape architect Ron Henderson talks about the tree's relationship to Mies van der Rohe and his colleague Alfred Caldwell, and how the honeylocust became the feathery urban forest powerhouse it is today. GuestsRon HendersonProfessor and Director of Landscape Architecture, Illinois Institute of TechnologyFounding Principal, LIRIO Landscape Architecturelirio.workhttps://arch.iit.edu/study/mla/Richard PolanskyOwner, Hafs Road OrchardGenoa City, Wisconsinhafsroadorchard.comTree Story ShortTom BrennanPodcast ConsultantMartha Douglas-OsmundsonTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
The Survivor Tree is a well known tree planted at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City that was rescued from the rubble at the World Trade Center site after the terrorist attacks. It has become a stirring symbol of resilience and survival visited by millions of people.But few people remember there were six other trees rescued from the site and transplanted in early October of 2001. Host Doug Still was part of the City Parks Department team that found them along with his former boss Bram Gunther. Doug and Bram recount the day they visited Ground Zero, describe how these remarkable trees were saved, and discover what's become of them. GuestBram GuntherNative New Yorker; former Chief of Forestry, Horticulture, and Natural Resources for New York City Parks; co-founding partner of Dirt Collective, a start-up focused on re-wilding.linkedin.com/in/bram-gunther-b8346522bPodcast ConsultantMartha Douglas-OsmundsonTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
Concord, Massachusetts, 1856. Four men cut down a huge, seemingly healthy American elm tree using block and tackle, and ropes drawn by a horse. The graceful tree towered above a house whose owners heard creaking during a storm - they felt unsafe and had it removed. The event would have been long forgotten, except one of America's greatest writers and earliest environmentalists also lived in Concord - Henry David Thoreau. Supremely ticked-off, the removal of the stately elm inspired a flurry of journal writing by Thoreau that defined elms as symbols of virtue that looked to Concord's past and the country's future. Guest Thomas Campanella, Professor at Cornell University and author of Republic of Shade: New England and the American Elm, shares his work. It turns out, elm trees helped define our young nation's sense of itself.GuestThomas J. CampanellaProfessor of City and Regional PlanningCornell UniversityRepublic of Shade: New England and the American Elm, Yale University Press, 2003.Henry David Thoreau and the Yankee Elm, Arnoldia, 2001.Other Sources:Thoreau and the Language of Trees, Richard Higgins, Univ of California Press, 2017.Podcast ConsultantMartha Douglas-OsmundsonTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
Why did Thomas Edison plant a banyan tree sapling at his winter residence in 1926? You guessed it, there was an experiment involved. Native to India, it is now a massive, beloved tree at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Florida. While this isn't an “escape from the lab” story, it is sort of a “took over the lab” story! Debbie Hughes, the Horticultural Director, explains what happened. Also, we dig into the mythology of fig trees - specifically “strangler” figs - and their critical ecological and cultural importance with rainforest ecologist and author Mike Shanahan.GuestsDebbie HughesHorticultural Director, Edison & Ford Winter Estateshttps://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/Mike ShanahanAuthor, Gods, Wasps, and Stranglers: The Secret History and Redemptive Future of Fig Treeshttps://underthebanyan.blog/about/Tree Story ShortSashil SachdevaVadodara, IndiaPodcast ConsultantMartha Douglas-OsmundsonTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
The Betsey Williams Sycamore is the most famous tree in Rhode Island. Its huge girth and spreading branches have been photographed, climbed on, and loved by generations of visitors to historic Roger Williams Park in Providence. But its history touches on the legacy of Roger Williams, Rhode Island's founder; introduces overlooked characters, some noble and some "shady," including a forgotten tree; and features a Williams family crisis (and divorce trial) that threatened the tree and future park.GuestsRenee GambaDirector of the Museum of Natural HistoryParks Dept., City of Providencehttp://providenceri.gov/museum/ http://https://www.providenceri.gov/parks-recreation/Ruth MacaulayHistory Dept., Lincoln School http://lincolnschool.orgSpecial thanks toAndrew Smith, The Rhode Island Supreme Court Judicial Record Center, http://https://www.courts.ri.gov/JudicialRecordsCenter/Pages/default.aspxRebecca Valentine, The Rhode Island Historical Society, http://rihs.orgReaders in order of appearance Ed Nardell, Martha Douglas-Osmundson, Andy Sabo, Margaret Sabo, Laura Maxwell, Robb BarnardPodcast ConsultantMartha Douglas-OsmundsonTheme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org
Join host Doug Still - each show features heritage trees and the human stories behind them. Old trees are awe inspiring links to the past that fire our historical imagination. Each week, he'll interview experts, historians, and regular folks to celebrate the myths and uncover the real tales. There's also a segment called “Tree Story Shorts,” where listeners get a chance to submit and chat about the most meaningful tree in their lives. Theme MusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeWebsitethisoldtree.showTranscripts available.Follow onFacebook or Instagram We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~3 or 4 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone's voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org