educators
 		    
    Study Questions for Ora Anderson: The Soul of the Woods
 		    
   

The questions below have been written by Geoffrey L. Buckley, Department of Geography, Ohio University.

  1. What human activities contributed most to the deforestation of southeastern Ohio starting 150 years ago?     

  2. What factors have contributed most to the reforestation of southeastern Ohio?

  3. What role has the federal government played in restoring the forests of southeastern Ohio?

  4. An important theme that emerges in both the film and booklet is change. A key point that Anderson drives home is that nature is constantly changing in response to both physical and human forces. What evidence does Ora Anderson “discover” on his property that indicates past human occupation and activity?

  5. Despite decades of agricultural clearing and commercial logging, what accounts for the survival, here and there, of extremely old “veteran” trees in southeastern Ohio.                                                                                      

  6. Imagine taking a walk across Ora’s farm. What animals might you encounter? What evidence might point to the presence of other forms of wildlife?

  7. Although agricultural clearing resulted in tremendous timber loss, Anderson seems to lament the loss of farms in southeastern Ohio. How does the loss of farms negatively affect the local community?

  8. On pages 35-36 of the booklet, Anderson writes that “this corner of the state” possesses “more forested land today than at any time in well over a century.” He goes on to say that he is “fairly certain” that his great-grandchildren will “find, measure, and stand in awe of more massive old trees than my aged friends and I could ever imagine.” In your opinion, what will it take to ensure that southeastern Ohio’s forests continue to recover and flourish?

  9. What is a land ethic? Based on your viewing/reading of The Soul of the Woods how would you describe Ora Anderson’s land ethic?

  10. Over the course of a lifetime, Ora Anderson developed an intimate knowledge of the natural world around him. Think back to the place where you grew up. Scale does not matter – it could be a yard, a neighborhood, a suburban subdivision, a farm, or a city block. (Yes, even cities function as ecosystems!) Draw a mental map of this place. Include as many natural features as you can remember. Generate a list of familiar plants and animals. How has this place changed since your childhood? Compare your mental map and notes with the person next to you.

    
         
    Study Questions for A Forest Returns    
    The questions below have been written by Geoffrey L. Buckley, Department of Geography, Ohio University.
  1. Ora Anderson identifies the middle of the nineteenth century as the period when we began “wiping our hills of trees.” What activities contributed most to the deforestation of southeastern Ohio? How did this deforestation affect the region’s wildlife? How did it affect the soil? What sorts of pressures does forested land – both public and private – face today?
     
  2. Although coal mining has declined sharply over the last several decades, Anderson reminds us that evidence of past mining activities is everywhere to be found. Referring to the coal industry he states: “Once it’s gone it leaves a scar; it leaves every kind of a scar.” Today, scientists refer to these scars as “legacy effects.” What are the legacy effects of past coal mining operations in southeastern Ohio?
     
  3.  Fifty years from now, people will be dealing with the legacy effects of our current land-use practices. What sort of a legacy do you think we are passing on to future generations?
     
  4. Why did the federal government create the Civilian Conservation Corps? What sort of “environmental” work did the young men employed by the CCC carry out? When it came to reforestation, what was the key management practice that permitted such rapid re-growth?
     
  5. While Anderson marvels at the ability of the forest to return, we must recognize that the forest that exists today differs markedly from the forest that the first settlers encountered. Do a little research on your own. What is different about today’s forest?
     
  6. What do you suppose southeastern Ohio would look like today if the Wayne National Forest had never been created?
    
         
    A Forest Returns: A Subject-Specific Guide for Teachers    
   

A Forest Returns is a documentary that can be useful across disciplines listed below. Its narrator, Ora E. Anderson, was 93 years old when the documentary was filmed. He spent more then 30 years as a journalist, editor and lobbyist for dairy and banking trade associations before retiring in 1972. He spent much of his life writing about the reforestation of Southeast Ohio and for five decades he attended public meetings helping to reshape the ongoing management of the Wayne National Forest. Anderson serves as a witness to the changes that occurred in the region over the past 100 years. “We look out now and we see woods everywhere, everywhere!” Anderson says in A Forest Returns, “But back just 50 years ago, that wasn’t true, so I’m almost ecstatic about what has happened just on my watch, because I planted over 30 thousand trees and old mother nature planted 300,000 trees on my farm. Now I fight to keep open areas. That’s nature – and it’s hard for young people to realize this enormous change that has taken place in just 50 years.”

In A Forest Returns, Anderson touches on a variety of subjects, some of which include:

Reforestation – Anderson highlights government plans to purchase more than 1 million acres of land in Southeast Ohio from poverty-ridden farmers in an attempt to rebuild a forest destroyed by logging and farming. He highlights particular efforts by the government, and the “Three C Boys” (Civilian Conservation Corps) as well as the efforts of the local citizens to re-landscape the “old bare hills” over a 50-year time period.

The Wayne National Forest – The success story of Ohio’s only National Forest is told from a first-person perspective. Anderson explains the condition of the land before, during and after the reforestation efforts as well as the changes that occurred because of the efforts. According to Anderson, the government developed a relief program to create jobs and began purchasing land from area farmers with the intention of establishing the forest. The farmers were told that they could live in their houses free of cost and have a garden, but to “let the rest of the land be, allowing it to go back to nature.” The idea was that it would eventually return to tree-covered land, thus creating the Wayne National Forest.

The Great Depression – Anderson provides a personal account of what it was like to live in Appalachian Ohio during the Great Depression. He also discusses the government’s relief efforts to create jobs for citizens while also establishing a national forest in Ohio. He discusses the price of living and of land before and after the Great Depression, its effect on the creation of the Wayne National Forest and the evolution that the forest has had on the region.

New Deal Politics – Anderson touches on New Deal politics as he discusses governmental efforts to help poverty-stricken citizens find employment during the Great Depression. According to Anderson, “all these programs” – such as the Civilian Conservation Corps –began to appear, with the intention of creating jobs. One of the efforts of “New Deal politics” by the government was to start a national forest in Ohio – the Wayne National Forest – which Anderson effortlessly discusses, having taken a personal interest to it during his lifetime.

Ohio and Southeast Ohio history – Anderson discusses the evolution of the region’s land from cornfields and bare hills to the tree-covered Wayne National Forest. He highlights the changes that the forest caused in the region, as well the politics behind the changes.

Appalachian Studies – As a personal witness to the changes in Appalachia during the past 100 years, Anderson serves as a doorway into Appalachian history. He discusses the evolution of the region from farm fields and bare hills to the Wayne National Forest and the changes that took place because of the reforestation efforts. Anderson also discusses iron furnaces and coal mining in Southeast Ohio and the “scars” left on the region after a mining company leaves. He touches upon poverty in the Southeast Ohio region and governmental efforts during the Great Depression to increase jobs.

Environmental Studies – As a man who worked tirelessly to help with the management of the Wayne National Forest and as a witness of the reforestation process, Anderson gives a first-hand account of Appalachian environmental history. He addresses the uses, impacts and demise of coal mines and iron furnaces in the region and the natural resources used by coal mining companies to produce a profit. He also mentions the “scars” left on a region after the mining companies leave and the changes that occur in communities because of it. Anderson also details the success of the reforestation that became Ohio’s only national forest.

Oral Histories – The documentary is an oral history of Anderson and his life experiences and accomplishments. Creators Jean Andrews and Steve Fetsch carefully selected the material in a way that portrays the personality of Anderson while also telling his story accurately and eloquently.

Documentary and Independent Filmmaking – The documentary was created by Jean Andrews and independent filmmaker Steve Fetsch as a supplement to Andrews' graduate thesis in Environmental Studies. The production won multiple awards, including “Best Documentary” at the 2005 Appalachian Film Festival and “Best Non-Broadcast” at the Montana-CINE Environmental Film Festival. The video serves as an example of high-quality documentary filmmaking and the possibilities that come with creativity.