Chapter 13

People who live in Crescent City have a special opportunity to live a unique life of being so close to the wilderness, yet still be right by the ocean. The mountains to the east of Crescent City are filled with amazing wild life that loves to adventure down into the properties of the families living on the outskirts of the town. I grew up watch the deer eat the blueberries off the bushes in my backyard. It always upset me because I loved the blueberries and never wanted share with them. I remember nights being outside on the back porch sitting in the jacuzzi with my sisters and parents watching the bears cross the backyard. Going on hikes throughout the mountains gave opportunities to also see such wildlife. Elk were also a popular animal to see, although they were a little but further south, we would on occasion have the chance to see one stomping through.

(source: http://cloudwalker.wildriverproductions.com/wp-content/gallery/deer/crescent-city-elk-2.jpg)

Much like The Empty Interior disscussed in chapter 13 of our text, Crescent City and the area around it was "empty" not much outside trees and wild life. This said "emptiness" provides hours, days and weeks of entertainment though. From hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, and even rafting. There is never a dull moment living so close to such a gorgeous feature of our country.

Chapter 12

The great plains and prairies region of our vast country is typically described as plain and empty. It is greatly different then Crescent City just based upon its appearance. The great plains is prodonianly vast open land with many farms and open fields. Crescent City has more trees then anything, yes there is open "fields" but they would not be considered fields after someone comes from this region. The only farming that really goes on in the area is personal farming of some residents who chose to grow their own foods.

(source: http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRq-oY4sq1-MESvwc1hum7FGeDBoMmuWcKFasJCDxQHy4wtl4T6ww&t=1)

The weather on the other hand does have one similarity. Thunderstorms are all too common for Crescent City as discussed previously in my blog. Many of the residents enjoy the thunderstorms and often spend time watching the lightening and listening to the thunder roll. Sitting on the back porch in the rocking chair bundled under a blanket drinking hot chocolate while listening to the the rain and thunder and watching the sky light up is one of my fondest memories of living in Crescent City.

Unlike the great plains, Crescent City rarely ever receives snow, only once in my 9 years of living there and it last maybe an hour before melting. The winds pick up at times, but the redwoods block most of it if u are out side walking around. Along the beach the winds can be strong at times but nothing like the chinook.

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 talked about the agricultural core and I would like to take the time to talk about a family farm in Crescent City that provides to the local areas. Alexandre Family EcoDairy Farm is pasture grass based, grazing their organic cows on organic pasture all year long.  They also have organic eggs from pastured poultry, grass-fed beef and pastured pork.

(Source: http://www.ecodairyfarms.com/images/index%20Cows%20on%20grass.JPG)

The Alexandre's believe that the future of dairying in this cool coastal climate is highly conducive to sustainable organic grass and milk production. They strongly believe that cows raised on a grass fed diet and free to roam in the pasture, produce one of the most healthful foods known; milk. Pasturing cows nourish the land, recycle nutrients and reduce erosion. They do not treat their cows or feed with antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, or chemical fertilizer. Grass-fed meat is naturally high in health promoting essential fatty acids, vitamin E, vitamin C, and Beta Carotene, Cancer protecting CLA. Meat, eggs, and dairy products from pastured animals are ideal for your health and compared with commercial products, they offer you more "good" fats and fewer "bad" fats.

(Source: http://www.ecodairyfarms.com/images/Beef2a.jpg)

 The chickens that are raised on the Alexandre Family's organic dairy pastures are free-range. They eat a wide variety of plants and insects from the dairy's organic pastures and their diet is supplemented with a mixture of organic grains and minerals. 

(source: http://www.ecodairyfarms.com/images/eggs%20DSC00641.jpg)

 The Alexandre's are fourth generation dairy farmers, and their children have the opportunity to become fifth generation. They work hard to maintain their beliefs in regard to farming and how to hand the animals when it comes to raising them. They even allow students from the local schools come to tour the farm and learn about the farming techniques they use and about the animals.

(source: http://www.ecodairyfarms.com/images/Eggs.h4.jpg)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10 talked about the Southern Coastlands, which in many was is similar to life in Crescent City because it is also located along the coast, yet it is also different. The only things that really grow in Crescent City and its surrounds are blackberries, raspberries, thimble berries, and apple trees. Some people have a pear tree or two and others even have blue berries. There are no orange trees or even lemon trees like there are along the southern coastlands though.

Crescent City receives a significant amount of rain each year, about 65 inches a year. The region also experiences a significant amount of lightening storms. Many of the children learn how to count approximately how far away the center of the storm is because a good number of the storms have strong enough winds that many of the residents lose power. Storming nights are a common thing, with many of the children even playing in the rain simply because it meant not having to stay in the house for 2-3 days at a time. Storms are not the only weather relate events that the region has to worry about. There have been a few earthquakes that have occurred to the south that have been felt in Crescent City, none have been strong enough to cause damage though like what residents in Southern California have seen.

Damage from the 1964 Tsunami (Source:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/5135282966_f8eb07d6e6_m.jpg)

 With these earthquakes there is also the possibility of tsunamis. Tsunamis can be seen as this regions hurricanes, although there has only been 1 on record to produce significant damage. The tsunami occurred on March 27, 1964, as a result of the Good Friday Earthquake off Anchorage, Alaska. The earthquake set off a trans-Pacific tsunami that sped in three hours down the U.S. West Coast to the state of Washington. Destroying anything in its path and continued down the coast. Four and 1/2 hours after the earthquake occurred the tsunami hit Crescent City, four waves struck over a two-hour period. Almost 300 buildings had been destroyed, hundreds of cars ruined, fishing vessels destroyed and 12 people had died. Many other individuals were also missing, many were later found but some to this day still have an unknown fate. It was estimated that the city had suffered more damage then Anchorage did from the earthquake.

Damage to Dalys Dept. Store (Source:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1113/5135329394_76c0e04208_m.jpg)

I would like to add that on March 11, 2011 due the to Japan earthquake, the Crescent City harbor experienced major damage. All docks were damaged, many completely destroyed, and the 35 remaining boats int he harbor were all damaged as well; many of them sinking. Majority of the boats that were in the harbor though left the harbor before the tsunami hit in an attempt to ride the waves out in the high seas. This decision proved to be very helpful and smart on their part in the beginning, they avoided being in the harbor when the surges hit, yet many of the came close to completely running out of fuel because they had to wait until the surges halted. It has been estimated that the damage could very well top out at 25 million dollars.

(Source: http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRBvQx8mzFhSo8EXWZZiD68kvvQY5JTjJv6Je88SQokKgk3-DFa)

(Source: http://media.mlive.com/grpress/news_impact/photo/9376183-large.jpg)

(source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma0fLBuU78c&feature=related)

Chapter 9

The changing south was described for us within the pages of chapter 9. The south has transformed over the years based upon many factors, but mostly because of the type of people living there. Crescent City has also gone through changes as a result of the type of people living there.

The various Native American's although still have a strong impact on the culture and lives of those living in Crescent City to this day, had a stronger impact many years ago before the "white" men began to come to the area. Once the said "white" men moved in to the land they brought their own ways of life and through out the years this process is repeated as more individuals come to the area. The previous culture is blended with the one moving in and it creates something new. It is a normal process that is seen everyone, but it has made Crescent City who it is.

Something else I would like to point out is that much of the south and Crescent City are both rural areas. Even though city is in its name, there is much countryside surround the actual city and many of the residents do live actually around the city. A ride on the school bus could be as long as 2 hours simply because the buses have to go so far out of town to even drop the children off near their homes. One of the main roads is highway 101, must know it as the PCH down here in Southern California. To help illustrate how rural the area still is, my own street when I was living there was still a dirt road as many of the others were. Our mail box was down at the very end of the road because our street was directly off the highway, we lives about 1/2 mile down the street.  One of the advantages of being such a rural area is the space and freedom one experiences. When heading down my street there were only 4 houses before mine, 2 on each side. All the space surrounding you was literally like your own personal forest. Privacy was everywhere, unlike urban areas.

Chapter 8

In this chapter, we are introduced to the region known as Appalachia and the Ozarks. There are a few similarities with this region and Crescent City, CA. The topography is similar in some ways, as well as, the economy in both areas and the culture found within each.

(Source: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/24051026.jpg)

Crescent City is surrounded by trees and other brush, much like the Appalachia region. Streams running through the woods, with various kinds of trees over grown and ferns sprouting all over. Crescent City is very much a wilderness area and is diamonds in the sky to a nature enthusiast. There are many trails all around the city, some miles long and others simple short half mile walks.

Crescent City, much like the region discussed in chapter 8 within out book, is relatively poor as well. Fishing and working for the state prison are the two highest paid career choices within the city, yet they both do not pay as well as some jobs found else where.  Approximately 34% of the population in Crescent City have an income below the poverty level. The medium income for a household is slightly over $20,000.

Pelican Bay State Prison (Source: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/visitors/images/aerialShots/PBSP_8x10.jpg)

In chapter 8 of the book, it was also discussed that there is a difference in culture between the northern and southern areas of the Appalachia region. Difference can also be found within the Crescent City area with people who live in the actual city and people who live on the outskirts of the city. People just on the outside of the city tend to be some of the more wealthy and yet also more outgoing and adventurous. The individuals who do not live in the middle of town tend to know how to live off the land or survive with just going into town once a week, twice at most. They have a better sense of nature and the great out doors than those individuals found within the city limits. The people living within the city are more accustom to "city life" and have a different way of life. They do not rely on the land as much, which is understandable being in town and instance access to the city's features. These differences produce a difference within the people even though they live in the same region.