Virtual

Land Walk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Land Walk continued:

Cedar Woodland and Walden classroom

 

Traveling northeast through the Oldfield, you will reach the

entrance to the Cedar Woodland, the Walden Project’s primary

classroom area.

The path through the woodland leads you past the Walden Project’s composting toilet (exterior, above left), built in 2005 for student use during the school days at the project. The composting toilet safely processes urine and manure onsite (interior, above right).

Cedar Longhouse

 

The next landmark on the path through the Cedar woodland is the Cedar Longhouse. Built in 2003 by Walden Project students using materials harvested on the Willowell Land, the Cedar Longhouse provides shelter to Walden Project students on the coldest and wettest days (note interior photo, right).

 

Oral histories, estimated tree ages, and indicator tree and shrub species (such as junipers, berry bushes and white pines) in the Cedar Woodland     (left) indicate that the woodland was an overgrazed pasture just 25-50 years ago. Today, there are a variety of specialized vegetation groups in the cedar woodland, ranging from marshy streams and ferny raspberry patches to healthy stands of cedars, pines and hardwoods. The main woodland is comprised of 40-60’ trees, mainly white cedars. Stands of white cedar of this size are of special interest in Vermont. There are also many white pines in the woodland, and small clumps of mixed deciduous trees including quaking aspen, white ash, sugar maple, and birch. There are many wild edible and medicinal plants in this area.

Here, Walden Project students gather daily around the fire circle for discussion and classes.