FOR THE LOVE OF TREES

By Jacksonville resident Franklin Corbin

 For The Love of Trees was written out of a desire to retrace some of the experiences I have had over the course of my lifetime.  Originally, it was intended for family and friends but others may find it informative if they journey or wish to learn more about the many areas chronicled in the book.  The book starts out discussing my early childhood going to the Sierra Mountains in California to hike, ski, fish and to find peace and solace.  It journals my work while employed for the California Conservation Corps, the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Park Service.  The work took me from the West Coast to the Missouri Ozarks, and eventually back west to Oregon, which has the reputation of having the largest number of trees in the U.S.

From admiring the life-ways of the Missouri Amish farmers and living in the Ozarks, to trekking into mountain villages in the jungles of Northern Thailand, the book incorporates many vignettes’ that speak to my passion and love for trees and mountains.

I write about my experience fighting forest fires raging out of control, working as a wilderness trail crew foreman maintaining the trails in and around some of the largest trees on earth, to dangling off canyon walls in California’s Sequoia National Park to access unchartered waters in search of that elusive native trout.  I discuss the therapeutic and healing effects of trees and how they can benefit our mental and physical health.

The books intent is to generate an awareness of trees and nature for the reader.  We tend to take for granted the things we see every day and we lose our ability to be mindful and embrace the natural things around us.  My passion just happens to be trees, and I wanted to convey that passion in my own way by writing this book as a tribute to them.   What a tree offers us varies from person to person.  One may enjoy the shade and protection from the wind and elements, another may admire the texture of the bark or color of the leaves and another may see it as something to worship in a spiritual way.  The important thing is that we acknowledge their presence.

Copies of the book will be available at cost near the end of March and sold locally or by emailing me at mrvanmorrison@yahoo.com

Author, Frank Corbin

I have lived in Southern Oregon since 1988 moving here from the Missouri Ozarks.  After moving here I earned by Bachelor’s degree in Social Science and later received a Master’s in Vocational Counseling from Western Oregon University.  For the last 25 years I have worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and retired from the Dept. of Veteran Affairs in March of 2010.  I now work part-time for Easter Seals in Medford assisting homeless veteran’s seeking employment and as a Vocational Expert testifying in Federal Court.  When I am not working, I am doing what I do best, which is admiring and enjoying trees.

Franklin N. Corbin
Jacksonville, Oregon