Tree Day and Tuckamore

From the United Church of Canada Creed Booklet -- Gary Crawford

We're recently home from a three week vacation on Change Islands, a small community on islands adjacent to the much better known Fogo Island perched in the North Atlantic. It was cool on a number of days, especially in the morning, so we put in a fire in the woodstove to warm the delightful but poorly insulated old house we were staying in. People do harvest wood on Change Islands but at about 15 square kilometres of total area, and with lots of bog and rock, the source of wood is limited. This means that lots of residents import firewood from elsewhere in the province. The same is true for lumber used in building projects. 



Tuckamore

When we hiked coastal trails we were amazed at how the tuckamore,  a Newfoundland term for gnarled and tangled stands of stunted spruce and balsam fir would protect us from the strong winds. These trees are dwarfed and weathered into swept-back, sculptural shapes by the harsh growing conditions.There were no majestic trees to inspire awe and wonder, but we appreciated the shelter.

Yesterday was National Tree Day in Canada and I'm grateful to the Creator for the weird and wonderful trees of windswept Newfoundland. Also when we hiked the many trails on Change Islands and Fogo we read brief Creation Time prayers along the way, including some which gave thanks for trees. Perhaps I'll write a prayer in praise of the warmth of a wood fire and the strange beauty of tuckamore.