Some of the most memorable, and least regrettable, nights of my own youth were spent in coon hunting with farmers. There is no denying that these activities contributed to the economy of farm households, but a further fact is that they were pleasures; they were wilderness pleasures, not greatly different from the pleasures pursued by conservationists and wilderness lovers. As I was always aware, my friends the coon hunters were not motivated just by the wish to tree coons and listen to hounds and listen to each other, all of which were sufficiently attractive; they were coon hunters also because they wanted to be afoot in the woods at night. Most of the farmers I have known, and certainly the most interesting ones, have had the capacity to ramble about outdoors for the mere happiness of it, alert to the doings of the creatures, amused by the sight of a fox catching grasshoppers, or by the puzzle of wild tracks in the snow. . Wendell Berry
About This Quote

John Muir, born in Scotland, was a pioneer in the conservation movement. He is known for his work which included preservation of Yosemite Valley, Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the California Coast Ranges. He was also a member of the Sierra Club. He said about coon hunting: "The most memorable, and least regretted, nights of my own youth were spent in coon hunting with farmers." The importance of wilderness experiences has been mentioned by other famous people who have written about it.

Source: Bringing It To The Table: On Farming And Food

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