Final Paper

Wolves in Yellowstone

     Flashes of red bob through the trees as the little girl in the deep red cape skips through the woods. On the way to her grandmother’s house she feels a presence; round eyes glow yellow and bloody fangs smile at the little girl—the wolf has chosen his next meal. These are the images we conjure up when we think of wolves. They have been labeled as demons of the forests. In fairy tales, myths and legends, wolves are seen only as glowing eyes and sharp fangs. They’ve been  known to devour travelers in stories such as “Little Red Riding Hood” and “The Three Little Pigs.” This fear, coupled with the misunderstanding of wolves, has encouraged their hunting, the placement of bounties on their pelts and the ordering of their extermination (which nearly succeeded). Theodore Roosevelt, one of the United States’ most environmentally conscious presidents, “labeled wolves ‘the beast[s] of waste and destruction.’ Thereafter, the United States government launched a full-scale campaign aimed at the total elimination of the wolf in the United States” (Brown 426). After the grey wolves (Canis lupus) were pushed to the edge of extinction, the species was reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in January, 1995. Since the reintroduction of the grey wolf into the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, there have been positive outcomes on the plant and animal life in the park, as well as a greater understanding of the grey wolf.

     Since Medieval times the wolf has been under persecution. Through folk tales and fables, they have been portrayed as beasts of deceit, trickery and ferocity. As the Europeans began to explore, they brought their fear and myths of the creatures with them to the New World. This brought about the trapping and killing of the wolves in Eastern America, soon making its way to the West. As people began making parks and petting zoos in Yellowstone, the local people began to see the grey wolves as a nuisance, a nuisance they wanted gone. As a competitor for the land and for the game in the surrounding areas, wolves were ordered to be exterminated as an “honorable policy goal”. The people didn’t understand that they were the real nuisance, and it was them who invaded the grey wolves’ homes and habitats, not the other way around. The people saw the grey wolf as an enemy, and the grey wolf probably felt the same way about humans. As the two grew further into a conflict, the grey wolf became even more misunderstood. These “noxious species” were now being watched and patrolled along the borders of Yellowstone. Local wardens would watch the borders with guns and traps for resident wolf packs. Not only did the Government allow the killing of the grey wolf, they encouraged it. The wardens were motivated to trap and kill the grey wolf for they were rewarded by being able to keep and trade the pelts of the exterminated animals. In the 1900s, the federal Bureau of Biological Survey gave orders to “flush out” the rest of the grey wolves remaining in Yellowstone National Park and other US national parks (Jones 340). By the early 1920s nearly all the wolves had disappeared from the Yellowstone ecosystem.

     After the grey wolves were gone from Yellowstone National Park, people soon became fully aware of the extent of the situation. They began to realize that the grey wolf was not just a carnivorous, blood thirsty animal, but an important predator to the ecological balance of Yellowstone. One of the major changes in the Yellowstone ecosystem was the increase in the elk population which resulted in an under vegetation issue caused by over-grazing. Previously, the wolf had helped keep the elk population in check by killing the weak or younger elk; however, since the extermination in the 1920s, the elk population nearly doubled in size. Local residents found the elk overeating the vegetation and grazing on farm lands and other surrounding locations. Not only did the grey wolf help regulate the elk population they in turn helped the residents by keeping the elk from grazing on farm land. Despite this obvious change in the ecosystem of Yellowstone, the killing of the grey wolf still continued. It wasn’t until 1925 that the killing of the grey wolf finally wound down; others were starting to see the importance of the grey wolf. Luckily, before the wolves were completely exterminated, the National Park Service, and other organizations, claimed the grey wolf to be of “scientific, educational, recreational, and economic value to society” (Jones 38). 

     But there were, and still are, some who believe grey wolves to be an infectious animal. Despite seeing the positive effects grey wolves have on the ecosystem in Yellowstone National Park, the wolves were still executed and killed by farmers, towns people and wardens. It wasn’t until 1959 that the hunting came to a stop, but by that time, the damage had already been done. The wolves were pushed to extinction by the ignorant people, who were unwilling to change and to understand this animal. The grey wolves were eventually put under the Endangered Species Act in 1973 in an attempt to bring the presence of Canis lupus back into Yellowstone National Park. There were some groups who believed the grey wolf needed to be preserved and able to roam the land that was previously theirs. The grey wolf was then able to roam Yellowstone National Park without having to worry about the previous laws. In 1995, nearly seventy years since wolves had been free to roam Yellowstone National Park, 31 wolves were captured from the Canadian Rockies and released back in to Yellowstone to begin the reestablishing of wolves in the park. Today, more than “150 wolves, from eight packs, now roam Yellowstone's forests and river valleys” (Jones 38). People slowly began to understand the importance of this majestic animal and key role they play in Yellowstone National Park and other surrounding ecosystems. 

     Since the grey wolves’ reintroduction to Yellowstone, there has been a tremendous amount of controversy surrounding the wolves’ role in the decrease of certain herds, specifically elk. Before, there was an abundance, but years later the elk population has shrunk in numbers due to the amount of grey wolves in the park. To completely understand the situation it is important to know the predation of the elk before and after restoring the wolves in Yellowstone. Since the total removal of wolves from the ecosystem in the 1920s (as previously stated) there has been a larger than average elk herd population. On the other hand, when the grey wolf was reintroduced, the elk numbers decreased. The School of Forest Resources & Environmental Science in Missoula, Montana, through various studies, monitored elk and wolf populations from 1961–1995 and again from 1995–2004, to observe how the wolves may have contributed to the elk decline. Since the reintroduction of the grey wolves, the elk population declined 10 percent in 1961 and 30 percent in 1995. They concluded that the decline in the elk population may very well be attributed to the predatory wolves in the area (Vucetich 260). Although the researchers attribute the elk population decreasing to the wolves, they go on to say that it may only be some of the reason. Previously, the elk were able to roam free without almost no predators, besides from coyotes. This may sound like a bad thing to have happen, that the grey wolves are to blame. But looking at the larger picture, the Yellowstone region has merely returned to the way it was before the humans disrupted it. Now that the wolves have been reintroduced, the ecosystem has regained a keystone species to help restore the natural balance.

     Not only have the elk been regulated, but the vegetation has thrived in the areas where the grey wolves have been established. Researchers have noticed an abundance of new vegetation growth likely due to the thinning of the elk population by the grey wolves. As fewer elk graze on young saplings a greater variety of plants are able to grow. Although it is too early to tell how much the grey wolves are impacting the vegetation, there are several species of plants that have seen significant growth in population sizes. Willow and aspen are a few of the plants that are thriving now that the elk population has been redistributed around Yellowstone National Park. These specific plants are “important for many bird species, small mammals, beaver and moose” along with the wolves (Smith 338). To see the many great ways the grey wolves have helped balance and serve this new thriving ecosystem, its hard to believe they could be anything but interesting and innocent animals. But there are still some today who aren’t so keen on the grey wolves in Yellowstone.

     Despite the positive effects of the grey wolf in Yellowstone National Park, ranchers and herders still fear of the Canis Lupus. Their land borders where the grey wolf habitats, and every once and a while livestock is attacked by the wolves. In Montana, grey wolves account for the killing of roughly 111 livestock every year. In 2009, 120 sheep were killed by three wolves near Dillon, Montana. Although it is usually highly unlikely for grey wolves to be this vicious and kill such a large number of sheep at one time, the incident made the farmers more concerned for their livestock's safety. Farmers in Montana are given over $150,000 in compensation for livestock killed by grey wolves. Despite this, farmers are still afraid that the population of grey wolves is getting out of hand. Terms were debated on how many grey wolves are actually needed to keep the population stable. Recently, in Idaho and Montana, the grey wolf was taken off the Endangered Species Act list. Since then, the grey wolf has been allowed to be hunted, “Idaho will allow 265 wolves to be taken by hunters...Montana will allow 75 wolves to be taken” (Byron, 1). Although the hunting has been allowed in Montana and Idaho, Wyoming grey wolves still remain protected under the Endangered Species Act. Farmers are now allowed to hunt a certain amount of grey wolves but some farmer’s believe that this could cause negative effects for their livestock. “‘If the adults are shot, then the young ones are dispersed too early,’ Stone said. ‘Young pups on their own might turn to livestock to survive, and that's not a good situation for anybody.’” (Byron 1). Visibly there are a few negative effects the grey wolf has on their surroundings, but in a whole the grey wolf is a positive addition.

     Although there are many who still want the grey wolf population controlled, such as farmers and hunters, cultures existed who considered the wolves as their brothers or kin. The Blackfeet Native American tribe believed the wolves were “an influential spirit and a cherished social guide,” and that, “their nation descended from four wolves that survived a great flood, before shedding their skins to become human” (Jones 39). Instead of disregarding the wolves as an unknown enemy like the early European settlers, the Native Americans tried to understand the wolves and find the similarities between them and the wolves. Just like wolves, the Native Americans considered themselves a ‘pack.’ They also admired the wolf’s hunting skills and intelligence, and adopted some the grey wolves hunting techniques. Just as the Native Americans did then, we too have now come to understand the wolf by helping reestablish their species into the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem and protecting them as a valuable species. Slowly but surely, we gain a greater understanding of the amazing species, Canis lupus. So the little girl with the red cape safely makes her journey to Granny’s house, and the wolf has retreated back into the woods, where they can both live happily ever after.

Work Cited

Brown, Elizabeth Cowan. "THE "WHOLLY SEPARATE" TRUTH: DID THE YELLOWSTONE WOLF REINTRODUCTION VIOLATE SECTION 10 (J) OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT?." Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review 27.3 (2000): 425. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 31 Oct. 2010.

Jones, Karen. "From Big Bad Wolf to Ecological Hero: Canis Lupus and the Culture(s) of Nature in the American-Canadian West." 338-350. Routledge, 2010. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 21 Nov. 2010.

Jones, Karen. "FIGHTING OUTLAWS, RETURNING WOLVES." History Today 52.3 (2002): 38. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov. 2010.

Vucetich, John A., Douglas W. Smith, and Daniel R. Stahler. "Influence of harvest, climate and wolf predation on Yellowstone elk, 1961-2004." Oikos 111.2 (2005): 259-270. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 28 Oct. 2010.

Smith, Douglas W., Rolf O. Peterson, and Douglas B. Houston. "Yellowstone after Wolves. (Cover story)." Bioscience 53.4 (2003): 330. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2010.

Byron, Eve. "Wolves kill 120 sheep at ranch near Dillon." Missoulian News (2009): n. pag. Web. 3 Dec 2010. <http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_5ff01772-938f-11de-9aca-001cc4c03286.html>.

Source Analysis

Yellowstone after Wolves

Summary: The ecosystem in Yellowstone national park has been restored and again supports the local large carnivores was again.The article considers the possible ecological implications of wolf restoration in the context of another nation park, Isle Royale, where wolves once restored themselves. It goes on to talk about how the wolves completely eliminated the coyotes in Isle Royale, which has implications for forest growth and composition. Its predicted that wolf restoration may have a similar effect in Yellowstone.

-What is the purpose?
To inform people of the change wolves have made in Yellowstone.

-Who is the audience?
Ecological people, wolf people, scientists, people interested in the environment

-Who is the author of my text?
Smith, Douglas W., Rolf O. Peterson, and Douglas B. Houston.

-What is the background of my text?
informative

-Which rhetorical appeals are used in my text?


-How does the language and style contribute to the purpose?
Its Scientific and informative



FIGHTING OUTLAWS, RETURNING WOLVES.

Summary: This article talk about the history of the wolf. How people used to demonize them and how we still do. It talks about the Native Americans and the way they viewed wolves.


-What is the purpose?
to inform of the history of wolves



-Who is the audience?
people interested in wolves, history and Native Americans



-Who is the author of my text?
Jones, Karen



-What is the background of my text?
wolf reintroduction history and info



-Which rhetorical appeals are used in my text?



-How does the language and style contribute to the purpose?
more of a story but informative, keeps you interested




Influence of harvest, climate and wolf predation on Yellowstone elk, 1961-2004

Summary: The extent of this article is about the wolf reintroduction in 1995, the wolves have majorly contributed  to the decrease in the elk population in the Northern Range Yellowstone National Park. Using data such as elk migration, wolf predictions and weather data.

-What is the purpose?
to inform people of the wolf reintroduction to Yellowstone



-Who is the audience?
Environmentalists, people interested in wolves and Yellowstone.



-Who is the author of my text?
Vucetich, John A., Douglas W. Smith, and Daniel R. Stahler


-What is the background of my text?
wolf info, knowledge on wolves and Yellowstone



-Which rhetorical appeals are used in my text?

-How does the language and style contribute to the purpose?
Its informative

Wolves In Yellowstone: Rough Draft

Throughout history wolves have been labeled as demons in the forests. Even in fairy tales, myths and legends wolves are seen only as glowing eyes and bloody fangs. They’ve been  known to devour travellers, in such stories as “Little Red Riding Hood” and “The Three Little Pigs”. This fear coupled with the misunderstanding of wolves has encouraged their hunting, the placement of bounties on them and the ordering of their extermination; which nearly succeeded. Theodore Roosevelt, one of the United States most environmentally conscious  Presidents, “labeled wolves ‘the beast[s] of waste and destruction.’ Thereafter, the United States government launched a full-scale campaign aimed at the total elimination of the wolf in the United States...” (Brown, Elizabeth Cowan, 426). After the gray wolves (Canis Lupus) were pushed to the edge of extinction the species were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park (YNP), in January 1995. By introducing the wolves back into the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, dramatic consequences and impacts on the ecosystem as a whole have been observed.

Since Medieval times the wolf, or Canis Lupus, has been under persecution. Through folk tales and fables, they have been portrayed as beasts of deceit, trickery and ferocity. As the Europeans began to explore they brought their fear and myths of the creatures with them to the New World. This brought about the trapping and killing of the wolves in Eastern America, soon making its way to the West. By the early 1920’s nearly all the wolves had disappeared from the Yellowstone ecosystem. Although there were many who wanted the wolves out, cultures existed who considered the wolves as their brothers or kin. The Blackfeeet Native American tribe believed the wolves were “an influential spirit and a cherished social guide,” and that, “their nation descended from four wolves that survived a great flood, before shedding their skins to become human.” (Jones, Karen, 39). Instead of disregarding the wolves as an unknown enemy like the early European settlers, the Native Americans tried to understand the wolves and find the similarities between them and the wolves. Just like wolves the Native Americans considered themselves a ‘pack’. They also admired the wolf’s hunting aspects and their intelligence. Just as the Native Americans did then, we now too have come to understand the wolf, helping to reestablish them into the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem.

In 1995, nearly seventy years since wolves had been free to roam YNP, 31 wolves were captured from the Canadian Rockies and released into YNP to begin the reestablishing of wolves Yellowstone. Now more than “150 wolves, from eight packs, now roam Yellowstone's forests and river valleys.” (Jones, Karen, 38).

Since Canis Lupus’s reintroduction into YNP, there has been tremendous controversy  surrounding the wolves role in the decrease of certain herds, specifically elk. It is important to understand the predation before and after restoring the wolves in Yellowstone National Park. Since the wolves total removal from the ecosystem in 1920’s, there has existed a larger than average elk herd population.

The School of Forest Resources & Environmental Science in Missoula, Montana, through various studies, monitored the elk and wolves through 1961-1995 and after 1995-2004 to observe how the wolves may have attributed to the elk decline. Since the reintroduction of the wolves, the elk have declined approximately 10-30 percent during those years. They concluded that the decline in elk population may very well be attributed to the predatory wolves in the area (Vucetich, John A., 260). Although the researchers attribute the elk population decreasing to the wolves, they go on to say that it may only be some of the reason. Previously the elk were able to roam free without much threat, besides from coyotes. Now that the wolves have been reintroduced the ecosystem has regained a keystone species, helping to restore the natural balance. In turn the vegetation has thrived, in the areas where the wolves have been established. Researchers have noticed an abundance of new growth vegetation likely due to the thinning of the elk population by the wolves. As fewer elk graze on young saplings a greater variety of plants are able to grow.

Although it is too early to tell how much the wolves are impacting the vegetation, there are several species of plants that have seen significant growth in population sizes. Willow and aspen are a few of the plants that are thriving now that the elk population has been redistributed around Yellowstone National Park. These specific plants are “important for many bird species, small mammals, beaver and moose.”, along with the wolves (Smith, Douglas W. 338).

Student Choice 2&3

2. Bringing back the wolf = bringing back the habitat

Binkly, Gail. "Info Bringing back the wolf = bringing back the habitat." High Country News for people who care about the west 30 May 2005. Web. 7 Nov 2010. <http://www.hcn.org/issues/299/15556>.

Summary: This article is about how by bringing back the wolves we brought back certain plants and other animals that are able to survive because of the wolf reintroduction. 

Conclusion: This helps because it reinstates a lot of the other information I have gotten. I'm still not sure if I will be using this in my paper but I might.

3. Yellowstone wolves are here to stay

Odell, Rachel. "Info Yellowstone wolves are here to stay." High Country News for people who care about the west 21 January 2000: n. pag. Web. 7 Nov 2010. <http://www.hcn.org/issues/171/5520>.

Summary: This article talks about how Yellowstone wolves are staying in the nation park. It talks about the different fines and regulations that come with the act.

Reflection: This was very interesting and informational. Things I will for surely put in my paper, good statistics and information.


Other Information:

From Big Bad Wolf to Ecological Hero: Canis Lupus and the Culture(s) of Nature in the American-Canadian West.

Jones, Karen. "From Big Bad Wolf to Ecological Hero: Canis Lupus and the Culture(s) of Nature in the American-Canadian West." 338-350. Routledge, 2010. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 21 Nov. 2010.

4. Wolves kill 120 sheep at ranch near Dillon

Byron, Eve. "Wolves kill 120 sheep at ranch near Dillon." Missoulian News (2009): n. pag. Web. 3 Dec 2010. <http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_5ff01772-938f-11de-9aca-001cc4c03286.html>. 

Annotated Bibliography Entries 4&5, Student Choice 1

4. The Northern Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf Is Not Yet Recovered.

Bergstrom, Bradley J., et al. "The Northern Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf Is Not Yet Recovered." BioscienceAcademic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov. 2010. 59.11 (2009): 991-999.

Summary: Its a history of the wolf population and reestablishment, as well as the new laws put out during the Bush Administration and how the wolf activists are replying and the laws that have been passed.


Reflection: There are deffinitally some very good information I will be able to use for my paper. Paragraphs: A brief history of the restoration and delisting of the NRM gray wolf, Politics trumps science in arbitrary definition of DP, Nascent success of wolf restoration may be stalled to placate grazing interests and Nascent success of wolf restoration may be stalled to placate grazing interests, will be most helpful information

5. FIGHTING OUTLAWS, RETURNING WOLVES.


Jones, Karen. "FIGHTING OUTLAWS, RETURNING WOLVES." History Today 52.3 (2002): 38. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov. 2010.


Summary: This article talk about the history of the wolf. How people used to demonize them and how we still do. It talks about the Native Americans and the way they viewed wolves.

Reflection: I am going to use a lot of this information for a part of my paper. I found it so interesting. Notes for myself: The wolves were extinct by the 1920's after people shot, trapped and poisoned out of their own land. Wolf reintroduction took twenty years to implement and generated massive public debate. Yet, on January 12, 1995, wolves made their historic return to the American Rockies.(paragraph 13, more info there)

Other helpful articles:
Defining Recovery Goals and Strategies for Endangered Species: The Wolf as a Case Study.
DECADE ON THE WOLF: RETURNING THE WILD TO YELLOWSTONE.


Student Choice


1. Yellowstone Wolf Project, Annual Report 2007


Smith, D.W., D.R. Stahler, D.S. Guernsey, M. Metz, E. Albers, L. Williamson, N. Legere, E. Almberg, and R. McIntyre. 2008. Yellowstone Wolf Project: Annual Report, 2007. National Park Service, Yellowstone Center for Resources, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, YCR-2008-01.


Summary: Summary of 2007 wolf packs, territory maps, wolf capturing and collaring, wolf predation, wolf management and program objectives for Yellowstone wolf project.


Reflection: This is going to be very helpful. Its specifically about the organization that helped reestablish them. From nps.gov website

Annotated Bibliography Entries 1-3

1. Influence of harvest, climate and wolf predation on Yellowstone elk, 1961-2004.

Vucetich, John A., Douglas W. Smith, and Daniel R. Stahler. "Influence of harvest, climate and wolf predation on Yellowstone elk, 1961-2004." Oikos 111.2 (2005): 259-270. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 28 Oct. 2010.

Summary: The extent of this article is about the wolf reintroduction in 1995, the wolves have majorly contributed  to the decrease in the elk population in the Northern Range Yellowstone National Park. Using data such as elk migration, wolf predictions and weather data.

Reflection: I think this was interesting. It talked about the different factors they took into account when gathering the data such as rain fall, snow fall, and the annual harvests. I think this will help well with my paper and lead to more information about the elk decrease and how it's keeping the elk population down by having the wolves maintaining a balance. 

2. Yellowstone after Wolves

Smith, Douglas W., Rolf O. Peterson, and Douglas B. Houston. "Yellowstone after Wolves. (Cover story)." Bioscience 53.4 (2003): 330. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2010.

Summary: The ecosystem in Yellowstone national park has been restored and again supports the local large carnivores was again.The article considers the possible ecological implications of wolf restoration in the context of another nation park, Isle Royale, where wolves once restored themselves. It goes on to talk about how the wolves completely eliminated the coyotes in Isle Royale, which has implications for forest growth and composition. Its predicted that wolf restoration may have a similar effect in Yellowstone.

Reflection: I am very excited to be able to use this research for my paper. Its so interesting and is full of information I will be able to use throughout my research and learning process of this paper.This article talks about the benefits of restoring the wolf population in Yellowstone, it will help with my paper a lot.

3. THE "WHOLLY SEPARATE" TRUTH: DID THE YELLOWSTONE WOLF REINTRODUCTION VIOLATE SECTION 10 (J) OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT?


Brown, Elizabeth Cowan. "THE "WHOLLY SEPARATE" TRUTH: DID THE YELLOWSTONE WOLF REINTRODUCTION VIOLATE SECTION 10 (J) OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT?." Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review 27.3 (2000): 425. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 31 Oct. 2010.

Summary: This article focuses on the reintroduction of the gray wolf into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. Description of a typical wolf pack; Details on the 1973 Endangered Species Act; Overview of the Northern Rocky Mountain Recovery Plan; Lawsuits which have interpreted the legality of the gray wolf reintroduction program.

Reflection: This article goes into detail about the history of the Acts of reestablishing the wolves and also the different lawsuits and factors that have gone on. Will work very well with my paper.

Multiple Perspective Freewrite

5 min free write

Wolf organization perspective: I don't know awhole lot about this subject. I began with interest when I was given a book to read about a lady who was helping foster a wolf pack and then began to help give them their land back. This is what I know about what went on. The wolves were driven out by farmers and hunters from their original land. They were killed and hunted to almost extection. Something had to be done and finally some people, with wolves in captivity began releasing them and helping them regain their land. The people set up a plan for them so there had  to be a certian amount roaming the Yellowstone area. They obviously had a passion for wolves and helping animals. They were able to save a specieces that was almost lost from the earth. I'm very excited to write about this paper. I think I will take the angle that its important for people to realize that the wolves in this area should be here, and were here before us. Also I will talk about how the wolves should be saved and continue to be saved even though to farmers and other people thing its unneccissary and they should be able to hunt and kill them.

The Farmer's perspective: The farmers are now complaining about the wolves because they are killing their livestock. They have had to live with them and are getting frustrated about them on their land. I think I will talk about how I understand that they have livestock and things to maintain but that the greater idea and cause here is to help the wolves live and thrive as a society and pack.


Thesis: what exactly went on and what had to happen to help the wolves to be established in the greater Yellowstone area?

Still working on a working thesis statement.

Research Guide

1. I don't know a whole lot about the issue yet. I do know that the wolves were pushed to extinction and then they reestablished them in the greater Yellowstone area. Ever since there has been a lot of controversy between farmers and activists.

2. I would like to know more about who helped reestablish the wolves, why, and when exactly. The exact regions and areas. The people involved. Why they decided to do this what were their motivations.

3. Animal people, scientists, environmental groups,  farmers, land owners, people who the plan effected.

4. The internet, nature magazines, locally, people who helped and are associated with the movement of the wolves, people who are interested in wolves and/or Yellowstone.

5. School library website.

6. No, there is no one I know about I could interview or be able to talk to locally.

7.  Days until final Source Analysis and Annotated Bibliography due: 24 days
Days 1-6:
Begin annotated bibliography entries. Begin research and finding good sources and ideas for paper. Have a working thesis. Finish Multiple Perspective free write.

Days 6-10:
Begin student choice sources. Report 1 (rhetorical situation): a brief report of what I've learned about my topic so far. Continue working on thesis and finding good sources for paper. Begin drafting

Days 10-17:
Finish up student choice sources. Go over all collected material and think about questions and different research leaned. Revise rough draft, organize, start putting things together.

Days 17-23:
Verify all questions and research. Source analysis 1. Fine-tune draft

Days 24:
Final Annotated Bibliography and Final Source Analysis Due.

Topic Choice and Questions

Topic: The reintroduction of wolves in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.

1. Who were the people invloved?
2. What were the major opinions regarding the topic of the wolf reintroduction that were held by specific groups, organizations and lobbies?
3. Where had the wolves gone?
4. When did this begin to unfold?
5. What's continuing to happen to the wolves?
6. How did the wolves adapt?
7. What techniques were used to reintroduce the wolves?

Observation Final Draft

    Food For Thought

There was a green sign. That was the first thing I noticed, was the bright green sign with the words 'Liberty Heights Fresh'. The sun was setting behind the sign, illuminating it, drawing me in, so I gladly went. I could smell the ripe apricots from across the street, see the bright signs luring me inside. The entrance really wasn't a door per-say, it was more of a large garage door, wide open, there to welcome all customers and people inside the small store. I browsed all the delicious fruits, apples, strawberries, raspberries, figs, and much more. I found local jars of honey, bottles of olive oil and fresh cheeses. As I picked out a ripe apple and a bottle of black tea I began to think. I thought, and thought and thought while I ate my crisp apple, not paying attention to the sticky juices running down my arm. My thoughts were curious, I wondered if me, one small person, am I contributing to a greener world by buying local groceries from a locally owned grocery store? So I sat and pondered my question and listened, smelled, tasted and engulfed myself in the local atmosphere of this simple grocery store.

    The first thing I noticed were the signs around me. Most of them included the words 'local', 'organic' and 'fresh'. The apple had me convinced that every product in the store contained all those words. I could taste the freshness, the simple '9' in front of the produce code numbers indicated it was organic, and the reassurance of the cashier let me know it was local. Next I watched the people, they were the most important. There were lots of people to put into consideration, the farmers, the employees, the people shopping. Of course I couldn't speak to the farmers the next best was the employees. I noticed special things about them unique things. As I browsed around, taking everything in, a man asked if I needed any help, I smiled and said 'I'm alright, I'm just browsing." He smiled back and went about his work. Its nice to know your noticed in a store and that people are there to help when you need it. Later I saw the same man, and another kind looking man talking to one another, working together, moving large boxes to the back of the store. Even their mundane and daunting tasks seemed easy to them because they had a good attitude about it and seemed to enjoy their jobs and work atmosphere.

Then I began to think about the people who shop there. Do they shop here a lot? Do they believe they are helping out a larger cause? The first person that stood out to me was a boy, sitting outside with his bike at an orange table, listening to his MP3 player and eating some food. A few minutes after I had sat outside on a matching bright orange rusting table, another boy came up and greeted the boy sitting. Boy 1 (who was sitting on the table), asked how Boy 2 (who had rode up on his bike) was doing. They obviously knew each other and began talking.

"Ya I just got back from traveling from Vancouver, BC to San Francisco." Said Boy 2.

"Did you document it?" Asked Boy 1.

"Ya we took a ton of pictures, I'll have to upload them to Facebook and show you." Boy 1 nodded. "Awesome bike, I didn't know you bought one." Said Boy 2.

"Ya I actually bought it off criagslist from some Army guy who took it all around Europe." They continued talking and eventually Boy 2 said "Ya I haven't been here [Liberty Height Market] in a while, I should come here more often." That statement made me believe that they get a lot of regular customer. Regular customers who ride their bikes, and go on adventures. The fact that they ride their bikes around makes me believe they enjoy doing their part in helping the environment by not driving cars. They also obviously by at local grocery stores, so it seems like they both care and try to do their part in their community.

    A few minutes later a woman came riding in on her bike with a black backpack on. She browsed the foods, picked out two zucchini, a bag of peaches and weighed them. She was wearing gray converse shoes, white basketball shorts and white v-neck t-shirt. She Kindly paid for her food and rode off with her groceries in her reusable bag, obviously to help the environment. It seemed like her, along with another people realize what they can do for the environment. Buy locally, ride your bike or walk and use reusable bags. Later I watched as a man brought his child into the store. The child was excited about being able to push their small carts around the grocery store. Without even realizing it, he's already setting the child up for a healthy lifestyle for his generation. He's learning about organically grown food and that buying locally benefits us as well as the farmers. Just like the small child, I was brought up to be concise about what I ate and how I treated the earth. I believe its important to teach your kids about what they and you can do for the environment and their community.

After I finished my food, packed up my things and began to walk home I thought about everything I had seen in that short time. About the different fresh produce, locally made merchandise, and the people who shop and support the local grocery store. I came to my conclusion, the answer was yes. Yes was all I could think. Yes, I can be the one to do my own part. Yes, people do care about their community by doing their part too. Yes, local farmers, grocers and customers benefit from me and other doing their small part to help build a greener better earth. So yes, I am buying locally and so are other for a greater cause, and of course the delicious food.

Add analysis Final Drafts

  Among a variety of vintage cigarette adds, found on Well Medicated, a post 40 Gorgeous Vintage Tobacco Advertisements, one particular add stood out to me. Most of them had pretty people smoking, couples smoking, Santa, doctors and even an old women. But the one I found most interesting was the Eve cigarette ad.

Cigarette ads try to appeal everyone. Whether its to look cool, to relax, to attract women or men, or that its good for you, each add is trying to get you to buy their brand. Usually with attractive, famous or smart people in the adds,telling you why you should buy their brands and not another one. This particular add is unique because its appealing to women, where as most of them are targeted towards men. The name 'Eve' stuck out to me the most,  just like Eve from the Garden of Eden, the drawn women on the box of the cigarettes was in a garden of flowers, representing femininity and sexuality. They make smoking look beautiful with their thin, pretty and flowery cigarettes and attractive box. This particular cigarette ad is also different from other adds because there aren't any people in it. Most of them do have people selling their cigarettes. Those ads seem to be a bit harder, more muted colors, they really let the people sell the cigarettes, not the cigarettes sell themselves. This ad has a soft background of flowers with a beautiful women's hand, with her fingernails carefully painted a dainty pink color. The cigarettes are the main thing seen in this ad, they are there for you to admire and want. Also this ad is a lot more girly, very appealing to women who love flowers and girly things to make them look beautiful an to add an elegance to smoking The word pretty is used a lot in the add also, saying its 'the newest way to express your love of pretty things'. So why wouldn't women want to buy these cigarettes to make smoking look glamorous and pretty. This ad flawlessly gets their point across.

In contrast to this very feminine ad, here is a basic example of the ads that are strictly for men. In this Pall Mall ad, made specifically for men,  there are two army men, relaxed waiting to fight with their manly machine gun at the ready. One man is showing the other the different 'size' of the cigarettes, clearly stating, if you buy Pall Mall you must have bigger...cigarettes. Leaving the rest to the imagination. Pall Mall state "20 percent longer than your old cigarette-". It is obviously targeting men with the uniforms, gun, muted colors and larger cigarette.The muted colors also seem to attract men, a bit easier on the eyes. Unlike the first ad where the cigarettes were the main focus, this Pall Mall ad has the relaxed army men and large gun as their main attention getter. While the cigarettes get back seated to sit with the text, which most people aren't reading anyway. But although this may not appeal to me, they definitely get their point across and this ad too sells cigarettes.

All advertisements make you want to buy their products. Cigarette advertisements are no exception. With all the different brands and types, cigarette adds appeal to a variety of people. Eve appeals to the women, striving to be beautiful, even when smoking. Pall Mall attracts itself to men with their longer, more manly cigarettes. But by the looks of these ads, both are obviously get their points across. A beautiful add for beautiful cigarettes. So say "Farewell to the ugly cigarettes. Smoke pretty. eve."

Ad Analysis Draft 2

 Among a variety of vintage cigarette adds, found on Well Medicated, a post 40 Gorgeous Vintage Tobacco Advertisements, one particular add stood out to me. Most of them had pretty people smoking, couples smoking, Santa, doctors and even an old women. But the one I found most interesting was the Eve cigarette ad.

Cigarette ads try to appeal everyone. Whether its to look cool, to relax, to attract women or men, or that its good for you, each add is trying to get you to buy their brand. Usually with attractive, famous or smart people, like doctors or scientists in the adds. Telling you why you should buy their brands and not another one. This particular add is unique because its appealing to women, where as most of them are for men. The name 'Eve' stuck out to me the most, with a woman in the garden of flowers on the box of the cigarettes, representing femininity and sexuality. They make smoking look beautiful with their pretty and flowery cigarettes. This particular cigarette add is different from other adds because there aren't any people in it. It has a soft background of flowers with a beautiful women's hand, with her fingernails carefully painted a dainty pink color. It's a lot more girly, very appealing to women who love flowers and girly things to make them look beautiful. The word pretty is used a lot in the add also, saying its 'the newest way to express your love of pretty things'.

This feminine ad is much different than most ads, especially those meant for men. For example, there's a Pall Mall ad made specifically for men.  In the ad there are two army men, relaxed waiting to fight with their machine gun at the ready. One man is showing the other the different 'size' of the cigarettes, clearly stating, if you buy Pall Mall you must have bigger...cigarettes. Leaving the rest to the imagination. Pall Mall state "20 percent longer than your old cigarette-". It is obviously targeting men with the uniforms, gun, muted colors and larger cigarette.

All advertisements make you want to buy their products. Cigarette advertisements are no exception. With all the different brands and types, cigarette adds appeal to a variety of people. Eve appeals to the women, striving to be beautiful, even when smoking. And by the looks of this add they obviously get their point across. A beautiful add for beautiful cigarettes. So say "Farewell to the ugly cigarettes. Smoke pretty. eve."

Observation Rough Draft 2

There was a green sign. That was the first thing I noticed, was the bright green sign with the words 'Liberty Heights Fresh'. The sun was setting behind the sign, illuminating it, drawing me in, so I gladly went in. I could smell the ripe apricots from across the street, see the bright signs luring me inside. The entrance really wasn't a door per-say, it was more of a large garage door wide open, welcome all customers and people inside the small store. I browsed all the delicious fruits, apples, strawberries, raspberries, figs, and much more. I found local jars of honey, bottles of olive oil and fresh cheeses. As I picked out a ripe apple and a bottle of black tea I began to think. I thought, and thought and thought while I ate my crisp apple, not paying attention to the sticky juices running down my arm. I my thoughts were curious, I wondered if me, one small person, am I contributing to a greener world by buying local groceries from a locally owned grocery store? So I sat and pondered my question and listened, smelled, tasted and engulfed myself in the local atmosphere of this simple grocery store.

The first thing I noticed was the signs around me. Most of them included the words 'local', 'organic' and 'fresh'. The apple had me convinced that every product in the store contained all those words. I could taste the freshness, the simple '9' in front of the produce code numbers indicated it was organic, and the reassurance of the cashier let me know it was local. Next I watched the people, they were the most important. There were lots of people to put into consideration, the farmers, the employees, the people shopping. Of course I couldn't speak to the farmers the next best was the employees. I noticed special things about them unique things. As I browsed around, taking everything in, a man asked if I needed any help, I smiled and said 'I'm alright, I'm just browsing." He smiled back and went about his work. Its nice to know your noticed in a store and that people are there to help when you need it. Later I saw the same man, and another kindly talking to one another, working together moving large boxes to the back. Even their mundane and daunting tasks seemed easy to them because they had a good attitude about it.

After that I thought about the people who shop there. Do they shop here a lot? Do they believe they are helping out a larger cause? The first person that stood out to me was a boy, sitting outside with his bike on a orange table, listening to his MP3 player and eating some food. A few minutes after I had sat outside on a matching bright orange rusting table, another boy came up and greeted the boy sitting. Boy 1 (who was sitting on the table), asked how Boy 2 (who had rode up on his bike) was doing. They obviously knew each and began talking. 

"Ya I just got back from traveling from Vancouver, BC to San Francisco." Said Boy 2. 

"Did you document it?" Asked Boy 1. 

"Ya we took a ton of pictures, I'll have to upload them to Facebook and show you." Boy 1 nodded. "Awesome bike, I didn't know you bought one." Said Boy 2. 

"Ya I actually bought it off criagslist from some Army guy who took it all around Europe." They continued talking and eventually Boy 2 said "Ya I haven't been here [Liberty Height Market] in a while, I should come here more often." That statement made me believe that they get a lot of regular customer. Regular customers who ride their bikes, and go on adventures. 

A few minutes later a woman came riding in on her bike with a black backpack on. She browsed the foods, picked out two zucchini, a bag of peaches and weighs them. Shes wearing gray converse shoes, white basketball shorts and white v-neck t-shirt. Kindly pays for her food and rides off with her groceries in her reusable bag. It seemed like her, along with another people realize what they can do for the environment. Buy locally, ride your bike or walk and use reusable bags. Later I watched as a man brought his child into the store. Without even realizing it, he's already setting the child up for a healthy lifestyle for his generation. He's learning about organically grown food and that buying locally benefits us as well as the farmers. Just like the small child, I was brought up to be concise about what I ate and how I treated the earth.

After I finished my food, packed up my things and began to walk home I thought about everything I had seen in that short time. I came to my conclusion, the answer was yes. Yes was all I could think. Yes, I can be the one to do my own part. Yes, people do care about their community by doing their part too. Yes, local farmers, grocers and customers benefit from me and other doing their small part to help build a greener better earth. So yes, I am buying locally and so are other for a greater cause, and of course the delicious food.

A Step To Something More...Perhaps.

There was a green sign. That was the first thing I noticed, was the bright green sign with the words 'Liberty Heights Fresh'. The sun was setting behind the sign, illuminating it, drawing me in, so I gladly went in. I could smell the ripe apricots from across the street, see the bright signs luring me inside. The entrance really wasn't a door per-say, it was more of a large garage door wide open, welcome all customers and people inside the small store. I browsed all the delicious fruits, apples, strawberries, raspberries, figs, and much more. I found local jars of honey, bottles of olive oil and fresh cheeses. As I picked out a ripe apple and a bottle of black tea I began to think. I thought, and thought and thought while I ate my crisp apple, not paying attention to the sticky juices running down my arm. I my thoughts were curious, I wondered if me, one small person, am I contributing to a greener world by buying local groceries from a locally owned grocery store? So I sat and pondered my question and listened, smelled, tasted and engulfed myself in the local atmosphere of this simple grocery store.

The first thing I noticed was the signs around me. Most of them included the words 'local', 'organic' and 'fresh'. The apple had me convinced that every product in the store contained all those words. I could taste the freshness, the simple '9' in front of the produce code numbers indicated it was organic, and the reassurance of the cashier let me know it was local. But did everyone enjoy these specifications as much as me? Next I watched the people, they were the most important. There were lots of people to put into consideration, the farmers, the employees, the people shopping. Of course I couldn't speak to the farmers the next best was the employees. I noticed special things about them unique things. As I browsed around, taking everything in, a man asked if I needed any help, I smiled and said 'I'm alright, I'm just browsing." He smiled back and went about his work. Its nice to know your noticed in a store and that people are there to help when you need it. Later I saw the same man, and another kindly talking to one another, working together moving large boxes to the back. Even their mundane and daunting tasks seemed easy to them because they had a good attitude about it. After that I thought about the people who shop there. What are they like? Do they shop here a lot? Do they believe they are helping out a larger cause? The first person that stood out to me was a boy, sitting outside with his bike on a orange table, listening to his MP3 player and eating some food. A few minutes after I had sat outside on a matching bright orange rusting table, another boy came up and greeted the boy sitting. Boy 1 (who was sitting on the table), asked how Boy 2 (who had rode up on his bike) was doing. They obviously knew each and began talking. "Ya I just got back from traveling from Vancouver, BC to San Francisco." Said Boy 2. "Did you document it?" Asked Boy 1. "Ya we took a ton of pictures, I'll have to upload them to Facebook and show you." Boy 1 nodded. "Awesome bike, I didn't know you bought one." Said Boy 2. "Ya I actually bought it off criagslist from some Army guy who took it all around Europe." They continued talking and eventually Boy 2 said "Ya I haven't been here [Liberty Height Market] in a while, I should come here more often." That statement made me believe that they get a lot of regular customer. Regular customers who ride their bikes, and go on adventures. Later I watched as a man brought his child into the store. Without even realizing it, he's already setting the child up for a healthy lifestyle for his generation. He's learning about organically grown food and that buying locally benefits us as well as the farmers. Just like the small child, I was brought up to be concise about what I ate and how I treated the earth.

After I finished my food, packed up my things and began to walk home I thought about everything I had seen in that short time. I came to my conclusion, the answer was yes. Yes was all I could think. Yes, I can be the one to do my own part. Yes, people do care about their community by doing their part too. Yes, local farmers, grocers and customers benefit from me and other doing their small part to help build a greener better earth. So yes, I am buying locally and so are other for a greater cause, and of course the delicious food.

X-Files Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space' Paper

The show begins, intense sci-fi music plays as the ‘space ship’ come onto the screen, as the camera pans up to the man fixing the telephone poles. Even the beginning scene of the X-Files season 3, episode 20, Jose Chung’s ‘From Outer Space’, is full of perception creating reality. As we see the ‘space ship’ enter the scene we already assume its a spaceship because perception tells us so. After watching the whole episode, although every character was very interesting, the Pilot,  Lieutenant Jack Schaefer caught my attention. He’s interconnected with every ones stories, and he had me most convinced throughout the episode. It brought me to think Mulder wanted to believe the pilot could explain what happened so he perceived his story to be real to give himself some sense of reality.

The first time we see the pilot, although we don’t know its him yet, is through the boy, Harold’s point of view. Harold is telling Mulder and Skully about what happened the night of the abduction. He’s the grey alien smoking on the ship, which later makes you think the boys story is correct for seeing the pilot smoking. The boy says the gray alien “was just talking...in English, he just kept saying the same thing over and over again ‘this is not happening, this is not happening’”. By seeing him from the boys perspective we get an idea that he was real, that he actually was abducted along with the two kids. Later on the man, Roky Crikenson gives Mulder and Skully his script form story of the events that night. He says he saw the two grey aliens and one third alien. One of the gray aliens was obviously the pilot, thus planting the pilot, or one of the aliens, at the scene in which Mulder had read, putting the pilot there in his mind. Finally Skully is dissecting the dead alien body they had found. Upon the autopsy, she notices a zipper and they then realize the gray aliens were men in suits, Military men. Its then that Mulder finds out that the dead man was in the Air Force, planting the idea that its the government in his head. He tricks the Military into giving him the name of the other grey alien, and finds out Lieutenant Jack Schaefer is the other gray alien.

Now we are hearing Mulder’s story from Skully’s point of view. She says ‘his account of things get a little odd’, so we aren’t sure if any of the following actually happened, it’s just what Mulder said happened. While he’s driving he runs into the Jack Schaefer walking naked down a dark road. He’s scratched up and looks dazed. Mulder calls his name and he grabs him repeating “this is not happening”. We hear him say this again, once on the ship as the gray alien and again now. In Mulder’s mind it’s what Schaefer would say, but we can’t be sure he was even there. The scene goes onto Mulder talking to Schaefer in a dinner. Jack Schaefer lights up a cigarette and tells Mulder many things, he tells him he’s the pilot of a flying saucer. The government abducts people, they take them “back to their base, let the doctors work on them nothing physical they just mess with their minds”, Mulder replies “hypnosis”. From this scene we know Mulder already knows the girl may have been hypnotized and so thinks that's what the government would do try experiments on. Everything in this scene is evidence Mulder is just making the pilot up. He says things that have already been said, solidifies facts that Mulder wasn’t sure was true, but wanted to believe. The pilot goes on to say he’s “sure that him his co pilot and those two kids were abducted”, but then says he can’t be sure of anything, “I'm not sure were even having this conversation, i don’t know if these mash potatoes are here...”. It seems like answers and the whole scenario straight from Mulder’s mind. As the government storms in to abduct Lieutenant Jack Schaefer. We then find out that the cook who works at the dinner says that Mulder was there alone, asking him questions and ordering pie with every question he asked. This seems more like Mulder than when he was talking to the pilot. One more piece of evidence to tell us Mulder thought the conversation with Jack Schaefer was in his head, making all the loose ends he couldn’t figure out make sense to him by the pilot telling him what he wanted to hear.

Throughout the episode the stories we hear about and the people Mulder and Skully talk to all combine into the conversation with Milder and Lieutenant Jack Schaefer. We get a sense of closure with this conversation. We get the idea that Lord Kimboo is real, that the boy and girls stories match up, that the government is behind all the abductions and that there are really aliens out there. All of Mulder’s questions are answered too. Every piece of pie Mulder ate was the reality, and the beat up pilot was only the perception Mulder made for himself.

Ad Critique

Among a variety of vintage cigarette adds, found on Well Medicated, a post 40 Gorgeous Vintage Tobacco Advertisements, one particular add stood out to me. Most of them had pretty people smoking, couples smoking, Santa, doctors and even an old women. But the one I found most interesting was the Eve cigarette add.

Cigarette adds try to appeal everyone. Whether its to look cool, to relax, to attract women or men, or that its good for you, each add is trying to get you to buy their brand. Usually with attractive, famous or smart people, like doctors or scientists in the adds. Telling you why you should buy their brands and not another one. This particular add is unique because its appealing to women, where as most of them are for men. The name 'Eve' stuck out to me the most, with a woman in the garden of flowers on the box of the cigarettes, representing femininity and sexuality. They make smoking look beautiful with their pretty and flowery cigarettes. This particular cigarette add is different from other adds because there aren't any people in it. It has a soft background of flowers with a beautiful women's hand, with her fingernails carefully painted a dainty pink color. It's a lot more girly, very appealing to women who love flowers and girly things to make them look beautiful. The word pretty is used a lot in the add also, saying its 'the newest way to express your love of pretty things'.

All advertisements make you want to buy their products. Cigarette advertisements are no exception. With all the different brands and types, cigarette adds appeal to a variety of people. Eve appeals to the women, striving to be beautiful, even when smoking. And by the looks of this add they obviously get their point across. A beautiful add for beautiful cigarettes. So say "Farewell to the ugly cigarettes. Smoke pretty. eve."

Observation Notes

Question: Is it better for people and the environment to buy locally made and grown food?
Location: Liberty Heights Fresh

Hear: I hear cars driving passed. The crisp crunch of my apple. The cashier talking and helping customers. Two guys talking outside the store. A small child asking to his father to push the small car. The bass of a car stopped at the light.

Smell: my pink lady apple. Loads of fresh fruits. Smokey smell of car exhaust. Smell of the Parmesan cheese at the cheese bar. The smell of the fresh wood of the shelving.

Taste: The sweet and tart juice from my apple. My organic peach black tea.

Touch: The smooth peel, and sticky juices running down onto my hand from my bitten apple. The dirty orange table outside, covered with wood chips. The slight softness of the fresh avocado.

See: Large variety of fruits, vegetable, meats, cheeses, fish, juices, teas, olive oil, spices, jams, merchandise (shirts, bags, gift cards with the store logo), yogurt, milk. Two large garage doors, one gray, one red with windows painted yellow, purple & pink. (looks reused, maybe an old garage shop). Produce scales. Dried peppers hanging outside. Crates, baskets and barrels of food on display.

7:00-8:00 pm
I browse inside the shop, checking out the array of food carefully set up in the small shop. I pick out a fresh apple, and buying a ice tea drink. I go outside to sit on the rusty orange table to eat my food and observe.

-A guy is sitting on the other orange table, listening to his ipod. Another buy guy comes out of the shop, recognized the one sitting at the table. They begin talking about the first guys bike. He says he bought it from an army guy off of craigslist, who took the bike all over Europe. The second guy says that he just got back from traveling from Vancouver, British Columbia to San Fransisco, California and that he took a lot of pictures. Both said they needed to come ‘here’ (Liberty Heights Fresh, grocery store), more often. One walks off, leaving the other to finish listening to his ipod, who eventually rides away on his Europe trotting bike.
-Woman with dog jogs by.
-Two employees (male) carefully but efficiantly move a large quantity of boxed sodas from outside into the back stock room. They worked together and still did their job. They greeted and helped the customers who were still at the small grocery store.
-Man with a golden retreiver buys some flowers.
-Woman comes in with her bike and backpack on. She picks out two zuchinni, a bag of peaches and weighs them. Shes wearing gray converse shoes, white basketball shorts and white v-neck t-shirt. Kindly pays for her food and rides off with her groceries in her reusable bag.

As I sit, watching them close up the shop, I notice some of the things surrounding me a bit more. The Sanpellegrino canned juice, the bright green and orange flavored Selzter drinks. The different advertisement signs: “Organically grown sustainably farmed food”, No Smoking in accordance with Utah indoor clean air act, inside or within 25 feet”, “Local eggs-laid fresh by happy hens”, and add sign made from one of their paper bags. I see the bright red tomatoes, peaches, large melons all outside on sale, all organic. They begin to close shop and I carefully throw away my apple core, recycle my glass bottle and leave them to finish their work.

Thoughts:
-I noticed people who came into the shop or stopped by, all seemed to know each other. It seems like a small community, everyone is friends, and friendly to others. Probably get a lot of ‘regulars’ coming in.
-How long have the local people been going to the Liberty Height Fresh?
-It seemed like there was a variety of people. Including families, single people and younger and older people too.
-I saw a father and a small boy together and I wonder if they are teaching their kids about organic food.
-Is it really helping local farmers?
-I noticed a lot of people smiled and asked how if i needed any help, much kinder than regular chain grocery stores.
-All of the food seemed so much fresher, more colorful and a higher quality than some of the grocery stores.
-Its nice to see little shops like these getting a lot of business, its bringing people fresh foods, organic foods, its an enjoyable place to shop, quaint and less people.

Observation Paper

Buying Locally

Murray Farmers Market
The farmers market in Murray isn’t as big as the one in Pioneer Park. Its quaint, less people, but still has a great selection of local goods. There are many fruit, veggie, bread and even cheese booths to choose from. Everyone is chatting in the slightly chilly morning air, all excited to be at the farmers market. They’re carrying their reusable bags to bear the abundance of produce they will buy. The first table I see is covered with boxes of ripe orange nectarines, juicy raspberries, and mounds of blackberries.The man selling his locally grown fruit smiles at the lady handing him $3 for a large bag of nectarines. I continue walking on, browsing the next larger exhibit of vegetable. Every box and crate is filled to the top with colorful squashes, zucchinis, potatoes, cucumbers, and onions, a delicious variety. Its busy with everyone picking out their perfect vegetable, making sure their ripe and firm. Another table is selling large bushels of raspberries. My mouth waters at the luscious red raspberries. To my delight they are handing out samples. I ask if they use any pesticides on their raspberries, because its harmful to produce. The man kindly answers no and assures me its all organic. I smile as I pop in the raspberry. My watering mouth sucks in the juices of the tart yet sweet raspberry oozing in my mouth. I thank the man and buy a small bunch, because they were too delicious to pass up. The next booth I pass buy is selling local honey. The tiny bears containing the honey smile up at me as I smell the sweet nectar of the quality honey. I move on to a cheese booth. Also with samples of goat cheese spreads. The lady whose selling the cheese tells me all the goats are well taken care of, grass fed, free to roam, generally happy goats. You can tell by the taste of the yummy cheese spreads they are happy. I give in and buy some mozzarella cheese. Next I check out the bread booth, another busy booth. The smell of fresh baked bread hits my nose, I en-hale, enjoying the warm smell. I gaze at the wonderful selection. Asiago, rolls, loafs of every kind, baguettes, french bread, bread for soups, jalapeno bread, tomato loafs, and pastries galore. I buy a strawberry danish while I look around at the different loafs and watch the three busy people who brought the bread help customers, running back and forth between people, bagging bread as quickly as possible. This was definitely one of the busiest booths. There were many more booths. Some selling peppers and salsa, some selling the same zucchini, cucumbers and other veggies. At every booth I passed all the fruits and vegetables looked well grown. Each person selling their produce worked hard to grow and maintain their crops. You could tell they loved what they did, and it didn’t cost them as much to ship the produce out, they could sell it only a couple miles away to the local people who get to enjoy their hard work. I left happy knowing my grocery bag was full and I had helped contribute to locally grown and sold items.


(Everything seemed a lot more colorful and people were nicer because their were selling their food, instead of just an employee at a chain grocery store)
(Most of the food is cheaper than that at grocery stores)
(A lot of the food seems to be fresher and taste better because it hasn't been shipped over seas or across the country to people, it was all grown right here in Utah)
(Everyone who was shopping seems a lot more happy and excited about grocery shopping, instead of some people feel like its a burden sometimes)
(The people who were selling their products really seemed to enjoy what they did and excited to share it with their customers)