Author: jgersony
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A year in the life of a Northeastern Conifer
Dr. Malini’s Cold Tolerance Experiment By Al Torrens-Martin On a cold, dark afternoon in December, I was trained in the use of an exciting new scientific instrument: the electrolyte leakage probe. As I learned the method, I felt a little bit like a sorcerer. Even though the steps aren’t very complicated, the result – a…
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In the pines #3.5
By Al Torrens-Martin The lates issue of In the Pines has arrived! This one is a mini edition focused on the pine tree as a habitat, and as an edible resource for animals and even humans! Special shout out to the Pine Warbler as an interesting new bird to learn about, as well as mice…
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Pre-Dawn Water Potential: A photo essay
By Al Torrens-Martin Pictured above are the 2023 summer members of the Smith College PLACE Lab, joined by researchers from the plant biology department at the University of New Hampshire. This image was captured sometime around 5am on a misty morning in August, as we banded together to experience the epic highs and lows of…
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Onions, Onions, Onions:
In many countries, plant-based medicine has been passed down through generations of people and is rooted in a strong knowledge of the land one inhabits. However, while someone may understand which plants can heal them, there is much more ambiguity as to why. This is especially true for cultural remedies, which aren’t taught or learned…
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in the pines: #2
Below is a scan of the second iteration of my zine, In The Pines. This issue focuses on waterways, and was inspired by a late afternoon walk I took this summer along the Mill River path, while I was staying on campus for my internship. I waded into the river, still slightly murky from recent…
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Why is Urban Forestry Important?
By Al Torrens-Martin This summer, the PLACE lab at Smith College is involved in many projects, one of which includes sampling data from trees located in the Churchill neighborhood of Holyoke, MA. This is in connection with Holyoke’s Urban Forest Equity Plan, as well as the Urban Trees Ecophysiology Network, which connects several cities in…
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