In 1875, the Overland Monthly magazine published the words of John Muir’s observations and musings about the relationship between human civilization and nature in the column Wild Wool, a theme established by his own words of intention, “To obtain a hearing on behalf of Nature from any other standpoint than that of human use is almost impossible ….”

Many advocates for Sterling Oak and the public land it occupies can relate to the frustrations of government officials who may be dismissive or appear not to be listening. The constant tugs on threads hitching everything around us show no signs of ending, as Muir’s reflections seem just as relevant today.

“No dogma taught by the present civilization seems to form so insuperable an obstacle in the way of a right understanding of the relations which culture sustains to wildness, as that which declares that the world as made especially for the uses of men. Every animal, plant, and crystal controverts it in the plainest terms. Yet it is taught from century to century as something ever new and precious, and in the resulting darkness the enormous conceit is allowed to go unchallenged.“

– John Muir, April 1875, Overland Monthly “Wild Wool”

One hundred and fifty years later, we are still learning about the disconnection from the environment that fuels many decisions about the fate of public lands. In continuing with Muir’s well-known writings and pleas for preservation of public lands, the Sierra Club Southeast Michigan Chapter Executive Committee sent a letter of inquiry to the Sterling Heights City Council, questioning the sale of public land for private development, as highlighted earlier in the ARPA-funded land purchase.

The letter is online at their website here:

We would encourage residents to contact the Sterling Heights City Council to address the questions raised in this inquiry. This land deal can still be reversed with the Jan 1, 2026, checkpoint as allowed by the contract. As of this posting, there are no signs that the required permits will be obtained by this date, given the significant habitat destruction required to make the proposed apartment building work in this floodplain area.

P.S. Think about it, as Muir was writing all of these now famous words advocating for preservation of public lands, the Sterling Oak was standing in this little patch of woods in Southeast Michigan. 🌳

---

Photo: John Muir writing at his desk, A. B. Wilson. Circa 1890, U.S. National Park Service