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Post by cddexter on Apr 8, 2014 13:22:56 GMT -5
yippeeeee
Just posted my last assignment. 40% of the final mark. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
I've worked in universities for years, audited the odd course, but never actually been a 'student'. I'm now registered in the Dept. of Environmental Studies at the local uni in Victoria (60 miles away), taking a Certificate in Restoration of Natural Systems, which is a green program for tree huggers. UVic does 'distance' courses, where it's all on-line, especialy for people working who want to upgrade their professional skills or take a Masters degree. Lots of oil patch people, and undergrads taking the course for their minor, I was the oldest by about 30 years.
I discovered having a LOT of life experience helped enormously, as I know how to prepare reports, and bs along with the best of them.
Each course is one semester, take up to six years to complete the program. I'll be dead and buried by that time, but at least I'm trying.
I hadn't realized how stressed I was feeling until I got up this morning and realized NO HOMEWORK. It's over. I did it. No matter what the mark I make, I made it through, completed the run. I've got that summer holidays feeling. yippeeee.
cheers, c.
PS and my other cow calved with a heifer yesterday. That's two out of two this year. All my registered stock went to OK last year, these are rescue Dexters, purebred but no papers and no chance of getting them,either (too many owners, no records). The first heifer is dun, haven't had a dun born here in years.
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Post by Fran on Apr 8, 2014 14:06:36 GMT -5
Congratulations!!! And congrats on the two heifers too!
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zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
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Post by zephyrhillsusan on Apr 8, 2014 18:56:22 GMT -5
Way to go! I well remember that feeling of freedom after slavery. No chance I will ever experience it again, though--you are far braver than I! Congratulations on finishing, congratulations in advance on doing well, and congratulations on two heifers!
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Post by legendrockranch on Apr 8, 2014 21:45:11 GMT -5
Wow c I'm impressed. Sorry to say you won't find me going back to school anytime soon. Well if it had to do with cattle I might. Barb
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Post by carragheendexters on Apr 8, 2014 22:02:47 GMT -5
Well done! It's a fantastic feeling when you finish. I'll give you a couple of weeks and you'll be champing at the bit to get back to studies. Studying is a bit like a drug, it's addictive, and you can't ever get enough. "Mature-age students" as we call us oldies here in Australia do have the advantage of life experience, gives you a bit of an advantage when studying.
Six years will fly past, and then you will looking for something else to enrol in. LOL
Congrats on 2 out of 2 heifers too.
regards Louise
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Post by stephanie on Apr 9, 2014 3:47:59 GMT -5
Well done girlie!!!
....Yes it is different as a mature student I did my qualifications in my late 30s...a few years ago now but still remember it and feel the fear of the exams hurtling towards me!
Stephanie
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Post by Dahdo on Apr 9, 2014 9:38:31 GMT -5
The program sounds fascinating. To restore a natural system you would need an understanding of soils, plants, geology, hydrology, climate, and how they affect habitat. Hey wait a minute...isn't that what you just did for that last few decades?! I have no doubt you'll be getting high marks.
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Post by cddexter on Apr 20, 2014 8:35:20 GMT -5
uncross your fingers, and thanks, guys, it worked.
Just got the mark on the final assignment: 37 out of 40.
That gives me a course mark of 91.5%
Pretty good for a getting forgetful 72 and a half. I already have my next five courses all picked out.
Marion has this expression for when she's really excited about something: she says it makes her socks roll up and down.
My socks are going so fast I'm getting dizzy.
cheers, me.
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Post by lavacaw on Apr 20, 2014 8:42:05 GMT -5
Way to go!!!
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Post by ssrdex on Apr 20, 2014 11:04:12 GMT -5
Hi Carol D, congratulations on your well deserved high marks! You've got guts, that's for sure.
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zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
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Post by zephyrhillsusan on Apr 20, 2014 15:22:58 GMT -5
Congratulations! I know you earned every bit of your excellent marks with really hard work!
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Post by stephanie on Apr 21, 2014 3:47:53 GMT -5
Carol that is an amazing course mark, how do you intend to celebrate???
Stephanie
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Post by cddexter on Apr 21, 2014 10:05:02 GMT -5
Ummm, make an extra batch of lentil soup? Make the 60 mile drive to Victoria to sit in the sun--or rain most likely--on the new property (spur to do this in the first place), listening to frogs and birds and the breeze? Upgrade to some place with tablecloths for a dinner? It's actually a really interesting program. Basically it's about repairing the damage we do to industrial sites so over time they can recover, ditto where we've overdeveloped or damaged the landscape and it won't recover unless we take steps to help. Also, to consider the original diversity of plants and animals and try to establish conditions where this will restore itself, over time. And, to look at that diversity, and do what we can to protect enough of it where it exists that it will remain, and create contiguous areas that will perpetuate it. I guess. For instance, the enormous marshes in the Tigris/Euphrates fork, huge areas of the Amazon rain forest, Arctic tundra, and areas around the world that are now desert. On a smaller scale, open pit mining, abandoned logging roads and new roads, that interfere with natural drainage, siltage of streams, etc., ocean and lake foreshore development and breakwaters that destroy the natural water currents, identification of species whose habitats are been destroyed by development. On a local scale, things as basic as invasive species that take over and smother native species, and the ditching of strams to contain them for 'convenience' meanwhile cutting down all the trees so the water temp rises which in turn destroys existing native species and prevents fish from using the stream, agriculture being too greedy and farmers eliminating hedgerows and potholes and woods to gain an extra acre or two which in turn then eliminates habitat for waterfowl and songbirds and all the little bugs and stuff.. The new property I bought in Victoria is 7.6 acres, mostly covered in Douglas Fir, Red Alder and Western Red Cedar, of which the local gov't has declared 5 acres protected against any development (no trees cut, no holes dug, no infilling, no buildings, no domestic animals). The property has springs, three different types of wetland areas, and a seasonal stream that was ditched to control it, probably back in the mid 1800's. One of the wet areas has been taken over by Reed Canary grass, a highly invasive coarse non-native that's completely filled what used to be a pond. It's in full sun, and in the summer you can walk across it and it's like walking on a water bed it's so choked with years of die-down. I have permission to clean this out and restore the area to a pond. This will allow me to add all sorts of neat native water and margin plants, some of which are now considered endangered. Another wet area is fully shaded by Alder and Cedar trees, with a big mud area in the middle that stays wet year-round. It's been invaded by creeping buttercup, another non-native that's taken over the whole site, choking out everything else. Beautiful in the spring and summer, with the water glinting through, like pin-prick lights or stars. This one is going to be almost impossible to fix, as buttercups have roots that go down 2-3 feet and all it takes is a piece 1/2 inch long to start the plant again. I can try to smother it by laying down black plastic in huge sheets, waiting two years, and then planting native species in the hope they'll take over but buttercups are much more aggressive than any native plant. Unfortunately, there are several introduced plant species that are hugely aggressive compared to the native plants, so it's going to be a looooong haul. The original English settlers who came here missed their native plants, so transplanted some of them. Too bad for us they picked the invasive ones. Vancouver Island is now completely overrun with Scotch broom, Holly and Hawthorn trees, buttercups, ivy, spurge laurel, and reed canary. This program iincludes a mediation course, so rather than running around on rocks and streams and slippery slopes at my age, I think I'll use it to get concensus between landowners and the public and governments, and advise othes on how best to repair the damage done by previous generations. Instead of dwindling away from boredom, I guess I've found something to do to keep me busy for the next gazillion years. cheers, me.
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Post by stephanie on Apr 21, 2014 11:44:26 GMT -5
Well Carol....doesn't sound like you have any intention of getting bored! That does sound good fun too. The planning people over here and other terribly erudite people get in the way of lots of things I would like to do. For instance there was a pond near a barn and when it was to be converted I thought it would be nice whilst we had lots of equipment there to reinstate a tiny pond nearby. The planners wouldn't have it in the curtilage of the barn and the powers that be wouldn't let me do it if it was left in part of the field, it was damp, needed to stay as wet, no amount of pointing out that it had just silted up over time and had been pond made any difference. Pity I like ponds.
I do have japanese knot weed which I sometimes spray but I've discovered that if its in a place where I can put the dexters and then the herdwick sheep, they both absolutely love it and practically wait for it to pop a shoot up, so they do eventually persecute it to death, takes a year or so though. I have heard that it is nice in a salad...never tried it and don't intend to.
Stephanie
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zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
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Post by zephyrhillsusan on Apr 22, 2014 12:44:29 GMT -5
It sounds like a fascinating program! You certainly have plenty of places all over the world to choose from, and some knotty problems to work on in your new back yard. No, you will never be bored! Stephane, it sounds like you've solved your "knotty" problem! Go, Dexters!
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