Most people think of New Jersey as a suburban-industrial corridor that runs between New York and Philadelphia. Yet in the low center of the state is a near wilderness, larger than most national parks, which has been known since the seventeenth century as the Pine Barrens. The term refers to the predominant trees in the vast forests that cover the area and to the quality of the soils below, which are too sandy and acid to be good for farming. On all sides, however, developments of one kind or another have gradually moved in ...
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Most people think of New Jersey as a suburban-industrial corridor that runs between New York and Philadelphia. Yet in the low center of the state is a near wilderness, larger than most national parks, which has been known since the seventeenth century as the Pine Barrens. The term refers to the predominant trees in the vast forests that cover the area and to the quality of the soils below, which are too sandy and acid to be good for farming. On all sides, however, developments of one kind or another have gradually moved in, so that now the central and integral forest is reduced to about a thousand square miles. Although New Jersey has the heaviest population density of any state, huge segments of the Pine Barrens remain uninhabited. The few people who dwell in the region, the "Pineys," are little known and often misunderstood. Here McPhee uses his uncanny skills as a journalist to explore the history of the region and describe the people--and their distinctive folklore--who call it home.
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In spite of the dates listed here, this book was first published in 1965. This is a must read, for those of us who love and have paddled and hiked in the Pine Barrens, for those who think NJ is all strip malls and highways, for anyone who wants to learn more about history and nature. The Pines are a national treasure, w/ unique flora and fauna.
Along w/ a through history of the place and people, McPhee made a prediction about what would happen to the Pine Barrens over time. Read the book to see how accurate his prediction has been so far.
If you've never read McPhee's works, this is a great place to start: he's also a national treasure.
