The Big Belching Bog

The 23rd annual Minnesota writers event at the Cambridge campus of ARCC, featured Phyllis Root, the author of over 30 children's books, and author and artist Betsy Bowman. They shared their experience and inspiration for the writing and illustrations in their collaboration of The Big Belching Bog.

Phyllis Root had originally planned on writing a children’s numbers book with the Big Bog State Park as a theme but was struggling to make that work. She took her first trip to the big bog and, "fell in love with the bog. There is no other place like this."

As Root ventured into the bog, on its one-mile long elevated platform, she "was smitten with its beauty." It was the most amazing site and she described the sun coming through the trees and hitting the bog as if it was stained glass Tiffany.  Nearing the end of the walkway she saw the bog was, "green, blue and pink where the peat had grown into islands with Tamarac and spruce trees growing upon them giving the appearance of ships sailing away in the distance."

Part of Root’s experience included meeting with a naturalist who pointed out some of the various plant species, frogs and birds that inhabited the bog while explaining their individual and unique niche. From the naturalist Root learned about the phenomenon of the belching bog.  Methane gas builds up slowly underneath the moss and pushes the surface up 6 to 8 inches. As the gas escapes they say that it belches. No one has ever heard it, but it is known to happen. That was the revelation for the storyline and the artist uniquely qualified to illustrate The Big Belching Bog was Betsy Bowmen.

At that point during the event Betsy Bowmen began speaking and described her plan for illustrating the book. She visited the bog and, “decided to do one wood carving for each of the unique backgrounds and then press them with ink onto the page.” She finished the individual pages by brushing them with oil paint. The illustrator needed to make the decision on what or who was going to be the narrator as the story of the belching bog unfolded. Bowmen believed that there was something about a picture of a landscape with animals and their friendly faces that drew one into the story. That was when she realized that it was already described in the book and an energetic, lively little finch with a fantail would narrate the journey.

Phyllis Root then began to read with illustrations in hand. She offered up secrets of the bog one at a time with the little finch leading the way from one stunning illustration to the next. The bog is apparently a cold, wet and seemingly hostile environment with plants that eat insects and frogs that freeze in the winter and come back to life the spring. All through the book something rose page by page, slowly getting closer, until it finally reached the surface, and maybe you will be the one to hear the big bog belch.

At the end of the reading everyone was invited up to the stage to have a closer look at the wood carvings used to press the pages and various stages of the artwork as it was completed. Both women signed books and answered questions for as long as people were willing to stay.

Interview with a Freshman

It is midterm fall semester at Anoka Ramsey Community College and the hallways are pulsating with that life-giving force that comes every fall. Yes, it is the freshman and their young smiling faces. They have survived the mid-terms exams. One of the survivors is 19-year-old Megan Norenberg who aspires to be a kindergarten teacher and aspirations of continuing her education at Bemidji State University and said, "…it has been my dream school." After getting her teaching degree Megan said, “I would love to come back to my hometown and teach," preferably at my grade school, Hamilton, in Blaine, MN.

When she was asked if she had a grade school teacher that inspired her she said,"This may sound corny but all of them did." She explained that each teacher taught her a different life skill; from literature to listening. She said, "I think kids are hilarious and I would love to teach them skills that will help them succeed in life."

She loves to read and says it helps her to relax. With a firm belief in the power of the written word Megan maintains a diary of everyone she meets. When she wrote for her high school paper she said, "I developed a love and respect for journalism."

In her spare time she loves to play sports, from ballet to hockey, but she said, "I don't play basketball since I'm only 4 feet 8 inches.” Every weekend she drives to Bemidji to help out at the family café while her aunt is recovering from a medical condition.

            There are so many different students, all with their own unique story, but there is one common thread, the desire to succeed in life.

Sleepless in America

A recent study on sleep deprivation indicated a direct correlation between accidents and an individual's sleep habits.  Diana Gant, a professor of psychology involved with these experiments stated that sleep is a matter of public and personal safety. It can be as hazardous to be sleep deprived as it is to be intoxicated.

The study found when people were provided a clean and comfortable bed with no external distractions, in a darkened room, most people averaged nine to 10 hours of sleep at an optimal temperature of 65 degrees. Some people still required an afternoon nap.

On average, most people only get seven to eight hours of sleep and some people get as little as four to five hours of sleep. Some of this can be attributed to various sleep disorders Gant stated. There are also people who believe that they are being more productive by staying awake longer. In the process they are depriving themselves of the sleep that they need.

Many people exercise to maintain their health stated the professor and not everybody would agree, but people should look at sleep as if it were an exercise. Sleep is healthy; and if someone does not get enough, sooner or later it will catch up with them.

The professor explained that not all of the evidence comes from laboratory experiments. There is correlating statistical data that links sleeplessness with accidents. Every spring when there is a shift to daylight savings time there is an 8 percent increase in accidents within the state. Gant stated that it is something similar to jet lag but on a national level. There is also a corresponding decrease in accidents when the time changes in the fall.

Major disasters can also be looked at. For example, the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The media focused on the possibility that the captain was drinking. Undershifting and long shifts may have caused the third mate to fall asleep at the wheel. Lack of sleep very well could be the culprit. Gant pointed out that the lack of proper sleep may have played a role in the Chernobyl nuclear reactor and the space shuttle Challenger disasters, too.

All researchers agree that a good night’s sleep is essential, Gant stated. There are some basic criteria to achieve this. Avoid tobacco, coffee and alcohol before going to sleep. Avoid foods such as chocolate or things containing sugar. When the effects of these wear off the brain becomes more active in the middle of the night causing you to wake up . One should always spend an hour relaxing before going to sleep possibly reading a book or watching some television. A quiet dark room with clean sheets and comfortable bed are the basic essentials for a good night’s sleep.