It must be about fifteen years now since Tom Raine first drove through the front gate. Since then things have never been quite the same around The Hummertage, our small Texas hill country homestead and workshops.
A tall man in his late sixties, Tom remains strikingly trim and fit. Intense gray eyes and white thinning hair give one the impression of aging maturity. Look deep enough, however, and you will also sense a bubbling spring of joy and youthful energy welling up and out from behind that countenance of approaching quiet years. Add to that a complexion is dark . . . the look of those who relish hiking wilderness by-ways; skin that is weathered like an old gray barn. Worn jeans and loose fitting cotton T-shirt and bandana. That's the look of old Tom.
My friends and I are known as The Hummers. Tom had heard about our wood working skills. He heard we do some exciting things with native timber.
For example, we've never cut down a living tree. All our work is done with deadwood ….. the same material often found lying about pastures and fields.
Tom was also impressed with our commitment of utilizing over 95% of our raw material. Everything down to the saw dust itself becomes boxes, chests of drawers, desk and kitchen things, walking sticks, turnings and even aromatic cedar products. We've been learning how to fashion native timber for over a decade.
Tom came to us with an idea he had involving both wolves and wood crafting. All he needed was a little help. And once he got to telling his story, it didn't take long to see this man just down-right loves wolves. He expressed a deep concerned for their welfare and was also bothered by how little folks in general seem to know about wolves and their plight.
So, to help improve the situation Tom came up with a way to both increase public awareness, and provide financial aid at the same time. His scheme revolved around something called "The Wolf Staff."
"The what," I asked?
"The WOLF STAFF! It's gonna' be a one-of-a-kind hiking staff of the highest quality. But more important, it'll be hand-fashioned in the spirit of the North American Wolf."
But why a walking staff, I wanted to know? Why not do carvings or write a book, or found a society or something? I soon learned all this had already been done. No, Tom knew what he was after. He'd given it a great deal of thought that included months of research.
"The Wolf Staff is perfect because wolves are some of natures finest travelers. They move with unbounded grace, speed, and endurance. Experts believe they actually enjoy traveling. Anyone watching a wolf in motion will admire, if not envy it's agility and coordination . . . long, open, effortless lope or racing at full speed, twisting and turning on one foot, always the efficient hunter, while at the same time one of the most playful of the forest children . . . few canines can match their fluid movement and stamina as they become totally integrated, mind and body as one. Among Native Americans wolves appear in many legends as messengers, and great long distance travelers . . . a guide for anyone seeking the spiritual world."
"And yet, those who have studied wolves know them for many other superlative attributes as well. They speak of a communion, an awareness of being together; barriers between species and individuals become momentarily transcended. This essentially non-verbal state of sharing is apparently based not only on an advanced level of intelligence, but a kind of love, a deep emotional involvement which unites the pack. And this same level of loving concern can perhaps also unite man and wolf, or man and dog or any other sensitive and responsive creature."
Tom went on to tell me about one noted observer who after working with wolves for many years, recorded his strongest impression as their friendliness and affection toward each other. Adults play tag and romp with pups, I learned. They jump from hiding places to play-scare pack mates while they sleep.
They've even developed a unique kinship with ravens, apparently taking pleasure in their company. Although the birds have a common interest in the wolf's kill, there's more to the story. Apparently there's a mutual awareness of the others unique capabilities and talents resulting not only in a shared respect, but a level of comradeship rarely found in nature.
Warming to this subject, Tom explained how some of the most exemplary virtues of wolves include cooperation and social order. In fact many seem to feel the wolf pack echoes our own past way of life: togetherness, unity, kinship, altruism, loyalty, and obedience. The Native Americans, who know them best, have no stories about lone wolves. In earlier times the original peoples found in the wolf a worthy teacher. They learned if one wished to flow with the universe, or natural order of things in a harmonious way, one must do two things: be strong as an individual and yet submerge her personal feelings for the good of the tribe.
Native Americans felt no other animal did this as well as the wolf. Hence the prayer, "Help me fit, to be valuable in the world, like the wolf."
Tom began to see that through nature, through ecological relatedness and the interdependence of all things, we are all one . . . the wolf as much a part of man as man the wolf. As we destroy or demean nature, wolves, or any creature, great or small, we do no less to ourselves.
"So you want the Wolf Staff to symbolized all of this, right?," I asked.
"All this and much more," Tom replied.
"Wolves are masters of economy in motion. I want the Wolf Staff to embody this mastery. Though we humans, with our upright stance and long limbs, may never equal the dignified, yet effortless grace of wolves, we can gain much from emulation. By so doing we can learn to become confident participants in the partnership of the wilds. As the wolf, we can learn to see the smallest part of everything, while seeking out new vantage points and unknown vistas, ever tasting the wind."
When I asked where he got all this, Tom said, "Oh, I've been reading a lot and thinking a lot. Two books that really taught me a great deal include Of Wolves and Men by Barry Lopez and The Soul Of The Wolf by Michael W. Fox.
So. Tom wanted to learn how to fashion fine walking staffs. He wanted to market them all over the world on a limited basis and he wanted a portion of the proceeds to be used for the preservation and welfare of wolves.
All I can say is he certainly sold me! In fact we went to work on the idea that very day. Soon Tom became a full-time "Hummer"; today we do "Wolf Staffs" from a variety of woods native to North America and the Texas hill country. Cedar, Oak, Persimmon, Mesquite, Elm and others. As with all our work, only deadfall is used, no live trees are ever cut. Hence, the wood is already well dried.
Each staff bears the hand carved paw print of our friend, the wolf. Because each one is designed for serious out-door use, no expense has been spared to insure a lifetime of rugged dependability. For the finish, we choose a blend of natural oils that include Soy and a nature water repellent.. After applying several coats, the surface is then hand-rubbed to produce a satin gloss with superior protection. The bottom four inches receives two extra coats as an additional safeguard against streams, mud, trails of stone, scree, and other hazards of the wilderness.
The tip is a special neoprene (another one of Tom's ideas!) providing excellent purchase on all surfaces from pavement, asphalt, and concrete to the toughest nature trail. It's guaranteed to last ten years or we'll replace it free!
Actually, hand-fashioning staffs turned out to be a complicated undertaking. For example, due to the individual characteristics inherent in every branch . . . . different weights, twists, balance points, dimensions, and so on, some staffs lend themselves better to left or right handed folk. The height of the user also becomes an important factor.
To date we've produced and sold almost 4,000 staffs. The idea is finally beginning to catch on and what's more, we've discovered that our Wolf Staff is really the only commercially produced hiking staff made totally from dead wood. It's nothing less than an idea whose time has come.
Each staff comes with a story about the wolf and the plight of wolves in the modern world. A portion of the sales price goes to several different animal rights and conservation groups.
I can't help but smile when I remember asking Tom why he thought we could ever make enough of a difference to matter.
He said that the "power of one" is the greatest force in the universe. To make a difference in anything all you have to do is find a way to get the attention of one being and then direct or focus that attention toward a worthy goal. And if that goal is indeed worthy, others will join the pack.
The sound of one wolf running in the sand is silence. The sound of thousands is like thunder.
I think Tom has the right idea. If you agree, join with us and others of your choosing and make a difference for our rapidly vanishing wild life and wild places. You owe it to yourself and all other beings both great and small.
It's all about kinship.
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