AN EAR TO THE GROUND
Soundscape Ecology and its Relationship to Living Shorelines Seen Through An Interdisciplinary Lens (2023)
By Justyna Werbel
Studying interaction among organisms and their physical environment has always been at the forefront of my artistic practice and my ongoing love for horticulture. These interactions are often subtle and require one to exercise deep listening. Soundscape ecology has found expression through my interdisciplinary drawing practice. My work explores finding new forms of translating sound, which is ephemeral, into graphic notations which take a physical form. I am not interested in creating legends or fully explaining the science behind the soundscapes in my drawings but rather investigating the relationship between places/non-places, my position within these sonic structures, and my perception process and visualization-based exploration in the form of abstract drawings. This ongoing and evolving process of finding new drawing systems to capture my first-person recordist experiences in our constantly changing outdoor environments intrigued me once again when I joined the Helping Nature Heal team in the spring of 2023.
Rock, Water, Lichen study 008 (2023)
My work with HNH introduced me to the concept of a living shoreline, a term I was unfamiliar with, coming from the heart of downtown Toronto. During my introduction to the company, I attended several site visitations where the crew used specific systems to implement a living shoreline; here, things became more evident. I observed how the HNH team meticulously engaged in the process, using quantification and statistics while simultaneously using active observational planting and structural methodologies, which have become crucial tools in our swiftly shifting landscapes.
Emilie Rose on-site in Riverport NS (2023) Rosmarie Lohnes+ Emily Rose LaHave (2023) Emilie Rose Justyna Werbel with design drawing (2023)
Above are images of The HNH crew implementing the Living Shoreline management approach that uses living plants and biomass to protect coastlines from erosion by environmental forces. The picture above gives an example of a healthy living shoreline and is a great visual aid for introducing Soundscape Ecology.
What is Soundscape Ecology?
Soundscape ecology studies the acoustic relationships between living organisms, humans and others, and their environment, whether the organisms are marine or terrestrial. Soundscape ecologists also explore the relationships between the three primary sources of sound that comprise the soundscape: the biophony refers to those generated by organisms, the geophony from non-biological natural categories, and the anthropophony produced by humans.
Kendall Wrightson, a lecturer in music technology at London Guildhall, describes sound as a mediator between the listener and the environment. She writes, “[S]ound in the developing world has less significance and the opportunity to experience “natural” sounds decreases with each generation due to the destruction of natural habitats. Sound becomes something that the individual tries to block, rather than to hear; the lo-fi, low information soundscape has nothing to offer.” (Wrightson, 2000).
How can one find and transcribe an expression of an ecosystem when that ecosystem has eroded? Since working with HNH, my relationship with shorelines has inspired a new body of work, and it has informed me of how I would like to participate in my position as a plant procurer and newly participating designer. The plant procurer has several responsibilities. Source the plant. Purchase the plant. Bring it home. Feed it and keep it alive until the team brings it to its forever resting place. The designer: strategically selects the plant based on many different variables. These considerations may include soil content, quality of light, environmental factors, human traffic, animal traffic, and neighbouring plant and fungal relationships, to name a few. But the real magic occurs on-site, removing the plant from the vessel it has been growing in, the connection with the human hands and planting with thoughtfulness and care. Usually, living shoreline projects are then closely monitored but left to heal on their own. Assisting is what the company does. It provides the existing ingredients and seeds hope for new sounds, so the opportunity to experience “natural” sounds no longer decreases with each generation.
“In a matter of seconds a soundscape reveals much more information from many perspectives, from quantifiable data to cultural inspiration. Visual capture implicitly frames a limited frontal perspective of a given spatial context, while soundscapes widen that scope to a full 360 degrees completely enveloping us. A picture is worth a thousand words, a soundscape is worth a thousand pictures” (Krause 2013).
Perhaps my most comforting realization at Helping Nature Heal is that whether one is planting a living shoreline, a food forest, a backyard garden or even potted plants on a balcony, a well-curated and thoughtfully designed planting plan will inevitably both continue to feed Mother Nature’s symphony and even assist in creating new sonnets and solos.
We will be providing three artistic workshops dedicated to Soundscape Ecology through drawing. During this experience, we will explore sound dynamics across different spatial and temporal scales using sense-based investigation, field research/recordings and studio-based drawing methods while using native plant matter as tools to create a framework for our graphic notations.
Please get in touch with us to pre-register for September at plants@helpingnatureheal.com. Dates are TBD.
Storm Preparedness: Your Key to Safety
As summer is coming to an end, experts are warning folks to prepare for the storm season ahead.
Storms can strike unexpectedly, putting your property and loved ones at risk. Don’t wait until it’s too late – take action now to ensure you’re ready for whatever nature throws your way. Our infographic below outlines essential storm preparedness tips that will help you fortify your home and stay one step ahead of the elements.
Monitoring Horizontal Retreat (Drone Survey)
When we implement a monitoring plan, we can keep track of the amount of land lost and the time it took to disappear. Collecting data at consistent time intervals and locations allows us to compare quantitative data of horizontal retreat and determine methods to extend the lifetime of the coastal property. This service can be done in conjunction with the initial site visit or as a standalone option, measuring only the horizontal retreat on your shoreline.
Please find our zoned price estimates for our drone site visits below.
Helping Nature Heal would be happy to hear from you if you are interested in an on-site consultation. Please reach out to Dawn at dawn@helpingnatureheal.com to schedule a Zoom call to see how we can help heal your land.