Concetta Ginevra: Harvard Forest Summer 2019

Follow me as I spend 11 weeks conducting research at the Harvard Forest in Petersham, Massachusetts!

[harvardforest2019]

On Road Trips and Homesickness

“Maybe you had to leave in order to really miss a place; maybe you had to travel to figure out how beloved your starting point was.” - Jodi Picoult

12 days until I’m home. 12 Days until I don’t have to check my bed for bugs before crawling into it, until I can take a shower in a bathroom large enough to move around in, until I don’t have to trek down a hill swarmed by bugs to get to each meal (and then back up the hill again). I believe the novelty of forest life has worn off, because I frequently find myself daydreaming about my cat, my huge bed, and Da Kine Diego’s burritos. 

On a happy note -- I am officially done with field work! From here on out, I am going to be working on processing the data we have collected over the summer and finishing up my presentation for the summer symposium (which I am super nervous for, by the way!). During the symposium, each of us will present our research for 10 minutes and then answer questions from the crowd of mentors, visitors, and fellow students. I, for one, can already feel the heart palpitations. 

^Here’s a picture of a giant ant nest we found in a log on our last day of field work.

In non-forest-related news, my mother came for a brief visit following an existential breakdown on my end. It felt really good to get away for a weekend. We spent most of our time in Boston, where I indulged in good food and walked around in the sweltering 97 degree heat (ah, feels like home). We even attended mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, which was beyond gorgeous. 

We also took a short road trip out to Cape Cod for dinner and shopping (and by short I mean we were stuck in traffic for three hours). 

Reminiscent of Jaws, don’t ya think? (Which, fun fact, was filmed in Martha’s Vineyard.) 

Alas, that’s all the news I have for now. Check back soon for more updates.

Best,

Concetta

[harvardforest2019]

Friday Chai-Day and Other Updates

If ants are such busy workers, how come they find time to go to all the picnics? - Marie Dressler

Hello all! I apologize for the delay in updating you on my adventures. I was quickly plunged into the very adult world of hectic 40-hour work weeks in a short matter of time. However, I will do my best to update you on all of my happenings as of recently! 

As I sat at the breakfast table this morning enjoying my weekly chai latte, I pondered for a while what to write about. Should I talk about the scenery, a recent visit from my boyfriend, or the few hours I spent wandering Harvard’s main campus? Possibly the movies I’ve seen, the books I’ve read, or the ticks I’ve found? Maybe even my trip to Boston for the Pride Parade and the amazing food I had while there?

To begin with, I’ll talk about how I can’t get over how beautiful the scenery is here. It took a trip into the city of Cambridge to truly realize it. Petersham is all white houses and towering pines and winding dirt roads, with hearth fires and cool air and the rustling of leaves in the breeze. Cambridge is a bustling city with laughter, shouting, the distant lilt of a train’s whistle, the smell of street food lingering in the air. How very different these places are. 

While I could tell you all of these interesting things, the truth is that my life has been less than what you might find interesting lately. I’ve spent copious hours in the lab analyzing the smallest details of the world’s smallest creatures, and I’ve spent even more hours climbing to the top of the steepest hill in Harvard Forest to collect more of these creatures.

More hours still have been spent staring at my computer screen while trying to figure out the R computer programming language and doing a little dance around the lab when it finally works the way I want it to. 

Alas, there is only so much I can say in such a short amount of time. There will be many more adventures to come. I will try my best to update more frequently. 

Until we speak again,

Concetta

[harvardforest2019]

Frolicking in Field and Farm

“I think everybody should study ants. They have an amazing four-part philosophy: never give up, look ahead, stay positive, and do all you can.” - Jim Rohn

The past few days have been quite an adventure. My mentor took us to a plot of land owned by Harvard Forest called the Harvard Farm. Now, I’m not sure if it’s a working farm, but it does have some beautiful open pastures and cows calling in the distance. I remember feeling the cool breeze as I walked through the tall grass (tick central) and hearing the call of an eagle overhead. I stopped to admire the earth’s majesty and took it all in. Even as someone who claims not to be an “outdoorsy person,” it was hard not to feel right at home sitting in the grass. 

Nestled beneath rocks and logs, between the wildflowers, honey bees, and birds fluttering by, are some of the world’s tiniest and most amazing creatures. I’ve never really stopped to pay attention to ants unless I’m brushing them off my clothing or deftly stepping over one of their anthills. Today I got the chance to see ants in an entirely different light. We spent a few hours out in the field collecting all the ants we could find and putting them in small plastic vials. 

After we filled enough vials, we brought them back to the lab to clean them, label them, and identify the species of each ant (which took about 5 hours, by the way). We learned about each species and how they interact with others. It’s safe to say that it was a very long day in the lab. 

Now I’m getting ready for a workshop (12 hour day today, yay), so I’ll be back with more info tomorrow!

Best,

Concetta 

[harvardforest2019]

Sun, Fun, and Frisbee

“It’s good to be alive right about now.” - Andy Grammer

It’s a sunny 76 degrees at the lake. The sun is shining, there’s a cool breeze, children are laughing, a group of friends is playing frisbee, and weird musical mashups are playing on someone’s boombox. The woods smell of pine and wood-burning fires. You stretch out on your towel and enjoy a handful of fresh berries. This is true relaxation. 

As today is Saturday, I made it through my first week at the Forest! Cue a round of applause! One wonderful thing about the students at Harvard Forest is that they strictly follow the philosophy of “work hard, play hard.” After a 40 hour work week (even longer for some -- I’m looking at my friend Savanna who worked until 10pm last night), the interns kick back and relax with musical jam sessions, bonfires, beer pong (shh), and of course, a day at the lake. 

To be honest, it’s still a bit of a shock that I’m here. I’m so excited to share this experience with you. Thanks for following along so far. 

There will be many more posts to come.

Until tomorrow,

Concetta

[harvardforest2019]

Easing into It

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” - John Muir

Not much to report today. I sat through more workshops and seminars this morning, and then worked in the office transposing maps. After lunch, my partner and I wandered around the main road looking for some plots of land sampled by a researcher back in 2003. An hour and a few ticks later, we successfully found a few of the plots. We also stumbled across a gorgeous stream and small waterfall. 

That’s all for now.

Talk later,

Concetta

[harvardforest2019]

A Hop, Skip, and a Jump

“Ooh-de-lally, ooh-de-lally, golly what a day.” - Robin Hood (1973)

Watch the clock. 6:00. 6:15. 6:30. Roll out of bed when the clock hits 7:00, stretch, lace up your boots, grab your keys, and off you go. This morning was business as usual. Breakfast, banging my head trying to figure out the QGIS software with my mentor, and exploring the beautiful campus that is Harvard Forest. My partner and I got to see the lab facilities, including our very own office/lab, which is beyond cool. Our lab contains some insect specimens (both in jars and crawling along the floor) and microscopes for inspecting said insects. 

This afternoon came with some challenges. My mentor decided it would be a good day to search for a specific plot of land within the woods. This involved walking down an access road overgrown with 15 years of vegetation. Imagine ferns, birch, and poison ivy stretching high above your head and trudging as best as you can through the viney underbrush. This forest was dense. We slopped through three muddy bogs, all of which sucked in our boots and soaked us to the ankles. After two hours of hiking, sweating, swatting away bugs, and praying the plant that just slapped you in the face wasn’t poison ivy, we made it to the small plot of land and took our measurements. Then it was time to head back.

My mentor handed both of us a map and a compass. “Now get us back to the truck,” he said. 

“I can do that,” my partner replied confidently. I, however, was beginning to wonder if we had passed the same tree seven times. It all looked the same to me. Thankfully my partner knew how to orient us, because my spacial awareness in the woods is worse than that of a sea cucumber. 

Finally, we made it back to the car. We even made a little salamander friend along the way. 

Alas, I am sore, exhausted, hungry, and itchy. Onward to dinner, meetings, and seminars tonight.

Chat soon,

Concetta

[harvardforest2019]

Early to Rise

“The sky’s awake, so I’m awake.” - Princess Anna (Frozen)

5:30am. Birds chirping, hazy sunlight streaming through the thin blinds. You roll over in bed, grab your phone, and notice that it’s on seven percent. It’s been on cell standby all night.

“The wifi’s down!” a panicked voice shouts from the hall. Chatter ensues. Yes, the voice was right. The internet was indeed down, along with any contact with the outside world.

It was the conversation at breakfast. Apparently, after my prompt bedtime of 9pm, the power had gone out, rendering the Harvard Forest in complete darkness. 

Thankfully the internet was back up after breakfast (thanks IT guys!) and we continued on with our days. Meetings, seminars, long walks back and forth to the main hall, and copious amounts of snack bars. 

After lunch, I got to meet with my supervisor and learn a bit more about the logistics of the project we’ll be working on. He’s a cool dude. Ponytail and Birkenstocks cool. Figurine of Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors in his office cool. 

After spending the afternoon in the office, we got to relax and unwind at the annual REU launch cookout and enjoy one (or three) of Tim’s amazing brownies. Now I’m off to Walmart to buy a full-length mirror to assist with my tick checks.

Until tomorrow,

Concetta

[harvardforest2019]

A Walk in the Woods

“Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” -  Dr. Emmett Brown

Today started off bright and early with a clap of thunder and a dash of rain. Well, more than a dash... More like a steady stream of cold, biting rain that soaks your light field pants and numbs your legs. Right after breakfast, we left for a three-hour trek into the deep woods of Prospect Hill. 

First thing I want to talk about: mosquitoes. Coming from Florida, I thought I knew mosquitoes. Let me tell you, you don’t know mosquitoes until you’ve swatted a mosquito off your ear the size of your ear itself. These things could carry off a standard poodle. I was thankful for the hood of my jacket when it came to keeping the bugs off my ears.

When I wasn’t focused on the vampires buzzing around my neck, I admired the vast forest around me. An ecological research station since 1988, Harvard Forest houses plenty of long term research. From insects to water sources to high-reaching trees, there’s something for everyone to study. 

One of the research sites I was lucky enough to visit was a tower spanning high above the treetops. Legs wobbly and stomach woozy, I zipped my phone into my pocket and ascended the 100-foot tower to the very top. It was a true rush feeling the cold wind surge past as the tower swayed back and forth. 

Aside from the wonderful walk in the woods and chef Tim’s amazing vegan cookies (more on him later), the rest of the day was relatively mundane. I sat through several meetings, seminars, and talks about how to avoid the ever-present threat of Lyme disease. 

As of now, I’m getting ready for bed and the long day ahead of me tomorrow. 

We’ll chat soon.

Best,

Concetta

[harvardforest2019]

Arriving at Harvard Forest

What a whirlwind! After a very long day, I have finally arrived at the great Harvard Forest! I was immediately greeted with long, winding roads, steep hills, emerald pastures, and lots and lots of ticks. Yes, ticks. So many that the white doors to the house look speckled with black and my neighbor found ticks in her bed. Yikes.

That brings me to our house. We are staying in the Fisher House, a beautiful, expansive white mansion built in the 1700s that my proctor has so lovingly called “most certainly haunted.” 

I was one of the lucky few to receive a single room in a small hallway off of the kitchen. It’s cramped and damp (no AC), but it’s home for the next few months, and I love it. 

The rest of the house is beautiful. It comprises a kitchen, two sitting areas, 7 bathrooms, and more bedrooms than one could count. The upstairs has lovely windows and a porch that overlook the pasture next to us. I am told cows will arrive shortly. 

Anyway, I’m now being rushed off to breakfast. It starts promptly at 7:30am. I’m excited to stuff my face with bagels before our three-hour trek into the woods. Pray for no rain! Our forecast shows thunderstorms all day. 

Will update soon.

Best,

Concetta

[el-em-ayy-oh]

Coming soon…

Less than a week away and we’re buttoning up my bags and getting everything ready to go! I couldn’t be more excited, but I’m also nervous at the uncertainty of what the summer holds. I will be updating this blog frequently after arriving, so stay tuned on Monday!

Best,

Concetta

(P.S. I had to pack an entire fan because I know there will be no AC! What’s a Florida girl to do?)

[harvardforest2019]

And the Journey Begins...

I am so excited to announce that I have been accepted to the Harvard Forest Research Experience for Undergraduates program! I will be in Petersham, Massachusetts, from May 27th-August 9th working on the Ants of Harvard Forest project. I’ll be updating this blog throughout the summer, so feel free to follow my progress! I look forward to sharing this journey with you!