Whether nails in trees are useful for my purposes or not is completely besides the point.  They are sharp, metal objects that have been driven into a living thing.  The earth in all its manifestation does not exist for my use.  It's value is not based on its utility to me but is inherent because it is living.  It isn't about getting things back to the way they were, it is about being conscious of all our relationships and moving gracefully and care-fully in concert with them.  It astonishes me that people can spend time in the north country and not appreciate the delicacy and intimacy of the relationships that comprise existence.