WriterByNature.com

December 30, 2007 5:28 am

As I write this, I am on my way to Hawk Circle for their winter survival skills class. I will wake up in a nature setting on New Years Day. I expect to be transformed. (more…)

December 29, 2007 5:46 am

I was reading my survival skill class notes. I haven’t looked at these in a number of years.

I’m impressed with the complete explanations and careful drawings. I just modified my pine needle tea recipe. The needles nearer the trunk are higher in Vitamin C than needles on outer branches.  (more…)

December 24, 2007 5:35 am

Now, that’s a really green idea. I wish the Original Living Christmas Tree company had offices in every community in the country.

I love the idea of the tree. I hate the slaughter. This makes sense. They grow the tree and deliver it to you for the holiday. You decorate and care for the tree.

If you want keep the tree and plant it yourself, fine. If not, they collect the rented trees and ultimately plant them in open spaces.

This perfect solution to celebrating with a tree and greening the earth – all part of a holy season – is enough to make me stop saying, “Bah, humbug.”

May your next Christmas tree thrive and grow.

December 21, 2007 6:08 am

The shortest day of the year is not only the darkest, but often the coldest day. Here are some ways to celebrate the fact that after December 22, 2007 at 6:08 AM GMT, the days will start getting longer: (more…)

December 20, 2007 7:16 am

Gift giving is really important for the giver and the receiver. Shopping can be overwhelming when there are a myriad of choices. Here are two really excellent ways to spend holiday dollars.

Kiva helps provide micro-loans to third-world businesses. What an excellent way to teach a young person about finance and charity. For the budding entrepreneur in your life, what a wonderful way to acquire business skills. Here is some recent media coverage that says it really well. I gave and received Kiva gift certificates this year.

Concerned about your carbon footprint? Consider a donation to the Climate Trust, which uses the money to fund tree planting or alternative energy projects world-wide. A year of carbon emissions for an average person can be offset by a $200 donation.

As the years go by, people who know and love me have given up on figuring out what I would like and resorted to gift cards. Using the power of my pocketbook to support programs I believe in is the best way to put those gifts to use.

December 17, 2007 6:11 am

I was surprised and delighted to hear from a fellow forager, who has streamlined black walnut harvesting. I’m waiting for the ice storms to pass, so I can go outdoors and try it out.

I profoundly grateful that Rose Barlow of Prodigal Gardens, took the time to visit my site and make a valuable contribution. Of course, I wanted to learn more about her so I paid her a visit.  (more…)

December 14, 2007 7:01 am

I don’t spend time efficiently, according to the business models.

I spent weeks scrubbing the hulls of black walnuts, when I could have been marketing myself. I have never looked at the world through conventional eyes; I’m beginning to feel very blessed to have my skewed point of view. (more…)

December 9, 2007 5:06 am

Is green shopping like jumbo shrimp or deafening silence?

The whole idea of living green is to reduce consumption.
I understand the foundation of our culture is marketing. But sustainable living is not about marketing. It’s about making our own conscious decisions. (more…)

December 3, 2007 6:45 am

Male bees don’t have stingers. That’s just one of the things wrong with this animated film.

I’m clueless at the decision-making that lead to this bizarre script. Are men in our culture so insecure that they have to depart from the way real bees live?

It wouldn’t be such a big deal, except bees are at risk. There are several theories as to why this is happening. The bottom line is that bees pollinate many of the plants that we depend on for food.

Despite Hollywood’s history of nature bloopers, nothing changes. (more…)