In the face of an increasingly non-level playing field, my only option is to “think outside the box,” when it comes to personal and business survival.
For me the key question is, “Will I be able to sustainably maintain this system to support my quality of life?” If not, what’s my plan for when I hit diminishing returns? (more…)
I’m an education junkie and I have been blessed with excellent teachers.
My commitment to understanding the natural world is increasingly important. Which means that I refuse to let my time be robbed by promises of improved business results. There’s no quick route to understanding nature, but if I can provide meaningful information and value, then I’ll have to live with that as my definition of success. (more…)
I enjoy taking classes and workshops that ensure my ability to live sustainably.
When I first got the information about this one-day Women in Agriculture workshop, I could not envision how I would learn all these skills. Hats off to Rogowski Farms for putting together an effective and valuable program.
Each presenter used their 45-minute time slot to share basic vocabulary, identify tools and supplies, and demonstrate a simple task. I now have an idea of how splice electric wire, solder copper pipes without making a mess, and replace an air filter on a lawnmower. Am I an expert? No, but I know how to begin and ways I can practice safely until I learn. (more…)
Happy Vernal Equinox.
Back in 2006 I published Edible and Natural: How Do I Know What Plants are Safe to Eat?
I typically reference this advice when I write about foraging. As I learn and develop my skills, there are a few more rules that I have added to my guidelines.
1. There are fewer poisonous plants than non-poisonous plants. If you learn all the poisonous plants, when you find a plant you don’t know, it’s more likely to be non-poisonous, even if it’s unpalatable.
2. Observe carefully. Chicken mushroom has no poisonous look-alike, but there’s more to identifying it than finding an orange shelf mushroom. You have to notice the pores on the underside. The deadly poisonous Jack-o-lantern mushroom has gills on its underside.
2. Harvest common plants where they grow in abundance, but never take more than 10 percent. Overharvesting is destructive to the environment and may deprive wild birds and mammals of their only source of essential nutrition.
3. Learn which plants are endangered and refrain from harvesting them at all.
4. Spend time learning to identify every plant during each season. Look at the new growth of spring, notice the changes in summer, fall and any skeletal remains in winter.
5. Make sure you harvest from healthy areas. In addition to foraging more than 50 feet from regularly travelled roads, look at the condition of the entire habitat. If the leaves are not a healthy color green, if the water is not running clear, if there is a lot of animal scat or carrion, find another place to forage.
Common sense and respect are critical to foraging. I still take classes with experts. I often learn something new about a plant I’ve been nibbling on since childhood. It’s easy to become overconfident after foraging for a few years; it’s not worth the risk to be less than 100 percent sure of your wild harvest.
I read somewhere that former president Richard Nixon removed the dollar from the gold standard in 1971. I was a freshman in college back then.
I can’t say I understand what’s going on in the economy, but it seems like “fun with numbers” to me.
I know that politicans and CEO’s can’t legislate the law of gravity and haven’t yet prevented the the sun from rising and setting, the moon from waxing and waning, the earth from rotating, and the tide from ebbing and flowing.
My CSA has a new farmer. We’re meeting in just over a week to learn what he needs us to do to help him manage a thriving, sustainable garden.
I don’t have time to be scared about the economy. I’m more concerned about produce that is not labeled. Until recently, I purchased a mixture of conventional and organic fruits. Now, without real labeling, I have no idea which produce might be genetically modified. (more…)
My Dad has always believed that everything happens for the best, even when something apparently bad happens.
It has taken me a while to adopt this point of view, but I’m beginning to catch on to the the wisdom in Dad’s point of view.
While waiting for the leak in my ceiling to be repaired, I realized that my closets are filled with material culture I forgot I had. Since everything in my living room is in boxes anyway, I decided it’s a good time to dig through all the boxes of my accumulated possessions. Maybe I’ll find the folding saw and compass I lost about five years ago.
The Basic Essentials of Knots for the Outdoors
What makes this book stand out is that the diagrams are shown for both left-handed and right-handed orientation. It rates with science books written by Margery Facklam
Why is this such a big deal? I’ve been working on ways to spend time in nature, but with less disturbance to the area than constructing and breaking-down a debris hut or quinzee. Knot-tying is essential to my next step into shelter. (more…)
I’ve been researching and field testing ways to spending more time outdoors in winter, so it was a treat when Jim Muller introduced himself and WinterCampers.com.
I’ve spent the last few days visiting this site, which has excellent information on subjects I have not even tried, like camping with your dog. Even when I had a dog, I hadn’t taken him camping.
This site is both informative and fun. The articles, product reviews, quizzes, and other content add up to an invitation to, in Jim’s words, “celebrate the winter camping experience.”
Whether you’re looking to go high tech, ultralite, or fine-tune your primitive wilderness skills, you’ll find information from someone who enjoys waking up in the woods on a winter morning.
Thanks, Jim for motivating me to spend more quality time in nature by camping in winter.
President Obama’s well-chosen words resonate deeply. Our Commander-in-Chief has a deep appreciation for the power of words.
I feel like I can breathe again. Imagine a poet as part of the inauguration ceremony. I’m convinced everyone I saw yesterday afternoon was smiling.
I make it a point to keep the text of speeches, poems, songs and other examples of excellent writing accessible. Here is the full text of President Obama’s inaugural speech: (more…)
Trail conditions on Sunday and Monday were a base layer of ice topped by two inches of powdery snow.
I was smart enough to get out early. It was a sunny both days and the snow conditions were fragile. This was only my second opportunity to cross-country ski this season. The trail followed undulating hills through the woods, not too steep to climb and just enough thrill going downhill to keep control when getting used to skiing again.
In addition to my pocket survival kit, I typically carry my day pack. I miss winter camping and want to find a way to make my life easier in harsh conditions. I’d like to limit the weight and size of what I carry, especially while on skis.
I’ve been searching for a 4-season tarp. If I could set up camp within minutes of stopping for the night, then I’d have the option of mobility.
I’m not good at search engine keywords, but apparently I’m about to enter the addictive “ultralite” outdoors world. Who uses words like “ultralite?” I’ll soon find out.
Mike Lummio of Bushcraft Northwest has created videos and articles with clear illustrations explaining how he travels light without sacrificing comfort.
I love the sustainability of his approach. But I’ve got a few techniques to practice, including knot tying.
