Weeding has become an essential self-soothing routine these weeks at home lately. On the worst of days it’s a task to distract me. Other days it feels more like a sacred meditation, or an intimate dialog between me and Her. In this therapy session with nature, she reminds me that things are not always as they seem. Labels are deceiving. A “weed”, after all, is only a flower growing in a place where someone doesn’t want it.
Read MoreWhen I add a new tool to my collection, I’m not just buying a tool to get the job done, I’m buying an extension to my hands that will garden and forage with me for the rest of my life. These tools will become my allies and comrades in all my ventures, and so I regard tool buying as one of my most important gardening and foraging tasks. Nevertheless the sheer amount of tools on the market can be overwhelming. Knowing what tool is best for what job, or learning what tool can help make many tasks easier takes time and experience. So I’ve compiled a guide to share the gardening and foraging tools that I cannot work without. And I’ve shared what tasks I use them for, too.
Read MoreSeasonal living, and the artful practice of connecting nature, is tonic for the body and soul. It is all about taking care to notice the delicate transformations in our environment as they happen through the year and adjusting the way we live in response. It’s about being more in tune with each of the micro seasons that fall within a single year and the life cycles of the flora and fauna that inhibit our ecosystems. It’s about growing our awareness of the interconnectedness of all beings and engaging in communication with nature.
Read MoreThe land looks barren in November. Where others overlook this understated micro-season and turn their heads in disgust at the brown and grey, I see beauty. In my latest woodland adventure, I sought to bring the kiss of nature’s November to the holiday dinner table. As it turns out, I enjoy this simple foraged holiday tablescape so much that I think I’ll keep it around through the New Year. My holiday table will hold the space for intentional holiday gatherings, delicious home-cooked meals, catch-up conversations with old friends, and heart-centered connections with family. See how I’ve captured the essence of nature’s understated calm through my sustainably foraged holiday decor.
Read MoreIt is 8:30 Monday morning and I have a different sort of commute. As the sun crests over the peaks, I walk onward and upward into the forest. For those willing to walk the path less traveled, wild foraging is a journey that nourishes the body and re-wilds the soul.
Read MoreHave you ever walked under evergreens and noticed the trees excreting drops of sap? On a recent adventure into the forest I came across a beautiful old pine tree that was dropping large globs of pine resin. Here are my instructions for sustainably harvesting pine resin and using it to craft an antimicrobial healing balm.
Read More
