Humans have been creating homes out of the Earth for as long as we’ve existed. It’s only recently that we’ve been building structures out of synthetic materials that may emit hazardous chemicals into our living spaces, and have consistently increased the size of the homes that we live in so that we must import materials from other regions and use massive amounts of fossil fuels in their construction. Continue reading
It’s the time of year for harvesting herbs — to dry, freeze, make into medicine, and for use in recipes.
I’m surprised I haven’t shared this recipe yet – it’s another of my summer favorites, and it always works well for potlucks. It’s easy to prepare and even easier to share! Continue reading
It’s still tomato time!
Hopefully everyone has been feasting on some version of pico de gallo recently, but don’t forget to make a tomato basil mozzarella salad before the season is over. Continue reading
As promised during my last post about the hands-on portion of my permaculture class taken through Midwest Permaculture, here’s an overview of what happened during the latter half of the course. Much of the second week was spent working on designs and learning permaculture concepts in the classroom, but we did have quite a few unique experiences…
After almost two weeks of intensive living and learning, I have my Permaculture Design Certificate from Midwest Permaculture! It’s my first full day away from the course and I’m a bit sad that it’s all over.
During these past weeks, I learned that life can be full of community, of learning and working with others, of meals and conversations and a fullness that seems to be lacking so often in “the real world” (or is experienced fleetingly). I felt like less of an outsider on the planet and like I had found some place that I have always been looking for where people want to learn to live in harmony with the Earth. I felt connections and relationships blossoming in ways that I rarely do in my day to day life. And I was learning a tremendous amount on a daily basis. It’s hard to leave that behind.
Recently, I invited my partner to consider writing a post (or posts) for These Light Footsteps. We both share a common dream for the future, the center of which acknowledges that a cheap and abundant supply of oil will not continue forever, that our relationship with the natural world is broken and unsustainable, and that a better, healthier way of living is possible.
He recently completed his Master of Science in Nursing and as a healthcare practitioner, he has a very unique take on sustainability, especially as it relates to human health. After he sent me his first draft of a post, I knew that others would be interested in what he had written and I encouraged him to submit it to a few other websites. Soon thereafter, an edited version of the article appeared on Health After Oil, and it received subsequent attention from several other sites (see Energy Bulletin). Very exciting!
I’m all packed and ready to head off to complete my Permaculture Design Certificate through Midwest Permaculture!
You’ve probably seen it growing in lawns, along the sidewalk, and in vacant lots, but have you ever realized how beneficial plantain can be? (And no, we’re not talking about the banana-like fruit.)
Last week in California, my partner and I visited The Ojai Foundation and found a great source of inspiration for the type of service we eventually hope to provide. Most notably, the Foundation combines lessons about sustainable living with experiences that foster the development of the human spirit.
These Light Footsteps 