As you’ll recall from Part 1 of Magical Monarchs, we witnessed the transformation of tiny monarch larvae into fat caterpillars. Ultimately, the caterpillars underwent an amazing metamorphosis and became chrysalises that we transferred into emergence chambers. Once in their emergence chambers they sat in their beautiful green capsules for nearly two weeks. Continue reading
My month has been consumed with monarchs – raising, watching, & tagging them. And if you’re going to be consumed by something, a butterfly is a pretty good way to go. Continue reading
Yesterday, I felt the desire for a nature retreat and I thought about going to spend the day at my parents’ house. However, the trip was not in the cards for the day, and so I decided to do what I usually do and look for nature near my home in the city. Continue reading
My aspirations for living life as sustainably as I can probably began when I was a young girl deeply concerned with the well-being of other creatures. Although my interests and understanding of life and nature have spiraled out a great deal since then to encompass many more concerns and observations that I’ve made, I remain fascinated and indebted to the teachings of wild animals.
So when we’re discussing designs for the future, to me, it’s important to incorporate wild animals into (or near) our spaces. Nonhuman animals have many lessons to share with us and are also essential to properly functioning ecosystems. Landscapes designed for wildlife are also beautiful and life affirming.
The peak of summer has crested and now it is time to ride out the remainder of these long days, grateful for the warmth and light as we head closer to Autumn.
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…
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.)
I discovered a clutch of tree swallows in a duck nest box in the urban park I’ve explored with you before.
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 