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…
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.
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.)
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 