Plant a seed and you will grow—I’ve been out in the field for the last week, planting planting planting. It’s raining so I had a chance to look @ the NYT’s and, lo and behold, I found the usual post-modern argument that there is no such thing as natural human rights: human rights were invented [...]
The sun is out! And you’re planting! Why not triple your joy by planting an 1) interesting perennial that you can 2) harvest herbs from & that 3) feeds the honeybees? Here’s a pdf of an old Bee Culture article that lists some of the plants bees love most: bee plants
We’re going to fix this thing: It’s a hand-cranked winnower that Rick Tracy, of Intervale Farm, rescued a decade ago when the Westhampton Blacksmith Museum was being cleaned up. Two were donated and there wasn’t enough room for both; the one in the museum is in better condition, and we’ll refer to it as we [...]
I’m hardly alone in my love for the New York Public Library— What’s not to love? Beautiful Mead McKim & White neo-classical building that makes you feel like you’re a participant in a grand enterprise of mass enlightenment that stretches back to Athens (you are!); bustling owl-eye intellectuals flocking to feast in the fields of [...]
One of the most effective ways we can act to improve our lives is to reduce our dependence on nuclear and fossil fuel energies. The ultimate in reducing dependence is getting off the grid (creating one’s own energy @ home & work), but any step towards self-reliance is going to save you $$ and increase [...]
We’re in full nectar flow here in the Nonotuck biome—& even a zombie can feel the anima: the “soul, spirit, life, air, breeze, breath.” This painting is part of Philip Taaffe’s Anima Mundi series on display at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, March 23 – June 12, 2011. If you can, stand beneath [...]
Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting Warm Colors Apiary in So. Deerfield with the lively & smart 7th graders who attend Jane Lucia’s science classes at the Williston Northampton School. I jumped at the invite not only b/c Jane is a talented educator who likes to get her kids out into the field; but [...]
A few days ago, I had the pleasure of helping Mass. Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife stock the Sawmill River in Leverett with Atlantic Salmon fry. Here’s a quick vid that gives you the overview; you’ll hear Caleb Slater, who runs the restocking program, describe how the Sawmill plays a key role in providing a [...]
The long body is the sum of all life on earth from the beginning to now; and if we love and believe in life, it extends into the future too. As you can see from the link (green words), the concept of the long body is attributed to the Iroquois. I don’t dispute, and in [...]
This year we’re publishing campbooks that will contain maps, natural history info, excerpts of nature philosophy and room for in situ journal writing/drawing. Here’s a cover that might end up being used for grades 1-3:
