outdoors

Selflessness is definitely a valuable trait to possess, but the whole “too much of a good thing” concept applies here. To be the best person that you can possibly be, you absolutely must remember to take the time to take care of yourself, too. Focusing on yourself is not selfish; it’s beneficial to your health. Take it from me, a dedicated people-pleaser who is slowly, but surely, learning to balance helping others and myself. This year, don’t forget to make yourself a priority, in your own life, by trying out these five simple self-care suggestions.

If you're ever out camping, or in a survival situation, it's essential to know how to purify water. This is a simple method that anyone could do, and does not require any fancy equipment. All you'll really need is a water canteen, close-knit cloth, another container, and a fire (or camp stove). I recommend collecting water only from flowing sources such as rivers whenever possible. Just do yourself a favor and avoid collecting water near, or downstream from, known animal homes.

One doesn’t truly know the value of something until it is missing from one’s life. Going without and having to work for things brings out the true value in them. Living off of the grid, or even just spending time off of it now and then, can really have a positive impact.

What is your wild side?

It's the part of you that belongs in nature, not sitting in front of a computer all day.

It's the part of you that wants to frolic in meadows with the wind tousling your hair.

It's the part of you that lives underneath the soil and blooms with the spring air, blossoming into a creature of pure beauty.

If you long to reconnect with this side of you, there's no shame in it. Here are some fun, simple ways to embrace your inner wild child. The best part? None of them cost money.

Pickling a portion of your garden’s fruits and vegetables allows you to bring farm fresh food to the table ALL year . Pickling for preservation may be one of the oldest methods of preserving food, as it traces back to the B.C. time period.

There is just something about the great outdoors that makes us feel alive. The fresh air, flowing water, and life everywhere.

There is so much more to Mother Earth’s medicine than just the plants provided. If I were a doctor I would fill out prescriptions for camping trips and outdoor events. Two of the most important things doctors will tell you is to get a lot of fresh air and to drink plenty of water, but that’s simply the beginning of it. The healing goes as deep as a tree’s roots travel and flows much like a steady river.

One may not realize how many festivals there are that have to do with sustainable and eco-friendly living. I can almost guarantee that there is some sort of event or festival that takes place in your area (or close to it).

These festivals span all across the United States, as well as in other countries. You name it and there’s likely a festival that exists in its honor. Today I’m going to share 5 different festivals worth looking into.

It is always funny to me how old new age technology is. Hand-cranked gadgets go back a long time -- in fact, they predate electricity. However, there have been several new technologies made available that provide more modern hand-cranked, solar, and wind-powered products.

Off-grid living can take some getting used to, but there are all sorts of products, tools, and equipment to make the transition smoother.

Here are some of my favorite hand-cranked products.

If you seek internal answers, nature can help. Whether you believe it or not, nature can help extract internal messages from us when we consciously make the decision to open up and set the intention to listen. It can make us aware of things in regards to ourselves as well as circumstances in our lives we may need assistance with. There are also times when it can give us inner-encouragement as well. Nature can point out to us internal messages in many ways, and I am here to share my own personal example with you.

As winter approaches there is a lot of work that has to be done in order to prepare. I usually start with the garden.