wildlife

Beginning Birding With Kids

One way to get children engaged in the garden is to share with them your love of birding.  Birds are both helpful to a garden and also a sign of a healthy garden, so encouraging them to visit your yard is a great idea.  An even better idea?  Getting kids excited about the feathered visitors and the role they play in the larger ecosyst

10 Backpacking Essentials To Pack For Your Next Trip

When planning what essentials to pack for a backpack trip, there are several factors that need to be considered when purchasing equipment for your time in the wilderness. The most important things to keep in mind are how long you will be out for, and how weight and cost play a role in purchasing your gear. With that in mind we can discuss the 10 most important items for your travels.

Superfood 101: Elderberries!

Elderberries are a member of the family Caprifoliaceae, commonly known as the Honeysuckle family of the genus Sambucus L. or elderberry P. that contains five species with several subspecies and varieties. The plant grows throughout the world in the temperate zones and the color varies depending on the region. It is a highly nutritious food that contains many beneficial nutrients.

Attracting Birds To Your Backyard Feeder

When my husband and I moved into our new home last month, the first thing we did was hang bird feeders from our deck. Birding is one of my favorite pastimes (bonus: it’s good for you,) and while getting out into nature and seeing birds on the trail is fun, there’s nothing like watching birds flock to your feeders as you nurse a mug of tea or sit down for dinner with the family.

Superfood 101: Huckleberries!

The huckleberry is a member of the Ericaceae family, also known as the Heath family. The genus contains eight species and the plant is native to North America, from Ontario and Minnesota south to Louisiana, and east to the Atlantic coast.

Trail Running for Mental Health, Better Balance, and Overall Happiness

Trail running is often a reprieve from more than just the hard-impact roads and tracks that I occasionally run–it’s also a respite from noise, traffic and congestion, and a welcome back into nature, soft trails, technical terrain, and peace. Even if you don’t run, walking along trails can often be a far more serene experience than walking on sidewalks or along the road. Don’t believe me? Here are 7 reasons why you need to get off the concrete and back onto trails.

7 Ways to Help the Earth in 2017

There are many areas, beings, and aspects of our Earth that need care and protection from the harmful effects of human civilization. Luckily, there are numerous ways each of us can help out the Earth in 2017:    

1. Engage with Your Local Environmental Organizations

Organic Home Garden Series: 6 Reasons to Cover Crop

Cover cropping is a mainstream, sustainable practice that is good for the earth and good for your garden. Essentially, cover crops are planted in a certain area as place holders for another type of plant to be grown in the very same spot. There are many positive functions of cover cropping that are worth exploring. If you would like to learn a little more about this method and why it’s so great, read on for six reasons to cover crop your garden.

Reason 1:  Soil Erosion Prevention

Living Off The Grid: My Encounters With Nature

Living off the grid provided me with several encounters with nature in many forms – whether it was the weather, creature critters or the growing forest. Some of my favorite encounters were with animals and I love them all. I was far enough out in the woods that spotting wildlife was as easy as finding a game on ESPN. I have so many experiences but today I will share with you a few of my favorites.

The Big Bear