Tag: Wilderness
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Foraging for Morels
Morels (Morchella spp.) are a common beginner mushroom. They are highly sought after by chefs and foodies alike because their meaty texture and nutty flavor appeals even to mushroom haters, but cannot be easily grown commercially. They grow best in wooded environments, especially under dead or decaying tulip poplars, ash, sycamore, elm, and apple tress.…
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Foraging Wild Elderberry
American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is commonly found throughout eastern and central North America. It is commonly found along streambanks, meadows, woodland edges, and roadsides. It’s both edible and medicinal, though particualarly prized for its medicinal value. The European version of elderberry looks very similar, but mainly the flowers are harvested for medicine, whereas the North…
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15 Reasons Why Kids Need Nature
Nature is essential to growing healthy, competent children. Time in the backyard, going to a park, gardening, or exploring an abandoned woodlot all count as time in nature. For children under 5, an hour or two daily in the backyard might be enough to meet their needs. For children under 5, two to three hours…
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Frozen lakes can look solid, peaceful, and inviting in winter. Snow-covered ice reflects the sky, kids want to explore, dogs race ahead, and everything appears safe. But frozen water is one of winterโs most dangerous environmentsโand every year, people are injured or killed because ice conditions were misunderstood. If you live near lakes, ponds, or…
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How to Feed Yourself When No One Is Coming to Help In most disasters, people donโt starve because food doesnโt exist โ they starve because they donโt know what food actually matters. When supply chains break, grocery stores empty, and government aid is delayed or never arrives, the difference between panic and stability comes down…
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Foraging for Thanksgiving
What’s a better way to get into the Thanksgiving than foraging? Reconnect with your ancestors and kindle your feeling of thankfulness by taking a walk in a nearby park, field, or forest and foraging a few easy plants to add amazing flavor and nutrition to your holiday! Chickweed Pesto Chickweed (Stellaria media) is an amazing…
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How to Bring Play Back to Childhood
We are experiencing a massive PLAY deficit among children. This means that kids are more likely to become anxious, depressed, and have poor emotional regulation, be less creative, able to problem-solve less well, have lower IQโs, have reduced social skills, and more. Iโm not just talking about play in the streets, in backyards, and parks.…
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Chicken of the Woods
Chicken of the Woods refers to a group of edible mushrooms in the Laetiporus genus, most commonly Laetiporus sulphureus in the eastern U.S. These mushrooms are prized for their meaty texture and flavor that resembles chicken โ hence the name. One of my favorite things about Chicken of the Woods is you often find a…
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Smith Mountain Lake State Park Adventure
If you’re looking for an easy, quiet vacation with hiking, swimming, mountain biking, boating, fishing, nature tours, a more – look no further! Smith Mountain Lake State Park offers tent sites, RV sites, cabins, boat rentals, a public beach, two nature centers, and places to hike, fish, and mountain bike. We used the trip as…
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Wildcrafting Yarrow
Yarrow is a powerful edible and medicinal herb commonly found in the United States and temperate climates all over the world. It’s most often found in gardens, meadows, fields, forest edges, and disturbed areas. Yarrow (Archillea millefolium) can be found year-round in temperate climates. The white, flower bunches can be found in late spring or…