Walking slowly and carefully, I scanned the woods in all directions for any sign of a wolf. Blanketed in white and devoid of leaves and brush, it seemed as if my vantage was absolute. Then—stunned beyond belief—I caught the eye of a timber wolf watching me AND my son. Intelligent. Assessing. At the moment we made eye contact, … More Of Wolves and Pecans. The Call of the Wild in all aspects of life
Throughout the summer months, Duluth is regularly carpet-bombed by boxes of vegetables. The popularity of CSA’s (community supported agriculture) has exploded in recent years in these parts. Where previously this sort of labor-intensive, organic farming comprised a small, niche market, it now seems to be penetrating the outer periphery of the mainstream. Not only are … More A tale of three organic farms defying the odds, and one on the way
Our motley crew of baby chickens and ducks spent the day outside in the chicken tractor while enjoying their first 80-degree day. Fresh air does them good. The sensation of grass and dirt between their toes, spindly chicken legs, and mud-flap-like duck feet/paddles, provides a thrill. A quick breeze ruffles brand new feathers, briefly exposing … More Chickens and Clotheslines for Connectivity With the Natural World
These past couple days I have had the privilege of escorting these cheerful children to school by bike. Here are 10 thoughts that just might change your life! 1. Commuting by bike is cooler and more socially accepted now than it has been in probably a century. While riding the paved bike path toward the … More The Incomparable Advantages of Biking to School or Work
Compulsive hoarding, and the squalor that comes with it, often rides in tandem with a lack of self-respect or awareness. If you had a healthy self-worth, would you live, eat, sleep, and make love in these conditions? Sorry if this is somewhat graphic, but think about the most basic things you take for granted every … More It’s Earth Day! Thoughts Gleaned from Squalor and Hoarding.
Righteous indignation. It is difficult to avoid this reaction after Republican Congressional leaders appointed Senator James Inhofe to head the Senate committee on the environment. In essence, he will become the most powerful Republican on environmental issues in the country in January when Senate control swings to the right. I am uniquely qualified to be … More A Christian Environmentalist Comes Clean
There’s something about 36 wool socks, a union suit, various woolies, and one unmentionable tossed in for my own amusement, that brings me joy. All hanging on the clothesline together with the snow as a backdrop, it is art in some sense. The newspaper ran a short column of mine today in which I come … More A Christian Sings the Environmentalist Blues
It was a busy time of life with graduate school and worries over money. While tending our landlord’s garden I found myself fully prostrate, spread out on the ground and pruning a rhododendron bush. What followed was a spiritual experience that was ethereal in nature, and yet firmly rooted in the solid terra firm of … More Experiencing the Sublime in 24 Inches of Dirt
These past two weeks have produced a flood of green on the landscape. On one run through Hartley and Bagley I marveled at every weed, fiddleheads in various stages of development, brand new leaves on trees, marsh marigolds, tiny wildflowers, and even insects, as if I was a Martian only now discovering life on this … More Real Benefits to Reel Mowing
44 years. That’s the answer. The question is a little more drawn out, and should cause one to reflect in one’s soul. The quantitative answer here really isn’t satisfactory, and doesn’t tell the story or address quality of life, etc. I work hard to integrate an active lifestyle into daily life. On the day this … More “Green,” or just common sense?
Ed's Big Adventure 