Maui Fruit Farm Tour, Maui

Maui Dragon Fruit Farm USDA certified organic farm. It is located in West Maui, about a five-minute drive from Lahaina. The farm specializes in growing dragon fruit and other delicious, exotic fruit. We offer tropical food tasting tours and alpaca tours. [envira-gallery id='15246'] Red Ginger Leaves smell like fruit loops...

Road to Hana, Maui

This road is famous for having over 600 turns, 59 bridges, and more waterfalls than you can possibly see in one day.  [envira-gallery id='15200']

Īao Valley Monument, Maui

Kūka'emoku - ‘Īao Needle The traditional name for this 2,250 foot high peak is Kūka'emoku. The peak is known as the phallic stone of Kanaloa, Hawaiian god of the ocean. During periods of warfare, the peak was used as a lookout by warriors. It was here that some of the...

Lava Tubes, Maui

Formed approximately 960 years ago as a result of molten lava spewing up from underground and flowing toward the ocean, the Hana Lava Tube is one of the most fascinating stops along the Road to Hana.  As the lava continued to flow down, the top cooled and hardened to form...

Haleakala National Park

I ka nānā no a 'ike (By observing, one learns) Kalahaku Overlook The rim's overlook, at 9,324 ft. Pu'u Ulaula Summit (Red Hill) Science City and the observatories are off-limits (kapu) to the public.  The parking lot is in the shallow crater of Puu Ulaula (Red Hill). Haleakala's highest point,...

Maui Ocean Center

Intertidal Zone Your journey begins here at the Surge Zone (KAI KOHOLA) - where land meets the sea. Freshwater streams flow down into the ocean, joining the surge of the tides. Our path of exhibits reflects traditional Hawaiian navigation, starting upland (MAUKA), & moving seaward (MAKAI). As you continue you...

Vancouver Mycological Society presents: Spring Mushroom Show

The VMS acknowledges we gather on the unceded and ancestral territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples, the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, and has been stewarded by them since time immemorial. Our members hope to learn from these examples, to deepen our relationships to this...

Morel Hunting

Useful apps, info and books to help you find and identify edibles. Search for specific plants/fungi/organisms here on… https://www.inaturalist.org/ Backroads map book (app) forest service roads and topographic info: https://www.backroadmapbooks.com/ with offline access to maps and info on crown land boundaries  Land rights information… https://www.bcafn.ca/first-nations-bc/interactive-map Recommended Foraging Resources: Plant/Fungi Books:...

Reading: Driven- The Secret Lives of Taxi Drivers

North Vancouver City Library Adult book club May book Driven- The Secret Lives of Taxi Drivers by Marcello Di Cintio NVCL Book Club Reading Guide About the book ““The taxi,” writes Marcello Di Cintio, “is a border.” Occupying the space between public and private, a cab brings together people who might...

Reading: What Strange Paradise

North Vancouver City Library Adult book club April book Excerpts “Every man you ever meet in nothing but the product of what was withheld from him, what he feels owed.”  “Today you are the only boy in the world and tomorrow it will be as though you never existed.”  “Amir took...

Listening: Code Switch – The Women Who Influences How America Eats

We owe women of color for the foods we love to eat For this week's episode, we talked to a food historian and three cookbook authors about the influence cooks who are people of color — especially women— have on what and how we eat today. NPR Code Switch It's...

Listening: Liberation Ecotherapy with Phoenix Smith (Upstream)

Podcast: Liberation Ecotherapy with Phoenix Smith (Upstream) Ecosystems can be restored, but we have to do the work we have to do the repair we have to do the reciprocity we have to change our consciousness and relationships can be restored as well. restoring our relationship with ourself. Right to...

February 14, 2023 Snowdrops

[envira-gallery id='14278'] Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) A herald of spring, the snowdrop grows up to around 7 to 15 cm tall. Sprouting from bulbs, the drooping bell-shaped white flowers are accompanied by two slender, erect leaves. These flowers have been noted throughout history, with references going as far back as the...

February 13, 2023 Spurge Laurel

[envira-gallery id='14266'] Spurge laurel (Daphne laureola) is a flowering plant native to Europe and Maghreb. Spurge laurel is poisonous and anyone handling the plant must wear gloves to avoid getting a rash from the caustic sap. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpWSXEnYOZ4

February 12, 2023 Ozark Witchhazel

[envira-gallery id='14252'] Ozark witchhazel (Hamamelis vernalis) The ozark witchhazel is a deciduous shrub most often found around the Ozark Plateau. This shrub blooms during late winter and early spring if given full sun or partial shade. The Greek roots of its scientific name, Hamamelis vernalis, reference the fact that both...

February 11, 2023 Red Alder

[envira-gallery id='14242'] Red alder (Alnus rubra) The red alder, one of the world's largest alders, takes its common name from the vibrant reddish color that emerges in its bruised or scraped bark. The various parts of this tree have multiple uses. Native Americans use the bark of this tree to...

February 8, 2023 Monterey Cypress

[envira-gallery id='14208'] The monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) is a coniferous, evergreen cypress tree native to coastal California in the United States. It is a popular tree for cultivation and landscaping and occasionally for furniture construction. The foliage of the monterey cypress is toxic to livestock. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_nyT12XcjY

February 2, 2023 Snowdrops

[envira-gallery id='14147'] A herald of spring, the snowdrop grows up to around 7 to 15 cm tall. Sprouting from bulbs, the drooping bell-shaped white flowers are accompanied by two slender, erect leaves. These flowers have been noted throughout history, with references going as far back as the fourth century. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq07An4aKUU

January 14, 2023 Windmill Palm at the Beach

[envira-gallery id='13940'] Chinese windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) originally came from tropical and temperate mountain regions in China. In the wild, it usually grows 6 to 12 m tall. When cultivated, it only grows 2.5 to 3 m . Its leaves resemble a windmill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8x_4lqX9Vs

Reading: No One Is Talking About This

North Vancouver City Library Adult book club January book Excerpts A hundred years ago you would have been mining coal and had fourteen children all named Jane,” she often marveled, as she watched a man stab a finger at his wife in front of the Keurig display. “Two hundred years ago,...

January 8, 2023 Great Laurel

[envira-gallery id='13870'] Great laurelRhododendron maximumRhododendron maximum, commonly knownas great laurel is a late-blooming evergreenshrub endemic to North America. It producesclusters of gentle, white or pink flowers andglossy oval leaves, typical for Rhododendrongenus. Hill slopes of the Appalachian regionare the natural habitat of this vigorous, hardyplant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOk8bbzj_zA

January 5, 2023 Scots Pine

[envira-gallery id='13837'] Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is a native Eurasian pine plant that grows on nutrient-poor, dry, rocky soils. Given the name, it should come as no surprise that scots pine is the national tree of Scotland. It is also important within the forestry industry due to its use for...

Poem: The Year

The Year What can be said in New Year rhymes,That's not been said a thousand times? The new years come, the old years go,We know we dream, we dream we know. We rise up laughing with the light,We lie down weeping with the night. We hug the world until it...

Glühwein (Mulled Wine)

It’s a spiced red wine that was popular in the Alps as a warm up beverage after being out in the cold. This was something that S and his German Dad would make around Christmas, and me with my Swiss Dad. In fact, I received the spice mix as part...

Experiencing: Conifer Connect

Learning all about conifer trees at the VanDusen Botanical Garden Conifer Connect exhibit. Conifer Connect Did you know the oldest, tallest and largest trees on Earth are all conifers? Conifers are also critical in our fight against climate change with research showing coniferous forests absorb two and a half times...

Reading: Freedom Seeker by Yvonne Winkler

A dear friend and colleague of mine, Yvonne Winkler, wrote a book: Freedom Seeker. So much of her story deeply resonated with me, as I am sure will with so many other women who’ve been through the burnout cycle, drowning ourselves in whatever our vice we choose while in denial...

Poem: Fear

Fear It is said that before entering the sea a river trembles with fear. She looks back at the path she has traveled, from the peaks of the mountains, the long winding road crossing forests and villages. And in front of her, she sees an ocean so vast, that to...

Poem: The Moment

The Moment The moment when, after many yearsof hard work and a long voyageyou stand in the centre of your room,house, half-acre, square mile, island, country,knowing at last how you got there,and say, I own this,is the same moment when the trees unloosetheir soft arms from around you,the birds take...

December 18, 2022 Snowy Beauty

[envira-gallery id='13464'] Japanese barberryBerbers thunbergiiBerbers thunbergii, colloquially known asjapanese barberry, is a flowering deciduousshrub commonly cultivated as an ornamentalplant. Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea isthe most popular cultivar of this species,known for its characteristic dark red to violetfoliage and bright red berries Scarlet firethornPyracantha coccineaScarlet firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) is asemi-evergreen shrub...

December 14, 2022 Impressions of False Creek

[envira-gallery id='13346'] Plants Devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana Devil's darning needles is a climbing vine native to the Southeastern United States. This vine attaches by delicate tendrils and therefore does not harm its supporting structure. It is attractive to bees and hummingbirds while being deer resistant. The flowers on this...

December 10, 2022 Holly & Japanese Skimmia

[envira-gallery id='13252'] Common holly Ilex aquifolium Common holly (Ilex aquifolium) is an evergreen tree or shrub, recognized by the characteristic shape of its leaves and bright red berries. Its natural habitat is understories of oak and beech forests. Common holly is widely used in landscaping in temperate regions. Thick crown...

December 9, 2022 Dog Rose

[envira-gallery id='13232'] Dog rose Rosa canina The dog rose is a pale pink type of rose. The plant is known for "climbing" as it grows and can even be found climbing up different trees. References to dog rose date back at least to ancient Rome, and it is featured in...

December 6, 2022 Cold December Vibes

[envira-gallery id='13203'] Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) is a plant species also referred to as the following names: “American Wintergreen,” “Checkerberry,” “Boxberry,” and “Spreading Wintergreen." This plant is a member of the blueberry family. It’s mostly found in hardwood forests that have acidic soil and moderate shade. When crushed,...

Listening: The Utang Clan (Code Switch)

Podcast: Code Switch - The Utang Clan Utang na loob is the Filipino concept of an eternal debt to others, be it family or friends, who do a favor for you. It goes back to pre-colonial times in the Philippines, and can pass from one generation to another. And some...

Quote: Intergenerational Patterns – Hima Batavia

We had little to no idea on how to break the intergenerational patterns bestowed on us. It all sounds grating even now, but as third culture kids in our early twenties, swimming in pools of unprocessed trauma, and bouncing between conceptions of tradition and preservation, of progress and self-definition, we...

Experiencing: The Spirituality of Motherhood

In June, my university put on a colloquium (which they do a few times a year). They are always an incredible experience, as it is a gathering of the community – not just students, but also faculty and alumni. I always walk away having learned much, exploring areas that I...

December 5, 2022 Snowberries

[envira-gallery id='13174'] Common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) is a flowering deciduous shrub related to honeysuckle. Common snowberry grows in floodplains and woodlands throughout Canada and the United States. In these areas, it's important as a source of food for the ecosystems of deer, bears, and longhorn sheep. Common...

Reading: The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

Finished reading the novel The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult About the Book “As the story unfolds, Dawn’s two possible futures unspool side by side, as do the secrets and doubts long buried beside them. Dawn must confront the questions she’s never truly asked: What does a life...

Reading: Midnight’s Children

North Vancouver City Library Adult book club November book Excerpts “I am the sum total of everything that went before me, of all I have been seen done, of everything done-to-me. I am everyone everything whose being-in-the-world affected was affected by mine. I am anything that happens after I'm gone which...

December 1, 2022 Winter Berries

[envira-gallery id='13118'] Evergreen huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum A prized fruit in summer, evergreen huckleberry is native to the Western Pacific United States and British Columbia. The small, round fruit is similar in taste to a blueberry but with a more intense and sweet flavor. This makes them a perfect choice for...

Garden Retrospective 2022

Vegetables The three sister’s trellis patch was the absolute winner. The squash will probably do much better with more frequent attention, especially with the trellis. We were delightfully surprised the corn did so well! We’re excited to do more corn next year. As well, the pole beans and sweet peas...

Reading: Protect the Flame (Otto Scharmer)

Circles of Radical Presence in Times of Collapse Otto Scharmer Sep 6 Reflections by Scharmer on gatherings he had been to recently and the themes he was noticing. Both gatherings were convened with the intention to reimagine our path to a future that is regenerative, peaceful, and just. Otto Scharmer...

Listening: Andrew Explains the Commons (It Could Happen Here)

It Could Happen Here Podcast - Andrew Explains The Commons Oct 30, 2022 • 28 min Andrew walks James and Gare through the history and theory of the institution of the Commons. Andrew Explains the Commons (on Youtube as Andrewism) Based off Elinor Ostrom's research on the Tragedy of the...

Listening: Connect with Your Ancestors (Life Kit)

Podcast: Life Kit - Connect with Your Ancestors (Ancestral altars are for everybody. Here's how to create one at home) Camara says learning about your ancestors can be joyful and surprising that getting to know the people who came before you can help you understand yourself. Marielle Segarra, Host of...

Poem: Meditations in an Emergency

Meditations in an Emergency I wake up & it breaks my heart. I draw the blinds & the thrill of rain breaks my heart. I go outside. I ride the train, walk among the buildings, men in Monday suits. The flight of doves, the city of tents beneath the underpass,...

November 19, 2022 Bark

[envira-gallery id='11375'] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-4a3O-rAws

Wild Mushroom Dinner by Swallowtail Supper Club

Focusing on experiences as gifts, we decided to give Dad the experience of an incredible Wild Mushroom Dinner by Swallowtail Culinary Adventures. This 6 course foraged menu was certainly a treat for us and a unique experience that has expanded our fungi nerding out from learning in the forest and...

November 14, 2022 Needle Foliage

[envira-gallery id='10422'] Norway spruce Picea abies The fastest-growing of all spruces, the norway spruce (Picea abies) makes for a good roosting spot for owls and hawks. Its wood is used for paper, construction lumber, and musical instruments, and its needles can be used to brew spruce beer. It is also...

What Is Silent?

Rocks, millions of years of quiet pulsing from the earth’s core to the surface. Snow as it floats in the cold air to meet the other icy crystals on the ground. Movement of clouds, almost indiscernible in their glacial movement. Leaves of our indoor jungle plants bending and moving to...

Quote: Knowledge – bell hooks

To bear the burden of memory one must willingly journey to places long uninhabited, searching the debris of history for traces of the unforgettable, all knowledge of which has been suppressed.BELL HOOKS

Reading: Dark Showers (Hima Batavia)

https://himabatavia.substack.com/p/76-dark-showers And some notes on zen cleaning and co-living by Hima Batavia The art of well-being is truly the dance between my needs and our needs, which can then be wound up in concentric circles of feeling good and guilty, which are further wound up in deeper impressions on where...

Listening: Borders (It Could Happen Here)

Andrew sits down with Gare and James to explain the history of borders and how states have used them to control people Because for most of the world for most of human existence, really free movement has been the status quo. Traders, migrants, hunter gatherers, nomads, they freely traversed this...

Reading: Keeping the Heart Open (Hima Batavia)

#75 - keeping the heart open Even during the struggle by Hima Batavia Another piece by Hima that struck a chord with me. Some excerpts that resonated the most C says that this time of the year is harder than the winter because everything around us is dying. Death is...

Listening: Five Fingers Crush the Land (Throughline)

https://www.npr.org/2021/05/07/994895474/five-fingers-crush-the-land Over one million Uyghur people have been detained in camps in China, according to estimates, subjected to torture, forced labor, religious restrictions, and even forced sterilization. The vast majority of this minority ethnic group is Muslim, living for centuries at a crossroads of culture and empire along what was...

October 22, 2022 Fall Colors Continue

[envira-gallery id='9893'] Blue fescue Festuca glauca Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) is a clump-forming ornamental grass that is an evergreen perennial. Blue fescue is often planted for ornamental groundcover, but can become a weed if not carefully controlled. The latin name Festuca glauca means "pale blue-grey." Katsura tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum Katsura...

Miscarriage

Life was in me And now it flows through My heavy body Face towards the shower head Water running over me Rinsing the clots of what was once growing life Inside me My womb nurtured and grew this home Tissue strands of would-be offspring Now washed away Now flushed away...

October 21, 2022 Leaves & Gourds

[envira-gallery id='9308'] Oakleaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia The oakleaf hydrangea is native to the southeastern United States, generally found from North Carolina down to Florida. Discovered by William Bartram in the 1770s, it is often used as an ornamental plant in gardens as well as parks. Japanese maple Acer palmatum A...

Fermented Hot Sauce Powder

S has been experimenting with hot sauce and fermentation. This time he decided to try out something different. He started the same process as his hot sauce fermentation (part 1 notes and part 2 notes). However, once the fermentation was done, instead of blending it into a hot sauce, he strained out...

October 20, 2022 Sweetgum Tree

[envira-gallery id='9244'] Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a medium-to-large tree native to warm temperate regions of North and Central America. It puts on a brilliant autumn display - the leathery star-shaped foliage turns orange, red, and burgundy, with multi-colored individual leaves. Decorative foliage and an elegant straight trunk...

October 19, 2022 Fiery Hues of Fall

[envira-gallery id='9212'] Crimson fountain grass Cenchrus setaceus Crimson fountain grass (Cenchrus setaceus) is a grass plant also commonly called crimson fountain grass. It grows throughout East Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Crimson fountain grass is drought tolerant and the existence of it increases the risk of fires. Crimson fountain...

Poem: A’tukwewinu’k (storytellers)

A’tukwewinu’k (storytellers) i heard the singing through the firestones, trees, windand it helped me dream so that today i may awake and sing, too,for those yet to be i hope they will hear us one daycalling out the storiesthey will need to know and the songs to help them rise...

Poem: Future We In-U-Wee

Future We In-U-Wee Are we allowed to dream?Are we allowed to exceed the parameters of a reality that Canada has no interest in?Are we allowed to be more and better and complete? Aren’t we all supposed to stay in the time of long ago?The time of standing at a seal...

Reading: Son of Elsewhere

Abdelmahmoud, E. (2022, May 17). Son of Elsewhere: A Memoir in Pieces. Ballantine Books. Epigraph Elsewhere.I am a student of Migration Stories. I am pulled toward accounts of lives rearranged by the journey from one place to another. If you tell me you are an immigrant or a child of immigrants,...

Poem: Names

Names She was Eliza for a few weekswhen she was a baby –Eliza Lily. Soon it changed to Lil.Later she was Miss Steward in the baker’s shopAnd then ‘my love’, ‘my darling’, Mother.Widowed at thirty, she went back to workAs Mrs Hand. Her daughter grew up,Married and gave birth.Now she...

Poem: This Poem is Dangerous

This Poem is Dangerous This poem is dangerous: it should not be leftWithin the reach of children, or even of adultsWho might swallow it whole, with possiblyUndesirable side-effects. If you come acrossAn unattended, unidentified poemIn a public place, do not attempt to tackle itYourself. Send it (preferably, in a sealed...

October 15, 2022 Yellow

[envira-gallery id='8753'] Honey locust Gleditsia triacanthos Gleditsia triacanthos is a deciduous tree that is native to the Central part of Noth America. The trunk of the honey locust is covered in thorns that are soft and green when young, but age to be hard and brittle. These thorns are relatively...

October 13, 2022 Spiders & Plants on the Creek

[envira-gallery id='8676'] [envira-gallery id='8681'] Big blue lilyturf Liriope muscari Big blue lilyturf is an evergreen perennial endemic to East Asia. Comparable to grape hyacinths, this plant has velvety, lush foliage and abundant lavender-blue spikes with black berries blooming next to it. It is a famous, enticing plant that looks especially...

September Garden Harvests

Random snapshots of some garden harvests as we approach autumn and we begin to "close" the garden before our trip to Nova Scotia. [envira-gallery id='8656']

Reading: Me Tomorrow: Indigenous Views on the Future

North Vancouver City Library Adult book club October book Excerpts Equally crucial is the need to revisit and re-embrace the teachings of the Ancestors, collectively, in this country—all of us. This seems even more relevant today as we witness seriously tumultuous times around the world. Love should be honoured always,...

October 10, 2022 Birds in the Garden

[envira-gallery id='8557'] Northern FlickerColaptes auratus This brown woodpecker flashes bright colors under the wings and tail when it flies. Its ringing calls and short bursts of drumming can be heard in spring almost throughout North America. Two very different-looking forms -- Yellow-shafted Flicker in the east and north, and Red-shafted Flicker...

Wild Mushroom Identification & Education in Whistler (Lil’wat and Squamish)

Signed up for another mushroom identification and education course with Swallowtail Adventures.  Whistler is a mushroom hunters wonderland in October!  Join Chef Robin for a mushroom tasting and cooking talk followed by a mushroom foray with the wonderful mycologist Willoughby Arevalo. We'll meet at the beautiful Tyrol Lodge in Whistler,...

Poem: Song for Autumn

Song for Autumn Don't you imagine the leaves dream nowhow comfortable it will be to touchthe earth instead of thenothingness of the air and the endlessfreshets of wind? And don't you thinkthe trees, especially those withmossy hollows, are beginning to look for the birds that will come - six, a...

October 7, 2022 Autumn Feels

[envira-gallery id='8274'] China rose Rosa chinensis The china rose (Rosa chinensis) is a Southwest China native. The plant has been cultivated for so long that it has become hard to tell the difference between wild and cultivated varieties. With medium-sized clusters of flowers and a long blooming season, it is...

Painting: October Watercolours

Reflections on the Lake, Phil's Cabin in New Brunswick Sand Dunes of Margaree Harbour Beach, Nova Scotia

Poem: Our Souls Will Not Be Soothed

Our Souls Will Not Be Soothed our soulswill not be soothedby what we achievehow we lookor all the hard work we doeven if we managed tomake all the money in the worldwe'd be left feeling empty for somethingour souls ache for communityour deepest being craves one anotherwe need to be...

October 6, 2022 Berries on the Creek

[envira-gallery id='8223'] Bittersweet Solanum dulcamara The species known as bittersweet is a semi-woody vine found in forests, marshes, shrublands, and hedgerows. All parts of the plant contain alkaloids (especially the bright red berries), which are extremely poisonous to humans and livestock if ingested Common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos...

September 15, 2022 Feels Like Almost Autumn

[envira-gallery id='7680'] Days are getting shorter. Air is getting cooler. Forecasts showing wetter weather. It’s almost autumn and we can feel it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFpPklEzFbA

September 14, 2022 Flowers and Last Summer Blooms

[envira-gallery id='7641'] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmMnvPGXvZw [envira-gallery id='7627'] September 14 blooms Black-eyed susan Black-eyed susan Rudbeckia hirta The black-eyed susan is a flowering black and yellow plant with curving leaves. It is culturally important in the Southern U.S., and is often used to attract butterflies to gardens. It long ago spread throughout North...

Listening: Bridging the Potential Podcast – Art is Everything

What happens when you bridge the experience, education, and expertise of elders with the curiosity, energy, and innate wisdom of the youth? It’s simple. Everyone grows and the world changes for the better — one conversation, one connection, one collaboration at a time.Listen in and learn from people of all...

Listening: It Could Happen Here – Permaculture with Andrew

It Could Happen Here Podcast - Permaculture with Andrew September 5, 2022 • 38 min Andrew explains the principles of permaculture to Chris and James Permaculture with Andrew (on Youtube as Andrewism) Ways that we can enhance our food autonomy Permaculture was first coined in the 70s as a portmanteau...

Summer 2022 Highlights

Summer 2022 Highlights - Top 20 highlights Working together with S as a team to build raised planters and grow a food garden for the shelter in our community.Work-life integration through the whole season and doing meaningful work around the exploration schedule, and the ability to rest and regenerate when...

Reading: The Canning Kitchen

On our trips to Tofino, we’ve fallen in love with the Mermaid Tales Book shop which has always lovely curated collection of books, and I always leave there with a little more debt racked up on my credit card (but knowledge is priceless, am I right?!) This time, one of the...

September 11, 2022 Crows Flying Home Through Smoky Sky

Forest fires brought smoke to the skies today. Visibility was really low and couldn’t see the mountains for most of the day. [envira-gallery id='7534'] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIsTbF5P3H0

September 10, 2022 Garden Flowers Galore

[envira-gallery id='7512'] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqYh3KBtqFw [envira-gallery id='7663'] Garden blooms Wax begonia Begonia cucullata Begonia cucullata is a native of South America. It is often used as a ground cover and also does well in containers. The blossoms of wax begonia can be red, white, or pink. In some states like Florida and...

September 10, 2022 House Garden Harvest

Our first corn "harvest" ever! We only took one corn ear off to try it out and it was DELICIOUS! We also pulled a bunch of the beets, and Mom will harvest the green beans and blanch them to freeze (as we have way too many to use right now)....

September 9, 2022 Chesterman Beach, Tofino (Tla-o-qui-hat) 

Traditional land of the Tla-o-qui-hat First Nations. Tla-o-qui-aht people have occupied the area of Meares Island, Tofino, Long Beach and beyond as far as Sutton Pass what is now known as highway 4 west of Port Alberni. Our history tells us that our nation was one of the strongest nations...

September 8, 2022 Mackenzie Beach Tofino Tofino (Tla-o-qui-hat) 

Traditional land of the Tla-o-qui-hat First Nations Tla-o-qui-aht people have occupied the area of Meares Island, Tofino, Long Beach and beyond as far as Sutton Pass what is now known as highway 4 west of Port Alberni. Our history tells us that our nation was one of the strongest nations...

September 7, 2022 Naa’Waya’Sum Coastal Indigenous Gardens (Tla-o-qui-hat)

Traditional land of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation The Naa’Waya’Sum Coastal Indigenous Gardens (formerly the Tofino Botanical Gardens) provide a space for humans to learn from nature in both natural and landscaped environments. The majority of the beautiful 10-acre site is home to coastal rainforest and its many living species. An...

House Garden Updates – Early September

September is here and we're harvesting some veggies that are finally ready! Was a slow start to the growing season, but it's encouraging to have some stuff to harvest (albeit small, but still a win!) [envira-gallery id='7096'] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQagmgYQBu8 Harvests - some more successful than others... [envira-gallery id='7076'] Overview of the...

Growing Mint for Tea

Lots of mint at the house garden that we harvested to dry for tea. Pluck the leaves off of the stalks, rinse in a bowl of cold water and dry on the racks until ready to store in jars. [envira-gallery id='7054']

Garden to Kitchen Snapshots of Summer 2022

A few snapshots of some garden to kitchen delights. Not an extensive overview, but these were a couple meals or nutritious yummies that were grown in our home soil. Garden salad including lettuce, tomatoes & cucumbers or capers salad with tomatoes and basil Herbs like rosemary, chives & oregano Green...

Rooftop Garden Updates – Early September

Transition time as we move from August to September and going from heatwave with AC to cold and rainy almost overnight. The garden is still thriving and we've seen the best progress and growth this last month of heat in August. We did a walk-through before the rain and cool...

Making Fruit Jam with Dad

Brought delicious fresh fruit from the Okanagan on a recent trip to Penticton. With other trips, we didn't have time to do anything with the fruit before it would've gone bad. We bought 20lbs each of apricot and plums; however we both shared some and ate a few ourselves, so...

September 1, 2022 Lookout Garden Updates

First day of September and the food garden continues to thrive. The heat has meant that some of the veggies have dried up, but the lettuce I planted a few weeks ago is happy and ready for harvest. [envira-gallery id='6864']

September 1, 2022 Shades of Green September

[envira-gallery id='6836'] Common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) is a flowering deciduous shrub related to honeysuckle. Common snowberry grows in floodplains and woodlands throughout Canada and the United States. In these areas, it's important as a source of food for the ecosystems of deer, bears, and longhorn sheep. Common...

Listening: Code Switch – What does it mean to “inherit whiteness?”

In Baynard Woods' new memoir, Inheritance: An Autobiography of Whiteness, Woods reflects on how growing up white in South Carolina impacted his life. He argues that it is crucial for white people in the U.S. to reckon with their personal histories.NPR Code Switch Quotes by Baynard Woods from the Code...

August 30, 2022 Rooftop Garden Updates

It's the last day of August and our rooftop has been thriving in the summer heat. All the colours and fruits are popping and it's a joy to spend time up here. It's Gus's favourite place too! We've been harvesting tomatoes and they are delicious! Still lots more to come,...

“Sun Dried” Tomatoes in the Oven

[envira-gallery id='6748'] “Sun Dried” Tomatoes in the Oven I love tomatoes, especially cherry and grape tomatoes that I can pop in my mouth and let the flavour burst as I bite down on them. However, like much of our produce this summer, we’ve been traveling so frequently that not all...

Watching: Canada’s Worst Driver

S and I have been watching this show called Canada’s Worst Driver. It is both entertaining and informative. It’s easy watching in the evenings after long days, and interesting to learn about common mistakes when driving, how to prevent accidents and learnings about the physics of automotive manoeuvres and mechanics....

Reading: Radiant Body of Time

Notes on the Rhizome and Re-Thinking Emergence What if we could embody a different relationship with time? If we took other images from our world - spirals, zig-zags, rhizomes, crystals, the folds of a midnight flower, the pulsing undulations of the jellyfish - and allowed our narratives of becoming and...

Reading: Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

One of my summer reads for 2022 was the novel Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult. Here are some excerpts from the book that resonated/landed with me. “Inside was my father’s wallet, his reading glasses, his wedding ring. Identity, insight, heart: the only things we leave behind.” “It’s almost as...

Watching: The Japanese man who gets paid to ‘do nothing’

The Japanese man who gets paid to 'do nothing' – BBC REEL Reflecting on what is "valuable" in society and the importance of interpersonal relationships, the impacts of loneliness and what is "productive". https://youtu.be/SxW9M1Uozng

July 21, 2022 Rooftop Garden Updates

Gus in the Garden [envira-gallery id='5543'] Rail Planters [envira-gallery id='5551'] Containers Sunberry [envira-gallery id='5568'] Potato [envira-gallery id='5572'] Carrots Mint & Lemon Balm [envira-gallery id='5576'] Catnip Parsnip & Turnip [envira-gallery id='5582'] Flowers [envira-gallery id='5591'] Boxwoods Wood Planter Boxes [envira-gallery id='5600'] Hanging Baskets [envira-gallery id='5587'] Tiny Harvests

August 9, 2022 – Rooftop Garden Updates

[envira-gallery id='6115'] August 9 rooftop garden update.  Up until now the only thing that we've been able to actually really eat has been lettuce and snap peas and the snap peas are becoming more prolific as the season goes on. But now we're also starting to see many of the...

Visual Journal – A Sketch A Day

Back in April, I had a beautiful visit to Bellingham - traditional territory of the Lummi Nation – Lhaq 'temish (People of the Sea). There we visited a favourite of mine: Village Books in Fairhaven. I had been wanting to have a sketch book or journal for a while, but...

Growing Chamomile for Tea

Chamomile growing on the rooftop. Regularly harvesting to dry for delicious herbal tea. [envira-gallery id='6045']

Salish Sea

The Salish Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean located in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington. It includes the Strait of Georgia, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, and an intricate network of connecting channels and adjoining waterways. Salish Sea...

August 8, 2022 Coquihalla (Sto:lo and Nlaka’pamux)

Coquihalla Summit is a highway summit along the Coquihalla Highway in British Columbia, Canada. It is the highest point on the highway between the cities of Hope and Merritt.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coquihalla_Summit [envira-gallery id='6030'] Kw'ikw'iya:la (Coquihalla) in the Halq'emeylem language of the Stó:lō, is a place name meaning "stingy container." It refers to a fishing rock near...

August 5, 2022 Mountains from the Valley (Sto:lo, Nlaka’pamux)

Views of the Cascade Mountains from the Fraser Valley. Also some snowcapped shots of Mount Baker (Mount Baker, also known as Koma Kulshan or simply Kulshan, is a 10,781 ft active glacier-covered andesitic stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc and the North Cascades of Washington in the United States. Source.)...

British Columbia Maps

Physiographic region of British Columbia from British Columbia in a Global Context by Geography Open Textbook Collective Figure 8.1 Physiographic region of British Columbia by Hilda Anggraeni from Michael Church, June M. Ryder, 2010. Compendium of forest hydrology and geomorphology in British Columbia. Government of British Columbia. http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/docs/Lmh/Lmh66 Biogeoclimatic Zones from Simon Fraser University...

August 1, 2022 Golden Hour

[envira-gallery id='5827'] Evening bike ride through Bridgman Park, North Vancouver. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xEe1WdOEKE

July 31, 2022 Summer Evening on Rooftop

[envira-gallery id='5793'] Summer evening crows Whoosh and caws above Crows commuting home at dusk Their southeast journey Haze of heatwave days Cornflower and peachy sky Sun disappearing A few birds resting Their rush hour pause Atop high branches https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2y-VlV8OTU

July 26, 2022 Okanagan Lake (Okanagan)

[envira-gallery id='5711'] Experience Penticton with 5 senses Red tailed hawk swooping and diving Swallows doing aerial acrobatics Cloudless stretch of blue sky Sandy desert hues on the mountains Neon and cadmium greens on the honey locust tree Crickets chirping Chatter of birds Birch tree leaves rustling Warm gusts of air...

July 25, 2022 Lake of the Woods (Sto:lo, Nlaka’pamux)

[envira-gallery id='5696'] Rest stop at Lake of the Woods from Vancouver to Penticton. Travel Day Notes: As often is, leaving the city of Vancouver is a slog. Rush hour has become rush hours - plural. Crawling along the highway with stops and starts through Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey and eventually...

July 23, 2022 On the Beach of the Comox Valley (K’ómoks)

[envira-gallery id='5657'] Afternoon on the shores of a beach near Courtenay on Vancouver Island (traditional territory of the K'ómoks First Nation). In this moment, I experience: White, yellow and orange flowers swaying Tall Douglas fit with rough bark A sailboat with triangle sails and navy blue trim A wooden bench...

July 22, 2022 Crossing the Strait of Georgia

[envira-gallery id='5628'] Windy but beautifully sunny day on the Queen of the Cowichan crossing over to Vancouver Island. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMjwluoz63s

July 21, 2022 Lookout Garden Updates

[envira-gallery id='5534'] Things are really heating up in Vancouver. Here’s where we’re at with the Lookout Food Garden.  A lot of the lettuce never took but it looks like we're finally getting some lettuce with seeds I sowed a few weeks ago. On lots of the garden videos we’ve heard how...

July 21, 2022 Hot Summer Days

[envira-gallery id='5512'] Was a scorching afternoon today in Vancouver. My skin has been flaring up like crazy so with blistering fingers, didn’t enjoy being outdoors as much. Sigh. Alas, still basking in the beauty and colors that this season brings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuOVbo-kOt8

Experiencing: Perspective

Bookmarking and posting some incredible resources that have shifted perspective in terms of time and space. One Zoom One Zoom An interactive map of the evolutionary links between all living things known to science. Discover your favourites, see which species are under threat, and be amazed by the diversity of...

Watching: Healing in Clever Microhome Atop Tiny Food Forest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDlpnlyTjRI Watching: Healing in Clever Microhome Atop Tiny Food Foresthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDlpnlyTjRI At just 8 square meters (86 square feet), the Freeland tiny house extends far beyond its footprint with a large deck, a wood-burning sauna, a Win Hof method ice bath, and a permaculture food forest providing enough produce for a...

July 20, 2022 Greenery

[envira-gallery id='5428'] Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes! Growing potatoes in grow bags on the rooftop and they are prolific (at least the greens are). Hopefully get some spuds to harvest soon enough. For now, I’m in love with all the lush plants adding a real jungle vibe to the roof. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsgWkF1U-T8

July 18, 2022 Plant Life At Home

[envira-gallery id='5394'] Was feeling really rough in my body today. Not feeling like I could leave the house, I realized that the nature in our home would be my reconnection and grounding today. This is a spider plant that is one of the house plants that lit my passion for...

Campbell River, Traditional Land of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation

Journey To and From Campbell River Journey involved driving to Horseshoe Bay and taking Queen of Cowichan across to Nanaimo. Then driving up to visit friends in Comox/Courtenay and took the scenic road up to a Campbell River Highway 19A On the way home in tree red took the inland...

July 16, 2022 House Food Garden Updates

Front Yard The front yard was where we planned to have the brassicas (e.g.: broccoli, cauliflower, kale), which go well with companion planting with beets and the allium family (e.g.: chives, leeks, and onions. The lettuce seems to be happy. We used the lettuce for salad this evening. The broccoli...

July 17, 2022 Bubbles & Pollinator Garden

[envira-gallery id='5048'] [envira-gallery id='5063'] Visited the beautiful Ambleside Butterfly Garden in West Vancouver today. “A community Pollinator Garden for butterflies, bees and bugs. Started by a group of Master Gardeners and volunteers and the District of West Vancouver, this garden provides habitat, food and a corridor for pollinators. We aim...

July 16, 2022 Red Flowers & Rain

[envira-gallery id='4982'] [envira-gallery id='4987'] Coppertips aka Montbretia / Crocosmia Crocosmia crocosmiiflora Montbretia (Crocosmia crocosmiiflora) is a hybrid flowering plant native to France. The Latin name Crocosmia crocosmiiflora is derived from the Greek word "krokus" (saffron) and "osme" (smell). This plant's dried flowers smell of saffron when hot water is added...

July 14, 2022 Lookout Garden Updates

[envira-gallery id='4952'] Plants continuing to grow in the courtyard. Beans are looking really healthy! Lettuce I sowed a couple weeks ago is now popping. Happy food garden in the sunshine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W54cIr8zWuU

July 15, 2022 Trees & Blooms in Urban Spaces (Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh)

[envira-gallery id='4923'] Overcast skies above. Textures of green in all the summer deciduous trees. Beginnings of rain from dark clouds. Water rushing under the leafy branches. Creek stones in the shade. Crows squabbling in the distance. Gentle rustling of the leaves in the wind. Cars nearby disrupting my thoughts. Footsteps...

July 14, 2022 Blue Skies & Green Leaves

[envira-gallery id='4891'] Hot day today and feeling the sun rays without many clouds in the sky today. Enjoying the blue and green colors above. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAOzava-y1k

Poem: The Quiet Machine

The Quiet Machine I’m learning so many different ways to be quiet. There’s how I stand in the lawn, that’s one way. There’s also how I stand in the field across from the street, that’s another way because I’m farther from people and therefore more likely to be alone. There’s...

Poem: The Summer Day

Source: https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/poet-laureate/poet-laureate-projects/poetry-180/all-poems/item/poetry-180-133/the-summer-day/

July 12, 2022 Gus, Skies & Sunset

[envira-gallery id='4813'] Gorgeous hues in the skies this evening and the clouds were moving swiftly above the mountains. Bird highlights of the day: Swallows catching and eating insects in the air as they dive and swoop in the distance. Seagulls flying low and near to the rooflines. A finch that...

July 10, 2022 Dusk

[envira-gallery id='4722'] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nQC2mToC8A

July 1, 2022 Suffering In the Moment

Exhaustion. Tension.  Congestion. Fogginess. Inflammation. Itch. Heat. Heaviness.  This the silence in my body that screams.  This is the trauma I carry in my cells and consciousness.  It’s all that I carry with me through my physical being.  It’s trauma from the past carried into the present.  It’s all that...

July 2, 2022 Food Garden Updates

Hanging baskets are doing amazing! Tomatoes, tomatillos and cucumbers seem to love the baskets (maybe it's the soil?) because the same ones we planted in the veggie patch are not doing so well. [envira-gallery id='4427'] In the last photo, Papa planted beet and lettuce seeds as an experiment to see...

Nootka Rose Petals

From Chef Robin's Swallow Tail Culinary newsletter: Nootka rose petals are blooming, edible and beautiful.  When harvesting flowers, I tend to gather them from the ground rather than picking the flower from the bush, leaving the rest for the struggling bees.  Rose can be used in Iranian dishes both savoury...

Papa’s Blumen

Capturing the beautiful mid-season blooms from Papa's flower garden. [envira-gallery id='4421'] hanging baskets, planters and trellises! [envira-gallery id='4418'] The gorgeous flowers of every hue, shape and texture in the heat of July. [envira-gallery id='4396'] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z4sEMO9zJY

Deception Pass State Park on the Coast Salish Sea (Skagit)

For some 13,000 years, Whidbey and Camano Islands have been inhabited by the Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest - the Coast Salish Peoples including Snohomish, Lower Skagit, and Kikiallus tribes. Included on Whidbey Island is Deception Pass State Park, where we went camping. We started by looking for some...

A Writing Practice

“Stefi! I have a writing practice now!,” I yelled up the stairs to my husband out of nowhere this evening. “You do?” He inquired in response. “Yeah!” I exclaimed gleefully.  There was a slight pause and Stefan continued, “What does that mean?” I took a pause, inhaled and sighed loudly....

June 25, 2022 Dusk

[envira-gallery id='3239'] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97KtfbpctMQ

in·ter·sti·tial

in·ter·sti·tial /ˌin(t)ərˈstiSHəl/ adjective adjective: interstitial of, forming, or occupying interstices."the interstitial space"ECOLOGY(of minute animals) living in the spaces between individual sand grains in the soil or aquatic sediments."the interstitial fauna of marine sands" Intrigued me when I read the essay by Hima Batavia, #72 - why I write

Listening: 99% Invisible – The Rights of Rice and Future of Nature

From 99% Invisible Podcast - Episode 496 "The Ojibwe name for wild rice is Manoomin, which translates to “the good berry.” The scientific name is _Zizania palustris_. It’s the only grain indigenous to North America, and while it might be called rice, it’s actually not closely related to brown or...

June 18, 2022 Rooftop Updates

The rooftop is feeling more and more lush with all the plants (hopefully some vegetables and fruits soon too). Transplanted a bunch of basket stuffers from the hanging baskets we bought for the wedding last year. The hanging baskets have now been repurposed for tomatoes and cucumbers, so all the...

June 18, 2022 Garden Updates

House garden seems to be have a tough time. Many of the plants look like they're struggling (limp, yellowing) or the direct sowed seeds aren't sprouting at all. Today at the house we: transplanted tomato & cucumbers into hanging planterstransplanted zucchini (this entailed me putting the zucchinis in different areas...

June 12, 2022 Rooftop Updates

[envira-gallery id='2602'] Planted root veggies (parsnips & turnips) into grow bagsPlanted corn, squash & beans on the rooftop wood planter boxesTransplanted tomatoes and cucumber into hanging basket on rooftop

June 15, 2022 Green

[envira-gallery id='2519'] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw95E6qaMhk

Fiddleheads

We tried fiddleheads for the first time! Photo by The Matter of Food on Unsplash Fiddleheads are the furled fronds of a young fern, harvested for use as a vegetable. The variety of fiddlehead eaten in North America is the ostrich fern fiddlehead.  Only available a short window of time, S...

Experiencing: Nature Based Leadership

June 2, 2022 notes from a webinar by Cheryl Charles on Nature Based LeadershipThis class felt right in alignment with all my current explorations and rabbit holes. VisionA world in which humans live, learn, serve and lead in healthy balance with nature.GoalInspire, educate and develop values-based leadership through which people...

Watching: Connecting to the Wilderness Within with Angeles Arrien

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=a9IpsK11z_s&feature=emb_title Dr. Angeles Arrien was a cultural anthropologist, author, and educator who conducted workshops and lectures worldwide. Her work, which bridged cultural anthropology, psychology, and comparative religions, led to her support and interest in Transpersonal Psychology. Her most famous book, The Four-Fold Way explores archetypes of the Native American medicine...

An Integral Thematic Analysis of Emerging Leadership in the 21st Century – My Master’s Thesis

an_integral_thematic_analysis_of_emerging_leadership_in_the_21st_century_-_elsener_final_thesis_2021Download It's been almost a year since completing my master's thesis, yet with this strange ebb and flow of time during the pandemic era, it feels like yesterday and simultaneously forever ago. In any case, I am finally revisiting the work after taking some breathing time after graduating and focusing...

May Garden Notes

Wow. Time continues to feel like it's flying by. On some days it doesn't feel like we've done much, and on others we definitely feel the effort. It's been incredibly rewarding so far and TONS of learning. Here are the notes from our garden adventures for May 2022. But before...

Three Sisters Trellis

We "built" a trellis for the squash patch. Took a trip out to Abbotsford to a tractor supply (Buckerfields https://buckerfields.ca)There we bought cattle panel and t-bars to make a trellis for the squash. We found this through a Google search of squash trellis options then watched a few different Youtube videos...

Reading: Hima Batavia #68 – on creative space

H 5/13/2022 I can't remember how I stumbled across her, but I attended Hima's virtual gathering at the turn of the year to 2022 on "Collective Dreaming". I still cannot articulate how powerful and moving it was and how the words and intentions have both grounded and expanded me in...

May 11, 2022 Stones

[envira-gallery id='12170'] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9Kh8fysr4o

May 6, 2022 Flowers

[envira-gallery id='12085'] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn7fAnP5-HU

May 4, 2022 Renewal

[envira-gallery id='12060'] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJN7foBMdek

April Food Garden Notes

Our little feline gardener assistant watching over all the seedlings. That was one of many cool things of note from this month... April 2 - ​Preparing the beds S went and got a truckload full of “soil amender” (turns out it’s compost)Very economical. The bags of compost from a garden...

Homemade Vinegar – Bottling

Followup on our experimentation of making fruit vinegar at home. How it started and progress notes in previous journal entries. February 19, 2022 Day 1 of alcohol fermentation. Moving From Alcohol Fermentation to Vinegar FermentationMarch 12, 2022 Day 1 of vinegar fermentation April 27, 2022 BottledTaste test / notes Grape - tasted like a...

Bellingham (Land of the Lhaq ‘temish – People of the Sea)

A magical weekend visiting friends in Bellingham WA, traditional land of the Lummi Nation (also called Lhaq ‘temish - People of the Sea). As with much of what we call the Pacific Northwest, this is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. For thousands of years, the Lummi, Nooksack,...

Now I Dream of Motherhood As Water

Been sitting with thoughts of motherhood, the divine feminine, home, lineage and the like. On a whim, opened my heart and calendar up to committing to Putting The Creative In A Creative Nonfiction Memoir. It felt right to take this course now when I saw it pop up on the...

April 16, 2022 – Food Garden Planting 

[envira-gallery id='9432'] Beds are ready for planting, so we went to the house to plant direct sow seeds as well as transplant the vegetables we started indoors with grow lights. Exciting! It may be a bit early for some of the plants, but we're rolling the dice. If not, we...

Raised Bed Planter Boxes

S used this planter box as a templateRaised Bed Planter Boxes by The Wicked Makers​ First he cut and assembled one planter. Seeing a built version that looks awesome, he's going to disassemble it, sand it, stain it and re-assemble. With this template, he can build the next 3. [envira-gallery...

​Finding Morel Mushrooms in BC

Morel Mushroom Drawing by Me, 2022 Morel Mushroom Drawing by Me, 2022 CREDIT: article from Chef Robin at Swallowtail Culinary Adventures with great information as shared below. Credit: https://www.swallowtail.ca/blog/finding-morels-bc Credit: https://www.swallowtail.ca/blog/finding-morels-bc

Processing the Natural World Through Art

Animal Watercolors Nature Watercolors Plant Drawings [envira-gallery id='8894'] Fungi Drawings [envira-gallery id='8897'] Aquatic Plant Drawings [envira-gallery id='8888']

Patio Garden Spring Walk Through

Days have been feeling significantly longer, especially after Daylight savings time started here a couple weeks ago (Sunday March 13). Despite losing an hour of sleep, I'm feeling more energy because we seem to be getting more sunlight (at least when it hasn't been rain rain rain). [envira-gallery id='9488'] Checking in...

More on the Mushroom Grow Kits in the Kitchen

Beginning of this mushroom grow kit journey is here.First harvest of elm oyster mushrooms cooked upProgress update on mushroom grow kit in the kitchen​ The lion's mane mushroom took FOREVER... in fact, we had two elm oyster harvests before anything happened with the lions mane. But it finally showed signs of mushroom the...

I am from…

Poem I wrote during the course Hermeneutics of Humour in 2020 during my MA at Antioch University. I wrote this using "Where I am From" by George Ella Lyon as foundation. I Am From Project is a website to help people of all ages and backgrounds use the “Where I’m From” poem as a prompt...

Sechelt (Land of ch’atlich First Nation)

What a beautiful week in Sechelt. A dear friend has a home up on the Sunshine Coast, so S and I invited ourself up for a week to work remotely while being waterfront and amidst the jagged rocks and the beautiful conifers and arbutus trees. [envira-gallery id='10734'] Sechelt is a...

March 2022 Food Garden Planting Notes

My my my… this week begins April. Gasp. How did we already get to the fourth month of the calendar year?  Lots happening as we begin to ramp up for the food garden! Ordered seeds Started with a garden walk through and beginning to map. The map is taking waaaay...

Garden Walk-Through & Food Garden Mapping Spring 2022

Spring has sprung! We did our food garden measurements yesterday so we can begin to map out where the plants will find their new homes. First, though, let's enjoy the beauty of all all the spring flowers! Daffodil (Narcissus) Snowdrops (Galanthus) Grape hyacinth (muscari) Planting Locations Front Yard Veggie Patch...

Vegetable Seed Garden Planning

We have a lot of seeds. A LOT. So we definitely have to be smart about how we're planting this season. More to come as we figure it out..

Vinegar – Moving From Alcohol Fermentation to Vinegar Fermentation

We started fermenting vinegar in the kitchen a few weeks ago. How it started and progress notes in previous journal entries.  So far we've done steps 1-6 in the recipe: Sanitize glass jarsFill jar with fruits about 1/3Top up with waterCover opening with coffee filter and a rubber band (allows oxygen for the...

Ocean Foraging Class & Lunch

What can you harvest from the seashore without a boat? The sea foraging course was put on by Chef Robin of Swallowtail Culinary Adventures (one of several courses/workshops we’ve now done). It was hosted in təmtəmíxʷtən land (Belcarra Regional Park). Note, that this was an educational course on foraging; however, as the...

Sautéed Elm Oyster Mushrooms That Grew in Our Kitchen

Recipe we found on the internet to cook them up and enjoy them fresh. WOOHOO. Elm oyster mushrooms that we grew in our kitchen using a grow kit. Oyster mushrooms, garlic, and green onions sautefrom juliasalbum.com  ​Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil1 lb oyster mushrooms4 garlic cloves (minced)4 green onions (finely chopped) salt and pepper Preparation Steps...

Progress Update on Mushroom Grow Kits in the Kitchen

Beginning of this mushroom grow kit journey is here. We already had our first harvest of the elm oysters. We used a recipe we found on the internet and the mushroom dish turned out delicious! I found some of the pieces chewy, so I wonder if we let the mushrooms get overripe....

North Vancouver Seed Library

I just found out today that our local library has a seed library!  From the North Vancouver City Library website:This is a joint project between the Library and the Edible Garden Project, located at North Shore Neighbourhood House. What is a seed library?Our seed club lends seeds to the public, free of charge, with...

German Family Dinner

[envira-gallery id='9024'] We are making dinner monthly family dinners for S's parents. This month he spearheaded wanting to make a full German dinner. Initially he wanted to make it for just us 2, but wow are we glad that we decided to share with with his parents. We still have...

Homemade Vinegar – Day 6 Progress

Mango and grape bubbled over, but were fine after a stir to release the bubbles and re-covered with new coffee filterFaint bit of mould on one of the blueberries, but scraped it off and gave it a stir [envira-gallery id='9155']

Trying To Make Homemade Fruit Vinegar

This week’s endeavor: homemade vinegar.​Watching Pro Home Cooks on YouTube and it seemed easy. I’ve fermented things before… well really only kombucha, but I’ve done it on and off for years, so this felt right up my alley. And heck, this whole thing is about learning, experimenting and sometimes failing....

Lion’s Mane and Elm Oyster Mushroom Grow Kits

We ordered mushroom grow kits from Grow Mushrooms Canada. I chose Lion’s mane and elm oyster as they’re both recommended for beginner growers. Technically we're growing the mushrooms in the kitchen, but I'm categorizing it as "growing in the garden", as the grow zone extends to our home growing too... Step...

Fermented Hot Sauce Pt 2

Fermenting hot sauce part 1 is here. After fermenting in jars for 4 weeks, S decided to blend it up. Hard to tell when it’s “ready” as any taste test needs to be done once it’s in blended for. So he rolled the dice. [envira-gallery id='9063'] Ta-da!!!  S also created...

Rough Planning – Vegetable Garden

Planning an entire garden feels extremely daunting. So we started with the "easiest", which is when S is cooking dinner and I sit at the kitchen island and yammer on about my thoughts and we discuss to parse out information... and this works for us. Here is the rough list...

Avgolemono Soup With Truffles Recipe

Source:3 Course Truffle Menu - Class by Chef Robin Kort at Swallowtail culinary adventures  Ingredients 1 (25 gram) fresh white or black truffle or a good white truffle oil2 quarts vegetable stock1 + 1/3 c good quality Arborio rice (Italian rice) cooked3 large eggs5 Tbs fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 3 juicy lemons)2 Tbs finely diced chives or...

Coconut Macaroon With Truffle Honey

[envira-gallery id='9121'] Ingredients 1 cup whole almonds4 cups (20 ounces) unsweetened shredded coconut6 large egg whites1/2 cup sugar1/2 tsp salt1/2 tsp vanilla extract¼ tsp mandarin zest (2 small mandarins)7 Tbs liquid honey1/2 tsp a good white truffle oilCracked salt to top Preparation Steps Pulse the almonds in food processor till a fine crumble. Add coconut, process until fine, 1...

White Wine Cream Sauce with Truffles on Fresh Tagliatelle

Ingredients 2 tbs butter2 heaping tbs diced onion1.5 cups whipping cream1 cup dry white wine, e.g. pinot gris2 Tbs fresh thymesalt/pepper to taste2 oz pecorino cheese4 servings homemade tagliatelle pasta1 Tbs (25 gram) good white truffle oil or 1 fresh white Alba truffle sliced thin Preparation Steps Heat butter in a medium pan over medium heat.Once melted, add...

3 Course Truffle Meal & Learning

It began with an idea to give my sister a cooking class experience for her birthday present. Having done several courses Chef Robin Kort Robin Kort – Chef/Sommelier/Forager/Owner at Swallowtail culinary adventures I started the search there as I their classes unite “passions; cooking, drinking, foraging, friends and the great outdoors”. Voila – we found a...

2022 Visions

Words ​Intra-ActionHereLineageDivine FeminineCollective ImaginationEcology I dream... ​I dream of a world in which every creature on this planet is nourished and supported to thrive and pursue their deepest desires because it honors and liberates humanity and ecologyI dream collective imagination will liberate usI dream of moving with energy and passion...

Fermenting Hot Sauce

S is trying something new out this week. Fermented hot sauce! It’s bubbling (which he says is good). [envira-gallery id='8989']

Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada USA, (Ancestral Land of the Pueblo Peoples)

[metaslider id=10952 cssclass=""] 500 million years ago this desert was a sea… Warm, shallow, and teeming with life. For four hundred million years, marine animals and plants thrived in the sun-lit depth of this watery world. Valley of Fire is a geologic park built of rocks of many colors: white,...

Tofino & Tonquin Park (Traditional Tla-o-qui-aht Territory)

[envira-gallery id='10946'] Hishuk ish tsawaakEverything is Connected [envira-gallery id='10947'] Gorgeous afternoon between stormy days in Tofino, traditional territory of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. We explored the Tonquin Trail-easy walking trail-through rainforests and the pacific coast beaches (Tonquin Beach, Third Beach and Middle Beach)-facing west, so we...

Arbutus Bark

Learning from Chef Robin's videos on what can be foraged locally. I didn't know arbutus were edible! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHcd_b8dSp4&embeds_loader_url_for_pings=aHR0cHM6Ly90aWZmc2ZpZWxkam91cm5hbC53ZWVibHkuY29tLw&embeds_origin=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title

West Coast Mushroom Identification Course

Autumn day where the torrents of rain from the last few weeks let up. A sunny yet chilly morning. Led by very informative myco-guide Willoughby. Two hour easy walk through an area of beautiful rainforest on Cypress Mountain (the traditional and unceded territory of the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations)....

Best Pumpkin Muffins Ever

What is muffins spelled backwards?Exactly what you do when you take them out of the oven. [envira-gallery id='8981'] Preparation Steps Preheat oven to 400Sift dry ingredientsMix wet ingredientsAdd wet to dry and mix Spray muffin tinsBake 18-20 minutes ​Notes from Cathy:I only add half the recommended sugarI also use mostly applesauce...

Easy Pumpkin Pie

Beauty is in the pie of the beholder. [envira-gallery id='8975'] Preparation Steps Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.Combine eggs, pumpkin puree, sweetened condensed milk, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl and mix until combined.Prepare pie crust according to instructions. Pour pumpkin mixture into the crust.Place pie on a...

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

[envira-gallery id='8968'] Ingredients One medium sized pumpkin SaltExtra virgin olive oil Preparation Steps Preheat the oven to 400°F.Cut pumpkin, scrape out seeds, and rinse. Use a strong metal spoon to scrape the insides of the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds and strings. Place the mass of pumpkin seeds in a colander...

Pumpkin Purée from Scratch

​We have nothing but gourd intentions [envira-gallery id='8957'] Ingredients 1 small baking pumpkin4 to 6 poundsFine sea salt, optional Preparation Steps Heat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.Rinse and pat dry the pumpkin.Cut the pumpkin in half and pull halves apart.Scoop out the seeds...

Homemade Pumpkin Spice

Ingredients 3 tbsp. ground cinnamon 2 tsp. ground ginger2 tsp. nutmeg1 1/2 tsp. ground allspice ​1 1/2 tsp. ground cloves Preparation Steps1. In a small bowl, whisk together cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves until well combined. Store in a small jar or container.

Let’s Give ’Em Pumpkin To Talk About

Received a gorgeous pumpkin from the CSA last week. And with the our two black cats being all spooky this week and the blanket of grey skies and torrential downpour, the scent of pumpkin spice beckoned. The lineup for the rainy Saturday afternoon in the kitchen: Started by making Homemade Pumpkin...

Watching: Can Small-Scale Farming Feed the World?

Nerding out on videos such as this one, which provoke creative ways of thinking of acting local and small. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWbZLayrliM Can small-scale farming feed the world and stop climate change? In this Our Changing Climate climate change video essay, I answer the question, can small-scale farming feed the world? Specifically, I...

A Season of Local Veggies

It’s been an incredible and fun adventure to buy all our produce from a local CSA (community-supported agriculture) for the summer season of 2021. It’s a way to get a weekly variety of vegetables grown in our region. As Stef noted when we were chatting about our meal experiences since getting our...

Our Goal With Soul: Growing Our Food

We’re attempting to grow food for our families. It’s an attempt to literally nourish us, and simultaneously make this a fun experiment and learning experience. Stef’s parents have been nurturing the life around their own home for decades, and I’m pretty excited to contribute by planting, tending to and being...

Foraging Identification Education in the Pacific Northwest

Foraging in the Pacific Northwest It’s the first entry of my field journal. At least in this digital form. My first identification on how and what to forage in the beautiful ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest We did the summer plant infield trip with Chef Robin Kort and Swallow Tail...