10 simple things | Trackers NW Blog

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10 simple things
14th
May

Posted by Tony Deis on May 14, 2009 in Village Life

10 simple things you can do the improve your village's relationship to the land.

1) Go fishing every other week during the summer. For every fish you catch, promise to put 2 back in its place. Don't worry, you'll find a way.

2) Gather spring greens: nettles, dandelions and other "weeds". Come back to that patch year after year. See how your harvesting affects it and help make it more abundant.

3) Make your own clothes. Ask Grandma or Grandpa how to sew. Use repurposed fabric (from ol' clothes). Turn it into high fashion (or a least try to). The latter piece is important so that you want to create more when people give you compliments. Action does not exist in an human vacuum and everyone wants to be appreciated. Here's a class to make scrap leather shoes with Jason Craban

4) Make cider this year from all the feral apple trees in your neighborhood and around town.

5) Ride your bike for all these great expeditions during the summer.

6) Get chickens or a goat for your backyard.

7) Go hunting (with a hand made bow if possible). This one will cause controversy with some folks. It is not intended to offend. From my experience hunting asks you to see and feel the land in an entirely different way. I have taught tracking to people for many years and when one of them goes hunting the relationship with deer completely changes. They seem... well, sewn together.

8) Bring friends along on these bike excursions. Every time.

9) Try to only buy local then organic foods. The farmers market is a good source. If you need to do a CSA (becoming a member of a farm) I also recommend shares at Fawnwood Farms

10) Come to our wild or local foods potlucks. Plus hold your own (and invite me). The key is for the food to be both wild and local, so no one feels left out be they a hunter-gatherer or aquarian farmer. Our next potluck is May 17 (this Sunday)

Class roll...

Free taster days, May 16 or 17
Come learn the skills we teach either May 16 (for new folks) or May 17 (for folks that have been before).
Learn more

Wild & local foods potluck May 17, 6:30-10:30
Bring something harvested from the greenspaces, the garden or the farmer's market.Come dressed to the nigh's but with barefeet, mocs or boots. Good ol' Frank and Mr. Tony Bennett will jazz us through the evening. And the new TrackersHQ will get the inaugural party it deserves.
RSVP by emailing Tony at tony@trackersnw.com

Butcher a buffalo and sausage making, May 30-31
Consider well before taking this class. We are here to show intense respect and value for the animals who's life we are taking. If its the right fit for you, then you will help skin and butcher a fully grown American Bison. Then you will make sausage by traditional means the next day.
Read more or register for the buffalo butchering