You just got the new version of our eZine (formerly newsletter). We decided it was "selling" to much and it felt like a chore putting it out every week. So we changed, we are including articles, art and other great things. Hopefully this is the small beginning of something greater: A weekly eZine that focuses on connection to the land, community and having fun while doing it. We want suggestions for this "eZine" so send them in! Let's make it awesome. Please, send us feedback!

In this issue:

• Places to Visit- Elk Rock Island by Tony Deis
• Chickweed: Not Just for Chicks by Emily Porter
• An Excerpt from Willem Larsen's Rewild Guide by Willem Larsen

A Place to Visit- Elk Rock Island

by Tony Deis

When I tell people I hail from Milwaukie (actually Oak Grove), they respond, "Wisconson?" Like asking somone from Portland if they are from Maine. "No," I say, "the Milwaukie only a couple miles South of Porltand, on SE McLoughlin Blvd (99E)." Then they kind of understand, though sometimes they say, "There is a place called Milwaukie?" "Its kind of like Sellwood," I offer, "but not really." That usually ends the conversation.

I was an independent study student in high school. A nice way of saying I chose not to go, and my parents supported it. I spent most of my formative years in my garden practicing what I never knew was permaculture. I would tend 3/4 of an acre. Every season pull in 400 lbs of tomatoes and take naps under tall corn and sprawling pumpkin vines. Not bad for a high school career. I miss that garden, now its seems I;m always in front of the laptop, on some high adventure for a camp or a workshop or taking a phone call for some urgent thing. Unlike most teenagers today, I also had time to wander. Well, run was often the case. I would get up just before dark and run up to those hills where I could see the sunset, or down to the river where I could see the sunset colors. I soon found all the wild places within 4 mile radius. My quest was to always look for the Oaks. I was not obsessive aboutrunning. When I got "there" I would jumped and climb on rocks, simply watch hidden waterfalls and wonder what birds I was looking at.

And so in this long story, I want to take you to one of those places. Elk Rock Island! I remember first seeing it peeking from the Mlwaukie waterfront (Jefferson boatlaunch). Then I thought, "If I only had a boat." Being 15 years old I started wondering if I could make one (if I only had Thaddeus's Kayak Building Course at the time). I went home to my parents and told them about my discovery. My dad also grew up in Oak Grove (even more South of Milwaukie). Ever since he was a kid he spent time in my grandfather's garden picking raspberries, chestnuts and potatoes. He also hopped the trolly car (they had torn out the tracks by the time I was a kid) to head downtown. Similar life I gues. Now of course my dad (who let me leave school) naturally had to ALWAYS frustrate me as a teenager (he still does). But when it came to stories about the "Old Wilamette Valley" I was all ears (I still am). And he told me the secret to get on Elk Rock Island. "During part of the year, there is a land bridge. Often the river is higher, but often we could cross right over." I asked him WHERE! Hardly containing my excitment. "I don't know, its been awhile." So I set about exploring. I headed down River Road just where it turns from SE McLoughlin Blvd (99E) immdieately south of the town of Milwaukie. Then I darted in and out of Bluebird St, Wren St and finally to Sparrow Street. I followed the Sparrow to the river and Spring Park. Back in the day it was covered in ivy and blackberries. By the way, the blackberries tasted great but the berries are gone now, "invasive species removal" they call it. Last time I checked, nothing really has been planted to take the blackberry's place (my rant). I finally headed down a muddy path, up a steep piece of trail and then the lagoon came into view! I thought I'd found heaven. A suburban kid with his own WILD PLACE, and water, and a waterfall on the other side of the river. I crossed the land bridge over to the island. There were cliffs to climb up, a GIANT chestnut tree in the center of the island, a beautiful Madrone overlooking the bluff, animal tracks (I had no idea what I was looking at) and heron fishing for carp only few feet away. After that, I kept coming back. Kept sitting. Kept hiding in the trees when the few visitors, hikers or joggers would zip down the trail. This was my island. Today I realize its everyone's island. The sign at the trailhead says it belongs to "the City of Portland" I think it belongs to heron's, chestnut trees, beaver, geese, muskrat and scruffy kids in Milwaukie.

To find Elk Rock Island head south (from Milwaukie) SE McLoughlin Blvd (99E). Just underneath the train overpass take a slight right at SE 22nd Ave. Finally turn right at SE Sparrow St. The entrance to Spring Park is where Sparrow St meets se 19th Ave. Map It

Chickweed: Not Just For Chicks Anymore

by Emily Porter

Here in Portland the rainy season brings on a lush new growth of this mild tasting and easy to harvest green. Found in lawns and gardens on nearly every street in town, it’s one of the best greens for consuming raw. Try it in place of lettuce or sprouts in a sandwich (I like a BCT, bacon chickweed and tomato) or make a salad of chickweed and chopped celery splashed with a little olive oil and raw apple cider vinegar. It’s also great cooked and can be used in most any recipe in place of spinach. Chickweed (Stellaria spp.) is a diminutive, low-growing plant with opposite leaves and tiny white flowers. If in doubt of your identification look closely for one of its most distinctive features: a single line of hairs running up the stem that switches sides at each leaf juncture.

Here are some recipes I’ve tried recently:

Chickweed Spanokopita

Yogurt Dough
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 lb of butter
3 1/2 cups of quinoa flour
2 tsp salt

Cream butter and yogurt together. Add flour.and salt. Let sit in a warm place for 12-24 hours. Add more flour if too sticky.

Filling
2 cups cooked chickweed (collect one plastic grocery bag loosely packed raw)
1 large onion chopped into small pieces and sautéed
1 package of feta cheese crumbled

Mix filling together. Form dough into balls. Roll in extra flour to prevent sticking, then roll out, pat, or press dough into small tortillas (approximately 8-12). Add a spoonful of filling and seal edges. Alternately cut dough into squares and fold into triangles. Bake at 350º until golden brown, about 40 minutes.

Chickweed Tabouli: Will Make You Droolie

First soak and sprout two cups quinoa overnight then cook. Once cool add:
juice of one large lemon
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tomatoes chopped
1 cucumber chopped
1 1/2 cups raw chickweed
garlic powder and black pepper to taste

Other ingredients you might consider: scallions, olives, fresh mint (also found growing through the winter)

Rewild Guide, Chapter 2, The Sensory Tune-in Game

Our own Willem Larsen is writing something called the Rewild Guide! Its part book, part game. An independent study guide that connects you to the natural world. Once and awhile we will be including chapters from the evolving book in our newsletter. So enjoy the first part, and go out and do it.

-by Willem Larsen

You can play this game by yourself or with others, standing in a circle, anytime and anyplace - waiting for a bus, talking at a cafe, out at a park, anywhere! If alone, direct yourself silently through the instructions. If in a group, choose one person to lead the others. In this game you want to stay conscious of as many of your five senses as possible, all simultaneously. Once you can do all five, you want to increase the amount of sensations in each sense. In brackets you'll find directions for different ways of increasing the sensations and challenge. Don't worry about memorizing the exact words for directing people through each sense, but do note the phrasing, known as 'pace and lead'. You don't want to pop the experiential bubble by bossing friends around, you want to gently lead the way. I've put in boldface the important 'pace and lead' phrases. Count silently to 8 seconds when transitioning from one of the 5 senses to another.

1. Owl eyes "Pick a distant point in front of you, and park the center of your vision there. As you begin to focus on that point, you can also notice the very edges of your vision, both all the way to the left, and all the way to the right. As your vision spreads out to each side, you can also begin to notice all the way up and down, all simultaneously.

2. Deer ears "...Now hear all the sounds, all around you in full circle, in a sphere, each one a separate sound, each one a separate note, or rhythm, or percussion...

3. Raccoon hands "..."....as you continue to see everything, all at once....and hear...all the sounds, you can now begin to notice the feelings in your body...the movement of air against your skin, the clothes on your body, the pressure of the earth against your feet...the expanse of your back like a big reflector dish, receiving and sending ripples of feeling to, and from, all around you...

4. Dog nose "....as you continue to see everything, all at once....and hear...all the sounds...and feel, all the feelings...you can now begin to notice the smells...how many do scents do you detect...and which direction to they come from...and how close their source...

5. Snail tongue "...as you continue to see everything, all at once....and hear...all the sounds...and feel, all the feelings...and smell, all the smells...you can now begin to notice the taste of your tongue in your mouth..."

6. At some point during this game you may feel your world fuzz over a bit, as your senses overwhelm your mind, and put you in a dream place. So much for drugs, eh? Who needs 'em! Make this fuzzy place a goal, every time you do this exercise: perservere until you achieve the dreamy state. This will work the edge of your sensory ability, and make it a little stronger, each time.

Play this game over and over, and every time, learn something new...anything! If you look for it, you'll find it. Demand a discovery every time! And then blog about it! What improvements to the game have you innovated? What new sensory questions and challenges have you added to the game? Share with us.

Workshops to learn more

• Animal Tracking Storynight
• Animal Tracking Workshop Series
• Immersion Program Taster
• Summer & Spring Break Camps
• Kayak Building
• Snow Shoe Class
• Animal Classes

Animal Tracking Storynight I grew up in Milwaukie and I am happy the new "Scout Pit" is nearby. We promise and entirely new night of looking at Tracking with the Animal Tracking Ultimate Series Instructors. This time we explore tracking even more as a series of relationships and rest assured, you will never look at family in the same way.
Who All Ages
When Thurs, Jan 10, 2008, 7-9pm
Where The Scout Pit, 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland OR Map It

"Taster" for our full time Immersion Program This is a chance to come and sample our full time Adult Immersion Program opening Fall 2008. Last "taster" day for our immersion program, everyone left super excited and most of them ready to apply. Well, you can just be curious if you want to come. We practiced some martial arts, took the umiak on the river, did some tracking and had some great coffee conversation.
Who 17-adult
WhenSat, 10am-2pm
Jan 26, 2008
Where The Scout Pit, 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland OR Map It

Summer & Spring Break Camps We have to be honest. These are the best spring & summer camps ever! We have two locations: one @ The Scout Pit near Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge (plenty of nature explorations, martial arts and boating on the river) and two, @ North Clackamas Aquatics Park near Three Creeks Wetland (with a climbing wall, swimming and plenty of nature exploration).

Animal Tracking Series Some people believe an Animal Tracker only follows footprints on the ground. Tracking can be that, but also much more. The Animal Tracking Ultimate Series brings the best instructors to you. In many other programs, instructors consider themselves your "mentor" but a real tracker considers herself a collaborator.

Session 1-Eye of the Tracker A tracker uses all her senses to listen for the most subtle signs and clues.
Who 14-adult
When Sat, Jan 12, 2008 10am-3pm
Where The Scout Pit, 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland OR Map It

Session 2 -The Mind of a Tracker
Who 14-adult
When Sat, Feb 2, 2008 10am-4pm
Where The Scout Pit, 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland OR Map It

Session 3 -Know Nothing!
Who 14-adult , session 2 required
When Sat, Mar 1-2, 2008
Where Portland, OR

Traditional Kayak Building Build your own kayak to fit your own body! Skin on frame boats put technology tested for millennia into your hands. Modern skin on frame construction is lighter AND tougher than fiberglass or solid wood designs. This course last five weekends.
Who 16-adult , Participant Limit 5 people
When 5 weekends Mar 29 -April 27, 8am-5pm (with breaks)
Where The Scout Pit, 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland OR Map It

Snowshoe "Survival" Adventure Spend a day in the snowy forest surrounding Mt. Hood! In this interactive course, participants will learn the mechanics and technique of the age-old art of snowshoeing, as well as vital winter survival skills that are a necessity for anyone who would like to venture out on their own. Whether you are new to winter snow travel, or expanding your skill-set, this course welcomes and challenges all levels. This course will discuss making safe choices and how to make yourself more comfortable in the cold and snow. The course will culminate in an fun role playing emergency scenario during which participants can test their new survival and rescue skills.
Who 14-adult
When Sun, 10am-3pm, Jan. 27, 2008
Where Meet @ The Scout Pit, 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland OR Map It

Animal Classes Skinning 101 Have you ever skinned something than ate it? Here's your chance to get hands on experience and expert guidance in skinning and butchering with local primitive skills experts of TrackersNW. All animals are treated with respect, and remains are put to use as food or tools.
Who 14-adult
When Sat, Jan 19, 2008 10am-3pm
Where The Scout Pit, 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland OR Map It

Traditional Hide Tanning Join local primitive skills experts of TrackersNW to learn and practice traditional method of brain tanning to work with skins and hides from small mammals, elk and deer. Some of the softest and most beautiful buckskins are created using this ancient method.
Who 14-adult
When Feb 16-17, 2008 10am-3pm
Where The Scout Pit, 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland OR Map It

SPECIAL OFFER! Come sample Monday Night SHIFT: Martial Arts. Spend a night working in a Martial Arts class like NO other. Leave BEHIND the gruff and stoic demeanor of other dojo's and ACTUALLY train fun and practical skills. Right now we are doing BOXING! Dr Mike and Willem work on a modified form of American Boxing. Blending it with Kali influences and creating a workout that keeps you fit and and is fun.

Monday Night SHIFT First time FREE (mention the password TRANSFORM)

Picture of the Week

Thaddeus Koster took this during a camp last summer. It reminds us that we will do anything for good blackberries:)

Other Classes Coming up