The Wild

Archive

  • Reflecting on Mythology

    Reflecting on Mythology

    Last week I posted a quick survey of the Arbutus tree that is frequently seen in the areas surrounding my new home. As part of that post I included two myths that are from the Coast Salish people that were found in a very nice book on West Coast forests. Since the post I have Read more

  • Arbutus

    Arbutus

    I recently hiked a regional park that contained several magnificent Arbutus stands. The Arbutus is Canada’s only native broad leaf evergreen, and is quite a sight to behold in the fall when it sheds its bark revealing smooth younger bark underneath that can be from pale green to cinnamon-red. Straits Salish story: the Arbutus tree Read more

  • Seed Banking

    Seed Banking

    As the title suggests, this post is about seeds. Calling my project a seedbank may be a little ambitious (its more like a list), but hopefully one day this list will develop into something more elaborate and complete. For now, this is where we shall begin. Winter has arrived, which is the motivating factor in Read more

  • Reishi

    Reishi

    It is mushroom season on the west coast of Canada, and I have been swept up in the enthusiasm. In addition to having some wild foraged chanterelles this past week (delicious and nutritious), I also met a mushroom farmer who is producing a variety of different mycological products. I chatted with her for a while Read more

  • Wild Foods and Nutrition

    Wild Foods and Nutrition

    The first time I went on a wild foraging expedition was many years ago. I had just completed my first year of college, and a friend convinced me and a few others that we should go into the far north to the site of a forest fire to pick morel mushrooms for the summer. He Read more

  • Water Treatment

    Water Treatment

    When planning an outdoor adventure it is important to understand what the risks are and how best to prepare for them. Water purification is a good example of a situation where education and preparation can make the difference between the success and failure of an expedition. Even the most pristine looking water source can contain Read more