I’m working on an article for a local publication on what climate change is going to mean in this area, and in the process I search through a lot of blogs on global warming. It’s disheartening. In the face of incredible advance scientific understanding of climate change that is being […]
Shortly after we had taken charge of our 44 acres, I asked my husband what was his favorite thing about our land. Doug said, “That young red oak across from the house site.” I knew immediately which one he meant. It was about 15 years old — a robust, teenage […]
The Dutch word for potato is aardapel, which means earth apple. Apples and potatoes have long been a staple because both can be stored long after harvesting in root cellars and apple barrels. But they are also alike in that, though they remain quite edible, they are beyond delicious when […]
Our prairie remnant on a sunny, south-facing slope just off the top of a ridge had been farmed for years and then planted by the owner before us in rows of pine and spruce. Some of the trees were 5 years old. Some were nearer 15. The older trees were […]
I proudly add a new link to my Blogroll. My younger daughter, a senior at UW-Madison double majoring in journalism and biological aspects of conservation, just started blogging – Cooking between Classes aimed at empowering her fellow college students to take charge of what they eat. For fun, I interviewed […]
One of the first plants I think I could identify as a child was milkweed. That was before I even associated its fireworks flowers with its flying fairy seeds. I was attracted to its dramatic pods that could be opened to reveal the precise rows of seeds sleeping with their […]
You remember that quote about how the world is going to Hell in a handcart, and we nod our heads wisely – only to find out the quote is from someone in ancient Rome? It’s a case of chronocentrism: people always believe they are living in the most critical of […]
GUEST POST BY DELLA HANSMANN Lets talk about windows. Let’s talk about light. MORNING WINDOWS Christopher Alexander explored building design by looking for patterns in existing building styles, and he stresses the importance of natural light – eastern light – in the house, and particularly in bedrooms. Pattern 138 in […]
Who is going to suffer the most from environmental degradation? Kids Who is going to have to take over what ever green programs are being implemented today: Kids. If kids don’t learn what’s going on in the environment and care about it today – we can kiss tomorrow goodbye. Here […]
Last week Michael Pollan visited Madison (see my posts The Soul of a Carrot – Michael Pollan at UW Madison, Corn: How Do You Like Yours? , and In Defense of Food (and Books) Michael Pollan leads “Go Big Read” ), and for many of us it was kind of […]
Digging in the Driftless 