Surviving winter and a story of hope
On a recent gloomy afternoon, a loud crack shattered the quiet along the boardwalk at Raven Ridge, The Nature Conservancy’s preserve at the southern edge of Charlotte.
The Christmas duck
Many years ago, when I was struggling to maintain financial stability, I would nurture my spirit as often as I could by spending time outdoors doing things
Paper birch: a profile
Paper birch, also called white birch (Betula papyrifera), stands out: even if you don’t know a hemlock from a…
Great horned owls in the ‘hood
About 10 days ago, as I drifted toward sleep, a deep echoing hoo-hoo floated through the open window. A…
Would you like to see a Vermont master naturalist come to Charlotte?
Attention, nature lovers and newcomers to the area!
November Reflections
It seems that every November my spirt longs for a simpler life. The stark barren trees seem to strip off all unnecessary accoutrements of modern life.
Opening day of duck season
The south wind blows and the ridgepole of the old one-room camp creaks above our heads. We are on the shores of mid-Lake Champlain. With the window slightly cracked open, we can hear the waves lapping against the rocky shoreline.
Scouting more area trails
Widening the focus beyond Charlotte’s immediate neighbors, here’s a sampling of walks within about a half hour of Charlotte.
How Passion Overcomes Adversity – A Tale of True Grit
Normally, I like to use this venue to espouse the virtues and spiritual connections through hunting, fishing, foraging, and generally learning to find joy through immersion in the outdoors.
What Makes a Forest Healthy?
Landowners always ask me is: “is my forest healthy?” While this seems like it should warrant a simple “yes” or “no” answer, the question almost always makes me pause, my eyes glazing over. Like many parts of our world, the deeper we dig into forests the less clear things become and judging if a forest is “healthy” or not is profoundly complex.
More local trails
Widening the focus to neighboring towns, let’s explore the wealth of options in Shelburne and Hinesburg.
Differentiate weed seedlings from garden-worthy plants
Recently a friend mentioned how difficult it was, in spring, to differentiate weed seedlings from more valuable garden-worthy plants. True, as we excitedly look to see what returned or self-seeded, our puzzlement grows. So many plants look alike as babies.
Nordic Farms food truck approved
The Selectboard approved Nordic Farms 3.0’s permit application for a food truck to operate at its farm stand on Thursdays beginning August 26 and ending October 7. The truck will serve woodfired pizza, the application said.
Grateful for the earth’s gifts – no matter what form they take
I recently headed up into the mountains in search of native brook trout with a few very accomplished angler friends—Mark Wilde and John Lesher.
The scoop on local trails
Every few years I revisit the inventory of walking trails in Charlotte. Our town is blessed with these resources and the vast network of volunteers who support them.
Fishing for a new career
It’s mid-summer now, and the trout have figured out that if they want to survive the heat they’ve got to find deep pools with water temps below 70 degrees.
Hey, EAB! Come on over!
The bright green triangular boxes hanging from a dozen ash trees in Charlotte are designed to attract any emerald…
More art in the outdoors
If you yearn for more outdoor art (after visiting Lemon Fair and Cold Hollow Sculpture Parks), venture down the road to Shelburne Museum or consider a road trip to Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park, in Cornish, New Hampshire. Nature is the canvas at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park, Vermont’s one and only, in Woodstock.
May fair
After a nearly non-winter of moderately poor ice fishing, I’ve been reveling in the bright sunshiny days of early spring. The lilacs and honeysuckle permeate the air, smelling like the candy “Sweet Tarts” I knew growing up.
Murderous plants
If you are like me, you assume that every time an insect meets a plant, that insect will eat that plant. And yes, you’ve heard of insectivorous plants, but those are typically not in your backyard.