Leopold's Land Ethic

When we moved to Wisconsin four years ago it was a chance for me to practice what I preach: I became a beginning Land Scout and started a field book to document the new land around me. Summer gave way to fall and fall slid into real winter. Then glorious spring and summer again. Several seasonal cycles later and I've just this month finished my first Wisconsin field book (shown at the end of this post).

I didn't know it when I made the Land Scouts, but much of what the group values and practices comes from American biologist Aldo Leopold. In particular, Leopold's "land ethic" is the root of modern environmental ethics and wildlife conservation. Much of his formative work took place in Wisconsin and he is a beloved adopted son of the state. Even today the Aldo Leopold Foundation carries on Leopold's work through robust programming and educational opportunities.

Testing out newly bound field books on campus.

Last week the Land Scouts came full circle when I got to partner with with middle schoolers at Aldo Leopold Community School in Green Bay as part of their Exploratory Week. How cool to get to work at a progressive public school named in honor of the man whose work left such an important legacy of land stewardship! A group of ten 4th - 8th graders and language arts teacher Jaime Danen joined me in binding field books, exploring, observing, noting, and reflecting. We also played some great games.

Warming up with balance games at Baird Creek Park

We got to explore some of the school grounds, two beautiful public parks, and, with the help of biologist Carrie Kissman, the nearby Fox River. It was a treat to work with these students. I was particularly excited discover and note the plants coming up in our area. Here's a list of some of the plants we saw:

I hope the students will complete their field books and turn them in for their Observation badges (now in their second edition of production). Thanks to Aldo Leopold Community School, Jaime Danen, Carrie Kissman, and the generations of Wisconsin environmentalists and conservationists whose work prepared the way for us. I hope we can work together again.

Semi-solo drawing in field books at Bay Shore County Park

Examining aquatic organisms pulled from the Fox River under the guidance of biologist Dr. Carrie Kissman

Observing at the creek in Bairds Creek Park

I do not recommend making a field book with so many pages. Takes to long to finish.

Go Wild Outside

I follow Fiona Bird on twitter where she’s often posting photos of seaweed, news about foraging, and generally interesting tidbits about land and plants. Bird tweeted about reviewing her book Let Your Kids Go Wild Outside (CICO Books), I contacted the publisher, received a copy in the mail, and have thoroughly enjoyed it.

This book is refreshing. The writing is bright, abundant, and inviting. It offers a lot of information and activities, but it doesn’t belabor the learning outcomes and educational values of the outdoor experience. Instead the emphasis is on discovery, play, and trusting the reader’s curiosity to guide her. Each chapter covers a different region: woods; meadows, hedgerows and hills; seashore; water and wetlands; and “my wild garden and kitchen.”

For each Bird gives information about the flora and fauna you’ll find, instructions for crafts to make with local plants and found materials, a little bit of natural history, and activities appropriate to the area. Almost all of the crafts and activities are free and made largely with biodegradable materials that can be returned to site when finished.  Although most of the activities are appropriate for younger children (some with supervision), older children and adults will find plenty to try. I’m especially excited to try making nettle cordage and artist’s charcoal from pussy willow branches! 

This book would be a helpful resource for outdoor educators or indoor educators wanting to get their students outside more. Likewise it would be a thoughtful gift for any young naturalist moving to (or vacationing in) new areas.  In fact I plan to getting a second copy for some young family friends.  My hat goes off to Bird for this thorough and accessible book. I look forward to returning to it as spring finally comes to Wisconsin.

Pond Gap Land Scouts

Cutting greens at Pond Gap Elementary School, Knoxville, TN

This is the second year of Land Scouts at Pond Gap Elementary School in Knoxville, TN. I've had the pleasure of working first with Matt Callo and now with Elias Attea, both AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers through Pellissippi State Community College's Service Learning program. Both have given good feedback on how the Scouts work and can be improved to serve Pond Gap's after school program. Below are badges now en route to Attea's troop.

From back to front: Decomposition, Digestion,
Collection, Observation, and Propagation

If you're interested in hosting a troop or using the Land Scouts with an existing group I want to help that happen. In addition to the newly launched Land Scout Guide Book, there's a curricular outline of all ten core values and how to teach them with young people. You can download a free copy of the Guide Book here. It explains how to get started hosting a troop and earning the Observation badge. The rest of the badges and activities are spelled out in the aforementioned outline. It's still a rough draft and not yet published, please email me if you'd like a copy of it.

Small Roots

It is warming up in East Tennessee and we are moving from the lush verdant beginning of summer to plants withering and drying. My plants in containers need daily waterings, our worm bins are almost entirely full, and the garden is buzzing with all manner of flying things.

Below are some photos from our team's work at the Bonnaroo Victory Garden. We held workshops and demonstrations related to small scale gardening and land stewardship. Many thanks and a warm hello to all the people who stopped by the garden. I hope you all enjoyed yourselves as much as we did. Please keep in touch with any gardening, vermicomposting, seedballing, or foraging you get into in the coming months.

Matt teaching about medicinal herbs on Thursday.

Beebalm in the garden.

Chatham watering while yoga goes on.

The middle plant with the hot pink blossom is a Celosia from Stanley's Greenhouse.

Sam and Katie making seed balls. 

These three men were a great help setting up and installing. 

Wall piece on perimeter.

Junior Urban Land Scouts!

This text comes from the field book of one of the campers this summer.

It is fall-ish now: cooler, crisper skies, shriveled leaves, and more rain. It is a fine time to be an Urban Land Scout-- there's still so much ripening and dropping these days. This week also marks the start of Junior Urban Land Scouts at the Boys and Girls Club. I am thrilled to get to work with them and eager to see what lessons come out of our time together. More on that project as it progresses.

On the subject of progress: one of my goals for the ULS (and now JULS) is to get the levels and actions refined, well documented, and more modular (i.e. in a pdf) so that other groups may confidently start their own Urban Land Scout tribe, junior or otherwise. Likewise, I hope to host a foraging tour in November akin to the earlier "gleaning tours" and "Tour de Plants." Both the Junior Urban Land Scout curriculum and the tours are simple and easily adapted to locale. Would you like to host one in your city? Send me a message and I'll set you up with all you need...which is not much at all once you have the dee-sire.

Urban Land Scout Camp and Mobile Loaves and Fishes

Last week we wrapped up a four-day run of Urban Land Scout camp at Mobile Loaves and Fishes, a national food justice program with a branch in Nashville, TN. We had a great group of campers and counselors. Highlights included making lunch every day in MLF's beautifully equipped kitchen, starting seeds, and playing many many rounds of WAH!. We were especially grateful to have an air conditioned space in which to work as the temperatures topped 100 degrees F for several days.

Special thanks go to Tallu Schuyler, MLF's director, Brooke Gillon, the MLF garden coordinator, Jena Robinson, MLF garden intern, and Sarah Morgan and Dana Richards, two AmeriCorps members from the Martha O'Bryan Center. It was a great team and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and working with everyone. 

You can see more photos from the camp here.