A Bit of Inspiration
As an avid follower of Rohan Anderson’s Whole Larder Love, I have read his story and understood his motivation for engaging in a lifestyle in which he grows, forages, and locally sources food for himself and his family. I intellectually grasped his passion and ethos in his approach to a lifestyle that embraces the simplicity and integrity of sourcing one’s own food. But last night at Portland’s Ned Ludd, Jason from Applied Observation and I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Rohan himself, as well as hear him tell his story in person. The man has an energy, generosity, and purpose that is difficult to explain and probably impossible to fully grasp unless you meet him in person. I left the event with a feeling of inspiration that I haven’t experienced in awhile, and I encourage anyone who lives near an upcoming WLL event venue to go meet and chat with Ro yourself. I took a couple of pics during the evening, but admittedly they were an afterthought on account of the great food (prepared by Ned Ludd from recipes in WLL), introductions, and conversation that accompanied the evening.
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Sanborn Canoe Co.
It seems like Sanborn Canoe has been coming up a lot lately…I keep running into their paddles and other gear on some of my favorite blogs – which is how I found the video below. I was surprised at how in depth they shared their process in this video. It’s long, but I found it well worth the view.
I have a canoe that would look a hell of a lot nicer with some Sanborn paddles. For now I may have to settle for a Sanborn patch and a mug, but one of these days…
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Bidder 70
Today, on Earth Day, Tim DeChristopher will be released from prison, where he has been for nearly two years. In 2008, DeChristopher attended an auction to sell off land leases for oil and gas development, himself bidding and winning leases for 14 parcels of land totaling $1.8 million.
It soon became clear that DeChristopher had no intention to pay, and that he had just initiated one of the most creative and effective campaigns in the history of activism. There is a new film about DeChristopher, Bidder 70. Check out the trailer below. And check out Peaceful Uprising.
Bidder 70 – Trailer from Gage & Gage Productions on Vimeo.
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Willamette
Below is a beautiful new visualization of the Willamette River that has been made into a poster by DOGAMI (Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries). DOGAMI routinely collects an enormous amount of Lidar data in Oregon, from which this “map” is derived.
Also over at forestglenGEO. The poster is available here.
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Spring
This past week has been a whirlwind. I have enjoyed spring break and the beautiful Northwest weather, which came with a puppy…
We are going to call this little guy Henry. It just seems to fit, although part of the inspiration for the name (Henry David Thoreau) does not match perfectly at this juncture. Henry is happily, playfully violent much of the day. His capacity to be redirected to spare wood in the yard is a work in progress. He is a shot in the arm, and a breath of fresh air. And a pain in the ass. All at once. You know what I am talking about.
My adventures in the large, extended National Forest backyard will experience an interruption with the resumption of school. But the weather demanded a trip to some falls along the Clackamas. A much needed hike on a brilliant Oregon day.
We have a chicken coop to fill as well, although this particular structure is likely to be filled with ducks, specifically Khaki Campbells. I love my ducks…I went to U of O after all. I was a Duck before I was a Beaver. Duck eggs are incredible. If you haven’t tried them, I suggest doing so. Chicken eggs are literally pale in comparison.
Graduate school continues. A sense of irony fills my mind as I contemplate pursuing an online program in pursuit of a Master of Natural Resources. I am nearly halfway there, and I am thankful to be able to pursue such a degree remotely, but I am in front of a computer quite a lot these days. I don’t smell like a campfire nearly enough. Outdoor distractions welcome.
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Meriwether & Whiskeyjack
I have admired the work of Meriwether of Montana and Whiskeyjack Paddles for awhile, both owned and operated by Danny Brown from Whitefish, Montana. Danny recently got in touch with me, and we discussed the axes and paddles that his respective companies craft in Northern Montana. Meriwether, in particular, also provides a number of other products that I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on, including the Meriwether Flask, which I included in December’s gift guide.
I was curious about how the paddles and axes were crafted, particularly the axes. Having done little woodworking myself, I had assumed – like many others I know – that axe handles should be made of hickory, the strength of which is renowned. Meriwether of Montana crafts their axe helves with maple and walnut, which are cut into strips and carefully laminated. This laminated construction is known for its strength, which Danny illustrated with the example of glulam beams, widely proven to be stronger than solid sawn counterparts.
Whiskeyjack paddles are also laminated, incorporating 25-50 individual pieces of cedar, which are cut and painstakingly glued back together. The result is a paddle that is both light and strong, made for backcountry paddling.
I am going to be honest, when I first saw the Meriwether axes, I was convinced, despite their beauty, that they were too expensive. However, after my interaction with owner Danny Brown, I understand more fully how much effort goes into these axes and paddles. They are truly works of art, and Danny and team are clearly working hard to produce some very quality pieces of functional craft. I look forward to stopping in on them on my next trip to Montana (a field test might be in order!).
Below are some photos Danny sent me of both the production process and the products.
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Spring at Silver Falls
We spent this past weekend at Silver Falls State Park, one of the most beautiful locations in Oregon in my opinion. A big birthday weekend for my lady, and there was no better place to spend it.
With a beautiful lodge and other structures that date back to the CCC and WPA projects of the 1930s and 1940s, there is even more to see than the well-known, epic waterfalls.
Camping in the spring can be unpredictable, and so it was for us. It was 65 and sunny on Friday, 42 and DUMPED rain all day on Saturday, and snowed on Sunday morning. And we enjoyed every second.
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Thank You, John Denver
The upcoming John Denver Tribute (4/2/13) is not only packed with great renditions of John Denver classics, but also supports the work of The Wilderness Society. I have to admit, I have always felt that the world would be a much better place if everyone walked around humming John Denver songs. But we can now actually help protect wilderness by listening to John Denver. Wilderness protection deserves such a soundtrack. Preview below…
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The Bob.
I received my “The Bob” T-shirt today from the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, a clever way to celebrate both the man and the Montana wilderness area that bears his name. I have previously posted about Bob Marshall, certainly one of the most interesting figures of wilderness preservation and conservation history that this country has produced, and definitely an inspiration to myself and countless others.
Go get a T! I have a feeling these might go fast. I also recommend Bob Marshall’s biography, A Wilderness Original.
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NPR Remembers Aldo Leopold
NPR ran a nice little story yesterday about perhaps the greatest conservationist in U.S. history, Aldo Leopold. Have a listen, here.
“There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot. These essays are the delights and dilemmas of one who cannot. Like winds and sunsets, wild things were taken for granted until progress began to do away with them. Now, we face the question whether a still higher ‘standard of living’ is worth its cost in things natural, wild and free.” — A Sand County Almanac
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