|
|
Wisdom of the Marks 
These days anyone can go out and get a great little field guide on animal tracks. The guide usually gives a set of figures, average ranges for the animal's track size, stride length, straddle, etc., given to a fraction of an inch. With this one can make a reasonable guess as to what animal foot made a given track. But tracking is more than simply following footprints in the sand; it's about being able to retell the story of the animal that was passing through. Was it male or female? Was it looking left or right? Why'd it stop? How long ago?
These questions along with dozens others are racing through the minds of experienced trackers almost unconsciously. One of the first lessons a young Native tracker would receive is to learn the Wisdom of the Marks. Wisdom of the Marks is an exercise in observation. It's a process of creating a series of impressions (marks) in a substrate or surface (like dirt) then making detailed observations (watching). Simply put -'watching marks in the dirt'.
It doesn't have to be dirt though. It can be folds in a leaf, bent evergreen needles, or the snapped end of a branch. The key is to look, closely, at the changes that it goes through as the minutes, hours, days pass. To be acutely aware of how the weather affects these changes. To lie beside a hole you pressed into the sand with a stick and to watch, grain by grain, the form of the mark change as the earth slowly erases it.
In doing these exercises you'll be amazed to watch the crease of a pine needle darken and change in a predictable manner. The way the latex of the milkweed resists being washed away even after days of heavy rains and that the colour of the damaged edge is a much better indicator of the passage of time.
It can take years to master this mindset and train your eyes to see the subtlest differences in the landscape but to those with the patience and the will, these and other lessons are all around us just waiting for our awareness to discover them.
~Garrin Carter
2012 Apprentice
|
|
LAST CALL for a one-day OWLS Workshop!
The OWLS journey is an amazing exploration of the role of an elder who walks in balance with the natural environment, and brings forward their life gifts in service to the community, often a role of instilling hope to our youth.
For the past year, a number of us have been exploring the role of the modern elder. We are currently growing in numbers to better support the evolution of our culture; and the question of what is the vision for our children, youth and adults.
It is clear that there is a need to continue to grow our conversation, and it is clear that there is a desire to be a change in the world. Let's continue with a deepening day to the OWLS Journey, we'll explore nature and culture - indoors and out!
Please join us November 17th here in Huntsville. Our day would begin at 9:30am and end after dinner on Saturday. For travelers from out of town, we have space to host you, or there is the option of nearby B&Bs. There is also the ability to coordinate ride sharing from the Toronto/Guelph area. We can make it all possible!!
Skeet and I, and our OWLS four (Bill, Lori, James, Susan) look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions, please call Skeet at 519.216.6842
In gratitude and joy,
Judy and Skeet
|
|
Tracking, tracking, tracking...
Way of the Hunt Nov. 18-24
Please see our website for more details: www.sticksandstoneswildernessschool.com |
Electronic tracking!
Follow our digital marks to find us on Facebook
|
Headwaters Community Update
Headwaters Gathering 2013
***Important: CHANGE OF DATE
to May 16-17-18-19, 2013***
A reminder that the Beaver-Valley & Blue Mountains
Tracking Club (formerly known as the Headwaters Tracking Club)
is gearing up for fall. We meet once a month on Sundays to go tracking in the morning and work skills in the afternoon at the
Next meeting:
Sun. November 25th from 10am until 2pm .We will be updating our Tracking Club page with dates for 2013 on our website soon, please check back for upcoming meetings in the near future.
|
|
|
|
 |
Forager's Corner
COMMON HACKBERRY
Celtis occidentalis
The lesser known Common hackberry is a medium sized, deciduous tree that grows well pretty much anywhere thanks to its tolerance of harsh conditions such as heavy clay soils and urban areas. Not only are hackberries both versatile and beautiful, but they also produce edible berries that are ripe for the pickin' this fall!
What it looks like:
TREE:
looks somewhat like an elm in its vase shape -though it lacks the stature. Check out Wikipedia's description for more detailed ID info:
common hackberry.
EDIBLE BERRIES: "hackberries" are less than 1/4 inch in diameter and consist of a thin, sweet skin surrounding a large, hard seed. The berries range in colour from red to dark purple.
How to use it: Be careful when chewing on this edible berry: though the seed it is rich in protein and fats, crushing it with your teeth can result in a broken tooth! Use a mortar & pestle to make a sweet, energizing paste which can then be toasted into a bar, (nature's original power bar!). To make "hackberry milk", simply crush/blend the seeds with water, leave over night, and then strain.
Where to find it:
First, locate and identify a common hackberry tree. Berries ripen in Sept-Oct and often persist on the tree well into winter.
And hey, while you're at it, why not plant some too?
In my humble opinion, this tree is highly undervalued and should be used more extensively --especially in urban centers!-- as a replacement for our long-lost American elms.
|
 |
|
