Starting out with Wilbur pulled me right into this essay. My mother "caught" me reading Charlotte's Web under the sheets with a flashlight after lights were turned out and I was supposed to be on my way to sleep. She didn't even punish me.
I remember those field trips too with Dan Campbell to look at local ecology. That was a brilliant move by Ross School to introduce us at that formative age to ecosystems and the beautiful balance of life. Those cute boys probably distracted me too, and maybe even the same one :) Those field trips with Dan were my favorite days of the week and not because of the boys.
I admire your efforts to create a garden to create, balance, and encourage wildlife. Each of us can figure out what to do contribute even a little bit to the cause. I've yet to figure out what I can do but this post inspires me to figure out something. I'll start by watching the Biggest Little Farm.
I'm glad to report that I didn't see any of those slow worms in your garden. Probably too rainy for them to appear.
Keep those Wellies handy!
Thanks for another provocative post with beautiful words and photographs.
Oh wonderful Wilbur! I'm happy your mother didn't punish you for reading one of the best childhood books! Thanks for reminding me the teacher's name was Dan Campbell! I had forgotten it. Wasn't that a smart move for the school? I am so thankful. Part of what got me started writing this was realising how many kids, and now adults, DON'T learn about ecology and ecosystems in school, or have access like we did to beautiful parks and open lands to explore.
I think you are right about the slow worms staying out of the rain! And I've put the wellies aside for now as we have some warmer and drier weather forecast for the near future. But they are never too far away!
Thanks as always for having thoughtful things to say and sharing them. It means everything.
I can't wait to see step-by-step pics of your changing garden.
I also note that Chelsea Flower Show is on in a week or so - what a thrill it would be to attend such a thing (without the crowds). I watched the Britbox play of last year's and got so many ideas from many of the display gardens. Hoping that Britbox have this year's as well via BBC Gardeners' World.
And yes to planting for the future - for all the insects and birds. (Not so happy with the slimy critters and rabbits, but them's the breaks...)
Agreed with wishing to see the Garden show without the crowds! I guess you have to be royalty or a BBC presenter to get that chance. 😄 They have an evening special each night on live telly which I enjoy watching as long as I remember to turn it on.
So far except for the slow worm we haven't had any slimy critters that I am aware of. Britain has very few snakes, thankfully, unlike California and possibly Tasmania? We've not had a lush enough landscape for rabbits yet, but perhaps it will eventually be more hospitable. Then I can scowl at them like everyone else. For now, seeing them when we are out walking is still a delight.
My mother-in-law has a gorgeous fox who wanders through the garden regularly and even though we lived there for 8 months, I only saw it once. And hedgehogs! I really hope we can entice one to set up camp. But again, that will need a more hospitable environment. Fingers crossed, we will be there later this year.
I loved "Biggest Little Farm" and Wilbur + Fern will always hold a special spot in my heart. I appreciate documentaries that focus on actionable solutions for the climate crisis, especially ones that spotlight families or small communities who are working for ecological & agricultural change.
Good summary of my sentiments too! Do you have any other recommendations for films/documentaries that you particularly enjoyed?
I recently learned my English partner never read Charlotte's Web growing up! Which seems a travesty! In my case I remember my 2nd grade teacher reading it to us each day after lunch, and then reading it myself many times later.
I really liked "Kiss the Ground." The filmmakers have a more recent film that's on YouTube, but I haven't watched it yet. There's an older film, "Fresh" (2009) that opened our eyes to the importance of feeding our family better foods.
Sabrina- Thanks for sharing these photo journals. Pigs and piglets are such underrated animals. My mother had some in her farm back in Sumatra--and she used to tell me wonderful stories. I hope you are having a lovely day with the pigs. :)
Thanks for your comments Thalia. I would love to hear some of the stories your mother tells! I stayed on a small-holding in Sulawesi a long time ago, but I don't think they had pigs. There were other animals, and of course there were chickens everywhere. Even in the open-air hospital, which amused my children no end!
I remember having the same fieldtrip but with Miss Quimby's biology class at Phoenix Lake as a freshman at KBS. Since it was still an all girls school, no boys to distract us, so I remember a lot of what she said!
My boyfriend grew up in a small farming village in Illinois. He talks about soil a lot which brings to mind that we don't know where our food comes from. There's a detachment between the grocery store and the farmers, an unfortunate thing.
I loved Miss Quimby's Botany class, possibly Junior year. I did a big project on Ferns from which I learned how to make beautiful pollen prints from one variety of the fern. Funny what sticks in our brains. She was a good teacher, and I'm so glad you remember what she taught us!
Your comment about soil is really true. I am thankful that as a geographer I spent a lot of time learning about the value of soil. And of course, we had the blessings of growing up in a region that grows some of the most delicious food in the world. But sadly, so many people think food comes from a store, in plastic wrap.
Gosh, such a fascinating post, Sabrina - I've learned so much.
I've met the pigs at Quarr Abbey - and those Oxford Sandy & Blacks in your pictures are adorable! And what a coincidence - Charlotte's Web came up in conversation with family just yesterday. 🐖
Starting out with Wilbur pulled me right into this essay. My mother "caught" me reading Charlotte's Web under the sheets with a flashlight after lights were turned out and I was supposed to be on my way to sleep. She didn't even punish me.
I remember those field trips too with Dan Campbell to look at local ecology. That was a brilliant move by Ross School to introduce us at that formative age to ecosystems and the beautiful balance of life. Those cute boys probably distracted me too, and maybe even the same one :) Those field trips with Dan were my favorite days of the week and not because of the boys.
I admire your efforts to create a garden to create, balance, and encourage wildlife. Each of us can figure out what to do contribute even a little bit to the cause. I've yet to figure out what I can do but this post inspires me to figure out something. I'll start by watching the Biggest Little Farm.
I'm glad to report that I didn't see any of those slow worms in your garden. Probably too rainy for them to appear.
Keep those Wellies handy!
Thanks for another provocative post with beautiful words and photographs.
Oh wonderful Wilbur! I'm happy your mother didn't punish you for reading one of the best childhood books! Thanks for reminding me the teacher's name was Dan Campbell! I had forgotten it. Wasn't that a smart move for the school? I am so thankful. Part of what got me started writing this was realising how many kids, and now adults, DON'T learn about ecology and ecosystems in school, or have access like we did to beautiful parks and open lands to explore.
I think you are right about the slow worms staying out of the rain! And I've put the wellies aside for now as we have some warmer and drier weather forecast for the near future. But they are never too far away!
Thanks as always for having thoughtful things to say and sharing them. It means everything.
I can't wait to see step-by-step pics of your changing garden.
I also note that Chelsea Flower Show is on in a week or so - what a thrill it would be to attend such a thing (without the crowds). I watched the Britbox play of last year's and got so many ideas from many of the display gardens. Hoping that Britbox have this year's as well via BBC Gardeners' World.
And yes to planting for the future - for all the insects and birds. (Not so happy with the slimy critters and rabbits, but them's the breaks...)
Agreed with wishing to see the Garden show without the crowds! I guess you have to be royalty or a BBC presenter to get that chance. 😄 They have an evening special each night on live telly which I enjoy watching as long as I remember to turn it on.
So far except for the slow worm we haven't had any slimy critters that I am aware of. Britain has very few snakes, thankfully, unlike California and possibly Tasmania? We've not had a lush enough landscape for rabbits yet, but perhaps it will eventually be more hospitable. Then I can scowl at them like everyone else. For now, seeing them when we are out walking is still a delight.
My mother-in-law has a gorgeous fox who wanders through the garden regularly and even though we lived there for 8 months, I only saw it once. And hedgehogs! I really hope we can entice one to set up camp. But again, that will need a more hospitable environment. Fingers crossed, we will be there later this year.
xx
I loved "Biggest Little Farm" and Wilbur + Fern will always hold a special spot in my heart. I appreciate documentaries that focus on actionable solutions for the climate crisis, especially ones that spotlight families or small communities who are working for ecological & agricultural change.
Good summary of my sentiments too! Do you have any other recommendations for films/documentaries that you particularly enjoyed?
I recently learned my English partner never read Charlotte's Web growing up! Which seems a travesty! In my case I remember my 2nd grade teacher reading it to us each day after lunch, and then reading it myself many times later.
I really liked "Kiss the Ground." The filmmakers have a more recent film that's on YouTube, but I haven't watched it yet. There's an older film, "Fresh" (2009) that opened our eyes to the importance of feeding our family better foods.
Thanks so much for these recommendations Erin!
I didn't know there were English teachers who hadn't read Charlotte's Web!
Sabrina- Thanks for sharing these photo journals. Pigs and piglets are such underrated animals. My mother had some in her farm back in Sumatra--and she used to tell me wonderful stories. I hope you are having a lovely day with the pigs. :)
Thanks for your comments Thalia. I would love to hear some of the stories your mother tells! I stayed on a small-holding in Sulawesi a long time ago, but I don't think they had pigs. There were other animals, and of course there were chickens everywhere. Even in the open-air hospital, which amused my children no end!
I remember having the same fieldtrip but with Miss Quimby's biology class at Phoenix Lake as a freshman at KBS. Since it was still an all girls school, no boys to distract us, so I remember a lot of what she said!
My boyfriend grew up in a small farming village in Illinois. He talks about soil a lot which brings to mind that we don't know where our food comes from. There's a detachment between the grocery store and the farmers, an unfortunate thing.
I loved Miss Quimby's Botany class, possibly Junior year. I did a big project on Ferns from which I learned how to make beautiful pollen prints from one variety of the fern. Funny what sticks in our brains. She was a good teacher, and I'm so glad you remember what she taught us!
Your comment about soil is really true. I am thankful that as a geographer I spent a lot of time learning about the value of soil. And of course, we had the blessings of growing up in a region that grows some of the most delicious food in the world. But sadly, so many people think food comes from a store, in plastic wrap.
Gosh, such a fascinating post, Sabrina - I've learned so much.
I've met the pigs at Quarr Abbey - and those Oxford Sandy & Blacks in your pictures are adorable! And what a coincidence - Charlotte's Web came up in conversation with family just yesterday. 🐖