Scenes From Nature School

The first week of nature school is done, and all in all, it was a great week! There has been a slight shift in the days here on the homestead brought on by an increase in the children I have joining me, and the range in ages. It became clear to me late last spring that it would be difficult to have a formal main lesson not only because of the variety of ages, but mostly because all of the children are only here one or two days per week and homeschooling in such varied ways at home. So, I shifted and decided to move to a nature school format, and it's amazing. As we always have, we start our day in the woods, but now we spend a bit more time there. We wander, climb trees, build forts and stop to get a closer look at anything that captures our attention. Then back to the homestead for a snack and journaling before lunch. After lunch free play, read aloud and craft time, with a little more free play before heading home. It feels good, flows well, and so far the children are loving it.

I have loose themes for each week....last week and this coming week are all about mapping. Mapping the homestead and the forest we walk, using old maps for our crafts, learning the directions and more. We will then move on to four weeks of gardening where it will be a little more hands on....meaning the kiddos will be in the garden with me harvesting, cleaning, prepping, planting garlic and bulbs, and learning the ins and outs of seed to plate. And the weeks move on in that way, with a theme and activities and crafts based on that theme.

Of course I'm sure you are wondering when my little man does his lessons. We are bookending our days with more formal lessons. So before the children arrive we do some math, and language arts, and after they are gone we do a little more. We are both enjoying that rhythm so far, and will see how it goes. I think what we both love about it is that this is the first time since we started homeschooling that it is just him and I for lessons. He loves the attention, who wouldn't, and I love really focusing on him during this time. Right now we are doing lots of review and read aloud, and will continue for another week before moving into some new things.

So, here I am, first week done, about to move into the second week. It feels right, for this time and place. I have lots of ideas and dreams about the path forward with nature school, but for now I am taking it one day at a time, focusing on the present and keeping those ideas and dreams alive in the back of mind.

Has school or homeschooling shifted for you this year? How is it going?

Ten Things

One
The garden is planted. Seeds are sprouting. I am tending and nurturing. Truth...I spent a lot of time considering the garden this year, not my usual considerations about companion planting, what to plant, and so on, but did I actually want to plant a garden. I know, shocking! Life is full, there is lots going on and I questioned whether or not I had enough inspiration and motivation to tend and nurture from seed to harvest. At first I made the difficult decision to let it go this summer, to just sit in the beauty of summer, hit the farmers market and allow myself a bit more time and space. I am guessing you all know me better than I know myself, and already have guessed that I indeed did change my mind, and the garden is in full growing mode. I was late getting it all in, but it is done, and my heart is happy and my soul alive. What was I thinking letting the garden go? Just a small moment of crazy that quickly disappeared.

Two
That internal discussion with the garden had a lot to do with the time it takes to care for this land I call home. While my homestead is not huge, it still requires a lot of work to maintain, and that at times can seem daunting and overwhelming on my own. But then a friend steps in, offers her hubby up for a morning of chore help around here and before you know it things seem much less overwhelming. On Saturday said hubby arrived ready to work and help me out. He trimmed trees, and bushes, fixed some things on the chicken coop, and brought a happy, loving vibe to my homestead. I felt honoured and blessed to have the help, and am forever grateful to both my girlfriend for sharing her hubby, and to him for taking the time from his weekend to lend a hand. Thank you Holly and Jeremy...your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Three
While Jeremy worked around my homestead, I had the absolute honour of taking their three year old into the woods. Together their little man and I wondered the trails, followed deer tracks, searched milkweed for monarch eggs, examined scat and found animal bones, enjoyed a picnic trailside and climbed trees. I love seeing the world through the eyes of little ones, and spending time with this little person was such a joy.

Four
My little man cut his hair!!! He has been growing his hair for three years, at least, and was pretty adamant he was never cutting it. Then Monday he got up in the morning said he wanted to get his haircut and could we do today? Hmmmm...of course we can. So off we went, and he is now sporting a shaggy, short do...all his decision.

Five
Our homeschool year has wrapped up, and what a year it was. Lots of kiddos on the homestead learning, crafting and playing together. New friendships formed and other friendships deepened. It was a great year, not without it's challenges, but in those challenges we all learned and grew, adapting and changing along the way. It's all about the journey, for the kiddos and myself.

Six
I am ready for summer camp! There will be kiddos here on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for the month of July. Three different camps...herbal kids camp, nature camp and arts and craft camp. I am not sure who is going to have more fun, me or the kiddos.

Seven
There has been a lot of growth in my little business, and lots of interest about what I do on my homestead. Abundance might the word to describe all the goodness that has flowed my way. With growth also comes change, and a big change next year is a slight shift in our days here on the homestead. As more families became interested in my day to day program there was a pull inside to move from a Waldorf based inspiration to a more nature/forest school inspiration. And so beginning in September I will be making that shift, and while there will still be a Waldorf inspiration, there will be a lot more time in nature, and a deeper focus on nature connection. I am excited for this change, and can't wait to bring my ideas to fruition.

Eight
Self care....is that a priority on your to do list? Are you making yourself a priority, taking time to care for your needs? This is always a challenge, isn't it? Finding and making time for yourself comes with many emotions, the biggest one being guilt. I have learned so many things in the last few years, but the most important for myself and my little man is that I need to look after myself...and that means carving out time for the things that make my soul come alive, things that make me feel nurtured and loved, things that allow me to fill my own bucket so I can fill the bucket of others around me. Self care looks different for all of us, for me that includes time in nature, every day, it means an indulgent soak in the tub most nights with a book, it means small moments throughout the day for a deep breath and a cup of tea, it means gathering with friends to share bits and pieces about our lives, it means being creative, it means dancing and moving my body, and most of all it means tuning into my heart and listening carefully to what it needs and craves, and then making the time and space to give to myself. Are you giving to yourself, my friends?

Nine
I am nearing the end of my course with the Journey of Young Women, and my plans for my first girls circle are starting to come together. I will share more about this journey, the circles and my plans as they take shape. I am excited to work with young girls, to help, in a small way, as they move along the path from childhood to young womanhood.

Ten
Life in general has been good the last few months, my friends. Divorce has a way of throwing you into a bit of a tailspin, bringing with it uncertainty and a lot of questions about what lies ahead. In the last few months I feel like I have come out of the haze of that tailspin, finding my footing on this new path, and enjoying the ride. It still has many ups and downs, but after every thing I have been through I feel pretty confident that I can handle pretty much anything that comes my way. There have been many low points on this path, but also some pretty amazing high points. I have learned so much about myself, grown as a person and as a woman, and am excited about what lies ahead for my little man and I.

How are things in your world, my friends?

Celebrating Candlemas

Happy Candlemas, my friends. Today marks the halfway point between winter solstice and spring equinox....we are almost there! It's an exciting day in our home, and was a little more exciting than normal as we had some extra kiddos here to celebrate with us.

This is a day in which we celebrate the first stirrings of Mother Earth as she awakens from under the deep cover of snow. It is a day to notice the birds returning and singing happily in the morning, and a time to start thinking about planting seeds in preparation for the coming growing season. It is recognizing the lengthening of the days and feeling the anticipation in the air of what is to come. It is coming out of hibernation with the knowledge that soon spring will be here and the rain will come and wash the earth clean.

Today, in celebration of Candlemas, and the returning light, we took a morning walk in the woods, we rolled beeswax candles, and we planted calendula seeds. Dinner was enjoyed by candlelight, as it is every night throughout the winter, but tonight was different, because we know the need for this light is fading.

Spring is coming, friends, with its fresh face, to shower us in light and warmth, and I am looking forward to it with great anticipation.

Community Supported Herbalism

I am so very excited to announce a new project at Life at Nature's Pace...Community Supported Herbalism, or as many call it CSH. Much like a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), a CSH offers the community a selection of herbal remedies and other homemade products through shares offered at various times during the year, and it allows us to share our love of plants, and plant medicine with people who are striving for a deeper connection to this earth, and community.

This is a project I have been thinking about for a while, and I decided it was time to jump in and give it a go. This first year will be small, just nine shares offered, but if all goes well, I will expand and offer more in the future.

If you are interested in learning more, hop on over to Life at Nature's Pace for more information.

Life is Full

Wow! It is not often, my friends, that you will hear me say I am busy, but this past week I was busy. Summer camp started on Tuesday, and runs Tuesday's and Thursday's for the month of July. Each day I have a small group of kiddos here, we walk in the woods, record nature findings in our nature journals, craft, play, read, and play some more. It has been so much fun this week, and I am excited for the weeks left to come.

On Saturday, I hosted my fourth swap party, a small one this time, with a few close friends. Beautiful gifts were made and exchanged, a delicious lunch enjoyed, and wonderful conversations and stories shared. It was a delightful afternoon, one that reminded me of just how blessed I am to have the most incredible tribe of women around me.

Sunday morning found me in the kitchen, with a group of ladies, for my Putting Food By workshop. We made jam, canned dilly beans and dehydrated kale. As we worked we chatted, drank tea, shared stories and laughed. There is something pretty incredible about coming together with other women in the kitchen to put the harvest by. It connects us to each other, but also connects us to the past, to the tribes of women before us, and that feels absolutely amazing.

Life is full right now, and it is busy, but in a good way, a way that makes my heart happy, fills me up, and reminds of just how much I have to be grateful for.

On Solstice Morning

Upon waking on Solstice morning my little man headed straight outside. He seemed determined about something, but I wasn't sure what. A moment later he came to the back door with a handful of beautiful, ripe, summer solstice strawberries. "Look mom!" he yelled, so proud of the beautiful gift in his hands.

Summer is here, my friends, and the gifts this season will bring are just beginning. Enjoy!

Bringing a Dream to Fruition

Do you remember the cottage in the backyard? Well, I spent Saturday afternoon turning it into a little shop. Yes, a little shop in the backyard. When I decided to start selling my products an online shop was realistic, and easy, but I had a dream of having a little shop, here, on my land, and this weekend I made it happen.

The cottage needed a good cleaning after not being used all winter, and then I got to work placing product and labeling everything. When it was complete I stood back, satisfied with my efforts, and filled with joy at bringing this little dream into reality.

The shop won't be open to the public, per say, at least not yet. For now it will be open when I am hosting workshops and classes at Life at Nature's Pace. People can come for a workshop, or drop their children off for a workshop, and browse the shop, relax on the futon, maybe enjoy a cup of herbal tea, and fingers crossed, buy something.

It's a little dream come to life, and while I have no idea where it will go, it feels good to bring it to fruition.