Comments for Sustainable Living Arts School http://slas.ca Bringing local folks, local knowledge and local resources together for hands-on learning experiences. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:40:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 Comment on What’s a Learning Party? by Educación Expandida: Resumen de la participación online okICI ONLINE http://slas.ca/learning-party/comment-page-1/#comment-231 Educación Expandida: Resumen de la participación online okICI ONLINE Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:13:39 +0000 http://slas.ca/?page_id=41#comment-231 [...] el proyecto WikiProject Murder Madness and Mayhem con la participación del FA Team, las Learning party o The Maker Community (y su canal de Youtube [...] [...] el proyecto WikiProject Murder Madness and Mayhem con la participación del FA Team, las Learning party o The Maker Community (y su canal de Youtube [...]

]]> Comment on What’s a Learning Party? by Educación expandida: ¿Sociedad expandida?ICI ONLINE http://slas.ca/learning-party/comment-page-1/#comment-230 Educación expandida: ¿Sociedad expandida?ICI ONLINE Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:55:21 +0000 http://slas.ca/?page_id=41#comment-230 [...] el proyecto WikiProject Murder Madness and Mayhem con la participación del FA Team, las Learning party o The Maker Community, una creciente comunidad de aficionados y profesionales dedicados a crear sus [...] [...] el proyecto WikiProject Murder Madness and Mayhem con la participación del FA Team, las Learning party o The Maker Community, una creciente comunidad de aficionados y profesionales dedicados a crear sus [...]

]]> Comment on Beginners Willow Weaving Workshop by E. Ray Stinson http://slas.ca/2009/03/15/beginners-willow-weaving-workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-205 E. Ray Stinson Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:30:07 +0000 http://slas.ca/?p=77#comment-205 Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to register for the course on willow weaving. Who do I send the registration fee to? Thanks, Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to register for the course on willow weaving. Who do I send the registration fee to? Thanks,

]]> Comment on Food Preservation and Year Round Gardening this Friday in Vancouver by Brian http://slas.ca/2009/09/17/food-preservation-and-year-round-gardening-this-friday-in-vancouver/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Brian Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:46:02 +0000 http://slas.ca/?p=318#comment-179 Sorry to have missed this! Sorry to have missed this!

]]> Comment on June 13/14 – Herb Weekend, SLAS, Roberts Creek by Robin http://slas.ca/2009/06/01/june-1314-%e2%80%93-herb-weekend-slas-roberts-creek/comment-page-1/#comment-176 Robin Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:28:18 +0000 http://slas.ca/?p=269#comment-176 It's true, Caroline, that I assume people, by the time they leave here after two days, will feel very differently about how they treat plants and the planet! And I don't make a big deal out of it. Cymba smudges everyone before they go to meet the plants to get them ready for the experience, and the first thing I teach even in plant recognition is to send thanks to the plant when gently taking a pinch of leaf to smell and taste. So the whole thing is about respect, and the land reflects that with humming life, and people really feel the difference. I know many of us live in horrer at how others treat our planet, and that is why I am glad you spoke out - we need lots of people speaking out. And we need lots of people seeing the planet as holy. But still, I don't think I would change my ads to reflect that because it is just natural to what I do, and I think it is good for others to just find it is the natural thing to do - to be peaceful and careful. And we could certainly take all wildcrafting lessons away all over BC, but I would still rather that it was offered and taught lots of lessons of respect. We don't have much problem here with the herbs because people will not go far off the beaten path. But mushrooms are a different story. I am so glad the bottom fell out of the pine mushroom market! It was terrible here - people would walk right down my driveway with rakes and baskets and I'd be yelling at them, and they would just go find another patch of forest. I am writing a new book now directed to people heading to live in the country and there is going to be LOTS about respect, and where humans belong in the scheme of things, believe you me! So I hope to do my bit to help with the problem! Stay strong - Robin ----- Original Message ----- From: Caroline Heinrichs To: Robin Wheeler Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2009 7:21 PM Subject: Re: [Sustainable Living Arts School] Comment: "June 13/14 – Herb Weekend, SLAS, Roberts Creek" HI Robin, I'm sorry if I sound like I'm insinuating anything. Its just that up here where I live, the wilderness is assaulted by anyone who can see a buck in the bush. Its critical that proper education is taught. I still maintain that wildcrafting has the potential to be a abused and used like so much of mother nature. Please don't take my thoughts as criticism of your work. Its not meant that way. I live in the wilds and I don't often see folks who really care about the environment that is there for them to enjoy. It's alot about use and abuse and get what you came for and leave whatever you brought with you. I'm sure that care is taken by you to properly inform folks, but your advertisement doesn't elude to this information. Take care, Caroline On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 5:50 PM, Robin Wheeler wrote: Caroline, we insist on offering Wildcrafting every time we do a herb class because it is an opportunity to discuss the issues you have mentioned. There is no point in teaching people to recognize and use herbs without also telling them of the fragility of the ecosystem they come from, and how a colony must be respected. The two people who guide this class also teach blessing, greeting and thanking rituals as they go. They teach it on my little property where I point out that I have established colonies so that I do not have to go into the woods again, and that I obviously am very careful not to overharvest my own land because it would be stupid. Most people who come to these classes are from the city and have no intention of going into the forest but it is wonderful for them to see plants in their own setting, and see them as living, breathing entities and not as dried product in a bag. And if they are ever to harvest on their own, now they have mental tools for making decisions. I think that is important and absolutely must be addressed. I think it is great that you addressed this with me but you certainly insinuate that we have not thought of this issue ourselves. Robin It’s true, Caroline, that I assume people, by the time they leave here after two days, will feel very differently about how they treat plants and the planet! And I don’t make a big deal out of it. Cymba smudges everyone before they go to meet the plants to get them ready for the experience, and the first thing I teach even in plant recognition is to send thanks to the plant when gently taking a pinch of leaf to smell and taste. So the whole thing is about respect, and the land reflects that with humming life, and people really feel the difference.
I know many of us live in horrer at how others treat our planet, and that is why I am glad you spoke out - we need lots of people speaking out. And we need lots of people seeing the planet as holy. But still, I don’t think I would change my ads to reflect that because it is just natural to what I do, and I think it is good for others to just find it is the natural thing to do - to be peaceful and careful. And we could certainly take all wildcrafting lessons away all over BC, but I would still rather that it was offered and taught lots of lessons of respect.
We don’t have much problem here with the herbs because people will not go far off the beaten path. But mushrooms are a different story. I am so glad the bottom fell out of the pine mushroom market! It was terrible here - people would walk right down my driveway with rakes and baskets and I’d be yelling at them, and they would just go find another patch of forest.
I am writing a new book now directed to people heading to live in the country and there is going to be LOTS about respect, and where humans belong in the scheme of things, believe you me! So I hope to do my bit to help with the problem!
Stay strong -
Robin

—– Original Message —–
From: Caroline Heinrichs
To: Robin Wheeler
Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2009 7:21 PM
Subject: Re: [Sustainable Living Arts School] Comment: “June 13/14 – Herb Weekend, SLAS, Roberts Creek”

HI Robin,
I’m sorry if I sound like I’m insinuating anything. Its just that up here where I live, the wilderness is assaulted by anyone who can see a buck in the bush. Its critical that proper education is taught. I still maintain that wildcrafting has the potential to be a abused and used like so much of mother nature.

Please don’t take my thoughts as criticism of your work. Its not meant that way. I live in the wilds and I don’t often see folks who really care about the environment that is there for them to enjoy. It’s alot about use and abuse and get what you came for and leave whatever you brought with you.

I’m sure that care is taken by you to properly inform folks, but your advertisement doesn’t elude to this information.

Take care, Caroline

On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 5:50 PM, Robin Wheeler wrote:

Caroline, we insist on offering Wildcrafting every time we do a herb class because it is an opportunity to discuss the issues you have mentioned. There is no point in teaching people to recognize and use herbs without also telling them of the fragility of the ecosystem they come from, and how a colony must be respected. The two people who guide this class also teach blessing, greeting and thanking rituals as they go. They teach it on my little property where I point out that I have established colonies so that I do not have to go into the woods again, and that I obviously am very careful not to overharvest my own land because it would be stupid.
Most people who come to these classes are from the city and have no intention of going into the forest but it is wonderful for them to see plants in their own setting, and see them as living, breathing entities and not as dried product in a bag. And if they are ever to harvest on their own, now they have mental tools for making decisions. I think that is important and absolutely must be addressed.
I think it is great that you addressed this with me but you certainly insinuate that we have not thought of this issue ourselves.
Robin

]]> Comment on June 13/14 – Herb Weekend, SLAS, Roberts Creek by Caroline http://slas.ca/2009/06/01/june-1314-%e2%80%93-herb-weekend-slas-roberts-creek/comment-page-1/#comment-173 Caroline Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:01:45 +0000 http://slas.ca/?p=269#comment-173 Wildcrafting is a potential red herring of sustainability. Here is why. I have lived almost my whole life in rural BC, the south central, the coast,the north and northwestern areas of B.C. It is true, we have an incredible province where those who want wilderness can still find it. I've picked wild berries for family preserves, jams and chutneys as well as harvested a few Christmas wreath boughs when snow is on the ground. I've seen vista's that would bring a grown person to their knees in awe. The practice of wildcrafting is what our First Nations brothers and sisters have done forever. That style was sustainable because of relatively low numbers of harvesters. Mushrooms are harvested actively in our Northwest region and sometimes the trails made to the harvest ground is like a foot path freeway. The mushroom harvesting industry has good and bad practitioners in the pursuit of the lucrative mushrooms. Some of these practitioners go to great lengths to train their people to cut the mushroom instead of yanking the top, stem and root. Some practice good back country ethics of pack in your food and pack out your garbage and leave the area with little footprint of man being there. So having said all this, I don't think its all wrong to promote wildcrafting. I have not been to one of workshops with Lyre Emerson or others, so I cannot say that standard practices of ethics are taught or if they match some kind of wild crafting standards in keeping with preserving the habitat of our wildlands for the animals and creatures that live there. This is my concern. Will the promotion of this kind of activity promote the further degradation of our forest land, our riparian areas and rainforests? Care must be taken to think through all the aspects of impact. Have you written a conclusive handbook that goes along with the participants after the workshop is done? What kind of ethical statement of completion do the participants agree to? Who will monitor the outcome of increased interest in this industry? How will the enforcement be done? More specialized Conservation Officers? We don't have enough C.O's already, so what hope of monitoring to prevent the habitat loss would come anyway? Maybe these are thoughts that others share and want to comment on mine. Maybe you might already have a plan to mitigate these concerns. If so, lets here about it? Wildcrafting is a potential red herring of sustainability. Here is why. I have lived almost my whole life in rural BC, the south central, the coast,the north and northwestern areas of B.C. It is true, we have an incredible province where those who want wilderness can still find it. I’ve picked wild berries for family preserves, jams and chutneys as well as harvested a few Christmas wreath boughs when snow is on the ground. I’ve seen vista’s that would bring a grown person to their knees in awe.
The practice of wildcrafting is what our First Nations brothers and sisters have done forever. That style was sustainable because of relatively low numbers of harvesters. Mushrooms are harvested actively in our Northwest region and sometimes the trails made to the harvest ground is like a foot path freeway. The mushroom harvesting industry has good and bad practitioners in the pursuit of the lucrative mushrooms. Some of these practitioners go to great lengths to train their people to cut the mushroom instead of yanking the top, stem and root. Some practice good back country ethics of pack in your food and pack out your garbage and leave the area with little footprint of man being there. So having said all this, I don’t think its all wrong to promote wildcrafting.
I have not been to one of workshops with Lyre Emerson or others, so I cannot say that standard practices of ethics are taught or if they match some kind of wild crafting standards in keeping with preserving the habitat of our wildlands for the animals and creatures that live there.
This is my concern.
Will the promotion of this kind of activity promote the further degradation of our forest land, our riparian areas and rainforests? Care must be taken to think through all the aspects of impact. Have you written a conclusive handbook that goes along with the participants after the workshop is done? What kind of ethical statement of completion do the participants agree to? Who will monitor the outcome of increased interest in this industry? How will the enforcement be done? More specialized Conservation Officers? We don’t have enough C.O’s already, so what hope of monitoring to prevent the habitat loss would come anyway? Maybe these are thoughts that others share and want to comment on mine. Maybe you might already have a plan to mitigate these concerns. If so, lets here about it?

]]> Comment on The 10 X 10 Garden: A Hundred Square Feet of Permaculture by Debi LaHaise http://slas.ca/2009/05/13/the-10-x-10-garden-a-hundred-square-feet-of-permaculture/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Debi LaHaise Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:00:52 +0000 http://slas.ca/?p=253#comment-172 Hi there, I would be interested in this workshop if it is offered on Vancouver Island. Please e-mail me. thanx, Debi Hi there,
I would be interested in this workshop if it is offered on Vancouver Island. Please e-mail me.
thanx, Debi

]]> Comment on You are invited to a Bee Appreciation Learning Party by adam brody http://slas.ca/2009/06/19/you-are-invited-to-a-bee-appreciation-learning-party/comment-page-1/#comment-168 adam brody Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:24:39 +0000 http://slas.ca/?p=288#comment-168 All those who appreciate the bee should have a quick look at the recently released bumblebee song on the link below http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4GV0OkRfmg spread the word about the bumble bee All those who appreciate the bee should have a quick look at the recently released bumblebee song on the link below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4GV0OkRfmg

spread the word about the bumble bee

]]> Comment on Growing Traditions: Sharing gardening knowledge across generations by Tricia http://slas.ca/2009/05/21/growing-traditions-sharing-gardening-knowledge-across-generations/comment-page-1/#comment-160 Tricia Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:28:21 +0000 http://slas.ca/?p=262#comment-160 Not yet, but lots of experience with container gardening and small gardens. But if you know anyone on the North Shore who'd like to share (or even beyond that), please let me know! Not yet, but lots of experience with container gardening and small gardens.

But if you know anyone on the North Shore who’d like to share (or even beyond that), please let me know!

]]> Comment on Growing Traditions: Sharing gardening knowledge across generations by green roofs http://slas.ca/2009/05/21/growing-traditions-sharing-gardening-knowledge-across-generations/comment-page-1/#comment-159 green roofs Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:36:29 +0000 http://slas.ca/?p=262#comment-159 Does the elders have vast knowledge with green roofs also? Does the elders have vast knowledge with green roofs also?

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