Workbook

17Sep 2022 by catbird No Comments
Foraging for thankfulness

Foraging for thankfulness

Autumn Portfolio, Foraging
On ethical foraging and thankfulness. It’s important to help kids understand the ethics of foraging- why we leave some behind, what animals depend on the same foods that we like, and not being greedy. I’ve struggled with ways to communicate that to my kids- they are too young to get into percentages, and being thankful is still pretty abstract... so recently we’ve started making little offerings to thank the forest for our treats. It gives them something tangible to wrap their minds around and helps them to understand- while also being fun to make! This one is for the spiceberries we picked on our hike- and they reminded me several times to leave some for the animals so I feel like it’s working! 
Read More
16Sep 2022 by catbird 3 Comments
It’s Elderberry Syrup Season!

It’s Elderberry Syrup Season!

Autumn Portfolio, Recipes
That chill in the air feels amazing, but it also means it's elderberry syrup season again! I add it to my tea in the mornings and I have been experimenting with a jam version that is more palatable to my kids. (The gummies are a little too palatable!!) I use a different proportion of honey to elderberry than what I most often see floating around the internet, roughly half raw local honey to half of my herbal concoction. Most recipes I see say 4:1 tea to honey and I suspect that this is in an effort to reduce sugar content, but the honey in this case is both adding benefit (especially for us allergy sufferers) and serving as the preservative in which case reducing it is unwise. One of the…
Read More
15Sep 2022 by catbird No Comments
Fall Birthday Countdown!

Fall Birthday Countdown!

Autumn Portfolio, Craft Project
My oldest’s bday is coming up at the end of September and we broke out this countdown I made last year. There are little clip art raccoons behind all the doors (his favorite animal) and now my youngest wants one too! Both my kids are obsessed with counting down to their bday and keep a list of numbers that they cross off until their bdays independently so this fancy version was a big upgrade. You could cut doors on any drawing or clip art piece and make your own! Happy fall!!
Read More
05Sep 2022 by catbird 1 Comment
Harvest Moon Celebration

Harvest Moon Celebration

Autumn Portfolio, Craft Project, Full Moon, Harvest Moon, Recipes
We are so excited for the Harvest Moon! The Harvest Moon was so named in Europe because the light of the full moon allowed farmers to work into the night to bring in the harvest. After the harvest was finished it was a time of celebration and rest. This full moon is always the one closer to the Autumnal Equinox so it’s most often in September, but sneaks into October every now and again. In many Asian cultures this full moon is known as the Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s is traditionally celebrated with mooncakes (which we have made one of our traditions too!) Have you ever looked up at the man in the moon? What westerners refer to as the man in the moon, many other cultures refer to the rabbit…
Read More
12Jun 2022 by catbird No Comments
Campfire Orange Cakes

Campfire Orange Cakes

Campfire, Recipes, Summer Solstice
I was completely obsessed with these as a child, and pretty much still am as an adult. I thought they were generally common knowledge until I served them at one of my kids birthday parties a few years back and no one had any idea what they were. I am now on a mission to spread the word of orange cakes. Not only do they take on some smokiness form the fire, but they pick up the oils from the fire and have the most amazing subtle orangey flavor. You can use any cake batter with any dietary needs for this recipe and this is one of the few times you'll see me recommend you just use a quality boxed mix. (Although you can absolutely use a homemade cake batter…
Read More
27Apr 2022 by catbird No Comments
Marshmallow Wands

Marshmallow Wands

Foraging, May Day, Play, Recipes
May Day or Beltane is the first day of May and the halfway point between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. In some places it marks the beginning of summer, in others, mine included, it is the midpoint of spring. It’s still a bit chilly, but wildflowers are starting to bloom and those “spring” vegetables like radish and asparagus are just starting to come to life. In Japan, the relatively modern holiday of Greenery Day is celebrated just after May Day- and I like the idea of a day to celebrate spring, flowers, gardens and being outside. One of the most important parts of European May Day celebrations were bonfires. Livestock were driven between big bonfires to protect them for the summer. This was the time of year that…
Read More
19Apr 2022 by catbird 1 Comment
Vernal Pools & Spring Pond Dipping

Vernal Pools & Spring Pond Dipping

Hike Ideas, Nature Collection, Nature Journaling, Play, Spring Equinox, Spring Portfolio
One of the most exciting signs of spring in my house is the hunt for tadpoles and the woodland jewels known as vernal pools. Vernal pools are ephemeral woodland ponds that only appear in the spring. They are usually full in the early spring as snow and ice melt, and dry completely (or at least mostly) by late summer or early fall. These pools serve a critical role in the lives of wildlife- frogs and salamanders lay their eggs in vernal ponds because they are free of fish who would eat them. (Fish can’t live in a body of water that isn’t constant) Many organisms with an aquatic stage in their life cycle have evolved to require the temporary but fish-free water of vernal pools. In the Northeast United States…
Read More