Workbook – Page 4 – Wineberry Wood Press

20Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

Autumn Equinox Simmer Pot

Autumn Equinox is a time when people all over the place are taking stock and settling in to the cozy time of year. It brings to mind apple pies and falling leaves. Bountiful produce and abundance as nature makes her last big push. An easy (and nice smelling!) way to celebrate the season is to make a special Equinox simmer pot. Use this recipe as a start and add anything else that speaks to you– you might just really like the smell or want to encourage more of what the plant symbolizes in your life. Apple peels & cores: I am pretty passionate about using things that would otherwise be wasted for simmer pots, cutting up and wasting a perfectly good apple is not my style, but apple cores and…

18Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

Giving Back Seed Bombs for Foraging

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Craft Project, Foraging

We love to forage as a family, One of the most important things about foraging is remembering to give back-- to leaves some for the animals, to thank the plants and to cultivate gratitude. When kids are invlved I like to do something concrete to help them think about giving back. Recently we have been making seed bombs with native plants to throw along the trail and very literally give back. So many natural areas are completely overrun with non-native invasive plants that I hope this small action helps native plants regain their foothold and makes more food for the woodland critters. It's really REALLY important that you use seeds for plants that are native to your area and will thrive in the conditions that you are distributing them. Sun?…

12Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

“The Weeping Tide”

Craft Project, Folklore, Learning, Middle Grade Book Buds, Recipes, STEAM

Continuing with the middle grade book buds, I present the next book in the Wilderlore series, The Weeping Tide! I have been reading a ton of middle grade books lately, but would love to hear your suggestions for more book buds! Middle grade books are substantially longer, so I have broken the middle grade book buds into a lesson (called lore in honor of Wilderlore here), a craft or two, and a snack. All are driven by the themes and ideas in the respective book. These could be the jumping off point for a more in depth academic book study, or just a fun project to further immerse yourself in the worlds of your favorite books! The Weeping Tide (Wilderlore Series) Written by: Amanda Foody The Weeping Tide is a middle…

09Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

Autumn Leaf Lanterns

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Craft Project, Nature Art

As soon as the weather begins to turn cold, I cannot stop making lanterns. This darker time of year is perfect for flickering lights and lantern walks. Sometimes I build the lantern structure itself for a more advanced project, but I like to have a variety of easy to make lanterns as well. This is one of those. I usually like to leave natural materials natural, but these lanterns are so cute I couldn't help myself! The lantern also makes use of fallen autumn leaves making it especially seasonally appropriate. If you are working with younger kids, or just prefer the natural shapes, you can skip the cutting and just use full leaves instead. You can use any type of leaf you prefer, although some seem to hold their color…

09Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

Harvest Moon Sun Catcher

Autumn, Craft Project, Folklore, Foraging, Full Moon, Harvest Moon, Nature Art, Nature Collection, Play

I know, I know, it should really be a moon catcher, but those aren't a thing and not all littles can stay up late enough to see the full moon! The Harvest Moon is what the September full moon is called in Europe and parts of North America. In most of Asia it is the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival and while I don't live in Asia, I find this celebration and it's related folktales super inspiring. I am also always interested in similarity of celebrations across cultures, and you will find some sort of harvest celebration in just about every place with a temperate climate this time of year, many with similar traditions. The Mid Autumn Festival is connected to the folktale of Chang'e and the Moon Rabbit. It's a lovely…

09Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

Autumn Equinox Harvest Chandelier

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Craft Project, Foraging, Garden, Nature Art, Nature Collection

The Fall or Autumnal Equinox is the midpoint between the Summer and Winter Solstices. Day and night are of equal length in nearly all parts of the world. The Equinox is the astronomical first day of fall, traditionally starting the fall season. Darkness and night increase, we move within our homes and ourselves and begin to prepare for the coming winter. This is the time of year when farmers would historically know how well their summer crops did, and whether they would have enough food for the winter. It’s not a coincidence that so many disparate people and cultures celebrate the harvest around this time. Whether you observe the equinox, Thanksgiving or another fall celebration, giving thanks for the harvest is something we can all appreciate this time of year. …

06Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

The Best Summer Solstice Party Ideas

Craft Project, Garden, Play, Recipes, Summer, Summer Solstice

We love to celebrate the changing of the seasons and the longest day! Looking for some fun and easy ways to celebrate with friends and family? Check out some of our favorite parties and celebrations! Fun for all ages! t A Solar Luncheon Let the sun be your inspiration and your oven! Building a simple solar oven is easier than you think! You can find instructions in my summer solstice book, or a simpler pizza box version all over the internet, or you can buy a fancier version online. It is truly amazing to be able to cook with the sun (and not heat up the house) on a hot summer day. The Summer Solstice, being the longest day of all, is the perfect time to make a solar luncheon!…

06Sep 2024 by catbird 1 Comment

Summer Stream Craftbrunch

Craft Project, craftbrunch, Hike Ideas, Nature Art, Nature Art Materials, Nature Collection, Play, Recipes, Summer, Summer Solstice

Summer is miserably hot and swampy where I live and sometimes we struggle to get outside as much as we do the rest of the year. It’s theoretically a slower time of year, but it never feels that way to me. One minute the whole summer stretches in front of you and then suddenly it’s September. I started hosting “craftbrunches” years ago to slow down and connect with friends and family. The premise is simple, everyone brings a simple dish and works on a seasonal craft together while laughing and gossiping. It’s an afternoon event which feels easier to schedule between clubs, camps, and soccer games. Including a simple kids craft keeps the littles occupied while the grownups catch up. A Summer Solstice craftbrunch is a perfect respite from…

06Sep 2024 by catbird 2 Comments

Garden Fairy Toasts

Garden, Play, Recipes, Summer, Summer Solstice

Garden fairy toast is so simple yet so satisfying to make! It takes inspiration from the classic fairy toast- bread covered in sprinkles, and reinvents it as a healthier and more versatile snack. The premise is simple, you just collect a little bit of whatever looks good in the garden and then artfully arrange it on your toast. It's fun and easy for kids, and can be quite elegant for adults. It celebrates the garden harvest (even when that harvest is small!) and makes vegetables fun! Ok I always think vegetables are fun... but not everyone agrees with me. You can use cream cheese as your "glue", or get fancier by using goat cheese or ricotta, or by tinting your cream cheese like a do in my love bird toasts.…

06Sep 2024 by catbird 1 Comment

Garden Party Tea & Cakes

Garden, Recipes, Summer, Summer Solstice

I recently learned that garden centers in the UK often have cafes and serve cake and tea and it kind of blew my mind. There seems to be a general association between cake and gardens there that just doesn't exist in the US– but I fully support it. Ever since I have been super inspired and developing cake recipes that use garden fruits and vegetables. I have included a few here, but feel free to make your favorites, zucchini bread, carrot cake, parsnip cake, beet red velvet, spinach, just about any fruit! Garden cakes for days! I even want to try a tomato cake! There are also a ton of common garden plants that are perfect for making herbal tea, so you can harvest the whole meal from your garden! …