Gathering and processing firewood may be one of my most contemplative tasks on the homestead. The repetitive tasks involved give me a lot of time to think. Sometimes, I even think about what I’m doing—which means I spend a lot of time thinking about gathering and processing firewood!
That’s left me with a lot of free advice on various methods of wood gathering, which I’m more than happy to pass on to you: Continue reading
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home. Wilderness is a necessity.” —John Muir
Recently, we’ve been introduced to a concept that may explain why our family’s current lifestyle seems so healthy to us.
Shinrin-yoku, a term coined by the Japanese literally translates as “forest bathing.” It means spending time in the woods for its therapeutic (or bathing) effect.
While most people know, or can at least imagine the positive feelings evoked by time spent in the forest, scientific research has identified real, measurable health effects associated with the activity.
The forest: it’s good for you! (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger).
