Category: Odds & Ends
Avoiding Counterfeit Tarot and Oracle Decks
Old Growth Hemlock — A Marvelous Sight
“Respect your elders.”
I like to think that I’m a decent practitioner of this advice.
I listen to old songs. I read old stories. I admire old monuments. I befriend older people.
But I’m only human. And I live in a culture that worships youth. As a result, I sometimes find it challenging to see the merits of old age.
Fortunately, I’ve discovered a solution: I walk through a forest.
When I walk through a forest, I am reminded by nature to respect my elders.
Old trees are especially good at providing these reminders — not through words but through their presence. Humans tend to feel a certain way when they’re surrounded by ancient trees. Science can’t fully explain why this happens, but it is a wonderful phenomenon.
During a recent walk through a forest, I encountered a few old eastern hemlocks. Fantasies of eternal childhood vanished the moment I saw them. Sensing an opportunity to showcase what I witnessed, I decided to film the experience.
If you’re interested in seeing a few marvelous trees, check out the brand new video!
Thanks for reading and watching, and thanks for your continued support!
— Adam Haritan
The New Disease That’s Killing An Iconic Tree
American beech has seen better days.
In recent years, a new disease has been threatening its health. Leaves are falling off prematurely. Trees are dying. Researchers are scratching their heads.
Since its initial detection, this mysterious disease has been spreading throughout 12 states and one Canadian province. Some people are already predicting what a world without American beech might look like.
What is this new disease? How bad is it really? Who is the culprit? And will chemical treatments work this time?
In a brand new video, I explore these questions.
Thanks for watching!
—Adam Haritan
These Shrimp Live And Die In The Woods
Over the years, I’ve met all kinds of strange creatures in the forest. Insects, mammals, mushrooms, and the occasional strange human are just a few examples.
But up until recently, I had never encountered shrimp-like creatures.
Truthfully, it never crossed my mind that the forest could accommodate such organisms. Besides pill bugs, which are often referred to as land shrimp, could anything shrimp-like actually live among the pin oaks and red maples? I didn’t think it was possible.
Until I learned about fairy shrimp.
Fairy shrimp are aquatic crustaceans that live and die in the woods. More specifically, fairy shrimp complete their entire life cycle within vernal pools. Eggs hatch in late winter. Larvae transform into breeding adults within a few weeks. By the end of summer, all fairy shrimp perish.
I recently spent a lot of time in the presence of fairy shrimp and decided to capture their short lives on film. To learn more about these amazing creatures, check out the brand new video!
Thanks for reading and watching, and thank you for your continued support!
-Adam Haritan
Lost in the Sods
When I was pre-teen, I’d go with my grandparents to Dolly Sods to harvest huckleberries.
By Chrissy Moore
I have a bumper sticker on my car that reads: “I’d rather be lost in the Sods than found in the city.” A friend introduced me to the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area in West Virginia back when I was in college (and back when few people ever ventured that far outside of Washington, DC), and I have been hiking in the West Virginia mountains ever since. They are truly special in so many respects.
One of the main reasons I consider the WV mountains so special is because of the abundant, and often unique, native plants found on the mountain tops and down in the hollers. I am one of those plant nerds that can’t stop hunting for plants, even while on vacation. (What can I say? It becomes an obsession after a while.) Identifying plants in the wild is entertaining enough, but as an herb gardener…
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King Charles & David Attenborough parrot WWF activist nonsense they naively accept as ‘science’ — Watts Up With That?
They all want a return to a world with fewer people that live meager, circumscribed lives while the rich carry on their jet-setting ways. The King will lobby again for their collective vision of the world this Friday at Buckingham Palace.
King Charles & David Attenborough parrot WWF activist nonsense they naively accept as ‘science’ — Watts Up With That?
Improve Your Tree Identification Skills This Autumn
Years ago, I didn’t have much of an appreciation for the months of October and November.
Becoming a devout student of trees changed that.
In my early days of tree identification, I placed too much emphasis on the spring and summer seasons. Everything was lively and green, I reasoned. What more did I need?
As time went on, I inevitably ran into problems whose solutions would only be found in the autumn season.
I remember seeing an oak in the summer season whose leaves contained deep sinuses. Scarlet oak and pin oak were two candidates, but my beginner’s mind required more information. Once autumn arrived, I easily identified the tree based on its acorns. (Scarlet oak acorns contain concentric rings.)
I also remember seeing an ash tree but being unable to determine its exact identity. Once autumn arrived, I easily identified the tree based on its color. (White ash foliage turns yellow to purplish; green ash foliage turns yellowish-brown.)
I could share more examples of how the autumn season provided answers to my most pressing questions. Suffice to say, I now rank the months of October and November as among the most important for honing tree identification skills.
To help you hone your tree identification skills this autumn season, I am opening up registration for my online course next week.
Trees In All Seasons is a four-season online video course designed to help you successfully identify over 100 trees in every season — spring, summer, fall, and winter.
This course is presented entirely online and it features over 75 exclusive videos that lay the groundwork for successful tree identification. If you are interested in identifying trees but are finding it difficult to learn through field guides and apps, consider enrolling as a student in Trees In All Seasons.
Please note: Trees In All Seasons will be open for registration for one week only from Monday, October 17th to Monday, October 24th. Upon registration, you have immediate access to all course content and you can watch the videos at your own pace.
To register for Trees In All Seasons, mark your calendar for Monday, October 17th and visit this link.
All additional information (including course structure, outline, and cost) will be posted on Monday.
I look forward to seeing you then!
— Adam Haritan
Law
People thought we were conspiracy nuts when we said these things.
Building an Earth Oven, Part II: Insulation, Finish Plaster, and Cob Mosaic — The Druids Garden
In last week’s post , we began exploring the build of an earth oven. An Earth Oven is a simple structure, made of clay, sand, straw, stone, and fire brick, that you can use to cook foods in a traditional way. Last week’s post walked you through the first set of steps for building your…
Building an Earth Oven, Part II: Insulation, Finish Plaster, and Cob Mosaic — The Druids Garden
Paths I Walk 
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