I just love what your putting out here. It's not just teaching how to recognize bird calls and identify trees - but to deepen our relationship with the natural world. Being someone who grew up in a city and made my own efforts/felt a pull to learn more about the land, I see how people can be so ignorant about how connected we/everything is. And I don't mean that in a harsh way. I just think that living in cities has disconnected us so much that we don't consider the negative effects our daily lives can have on the natural world. And in reconnecting/learning, I've witnessed so many people have those moments of realization of the importance of having a relationship with nature and all its beings. And how that extends to a shift in lifestyle to care for our other than human relations. A tree becomes family, not a piece of wood. If that makes sense! haha I guess what I'm trying to say my take away is, is a profound respect and happiness to witness you sharing in this way! It has a ripple effect and it's so wonderful. :)
Thanks for the kind words Lily. I used to do a lot of work with youth & run summer camps. I do almost exclusively adult education now though. I know it’s important work but my passion is in adult education. I do a lot of training for outdoor educators who work with youth though, thus I get to impact youth indirectly.
I remember a few years ago, I first met the Basswood tree. Despite growing up in Southern Ontario, I was not familiar with this tree. After learning to recognize it, now I see it frequently in the city where I live and like to stop and say hello. And snack on the tasty young leaves in springtime :)
Another great video. On our new property we are starting out in winter, and although I can so far identify Cedar, Spruce & yellow birch I haven’t been able to “see” the other trees for the forest. So overwhelming. This will help me focus on one tree at a time to see if I can start identifying others (I *think* there may be hemlock, but need to explore more). I also heard a crow fly by and make a caw caw Aoouu Aoouu sound. I’d never noticed hearing the Aoouu sound before…something new to figure out. Fire challenge I’ll try and get to this week hopefully. If not next weekend.
Thanks Chris, so cool. I am an avid birder and just starting to get into tracking. Thanks for the excellent little shorts that motivate and inspire. Can I share this with a life coach I know. I love in Nova Scotia, Pip strachan Tatamagouche, NS Ps bumped into you at the Royal with my brother…
Hi--such great videos, Chris!! I'm going to put in a word for what the deciduous conifer would be if you were asking the question in Maryland (where I spend much of my time): Bald Cypress.
Nice Christina, That was not the one I had in mind for the Eastern Woodlands. Thanks for sharing, I did not know there was a cypress that lost it's needles seasonable as well. Cheers :)
Had my 3 kids watching this.. they didn't realize such a difference in firewood.. larch.. think you can do vid on snow tracks.. Im still not 100% which ones are ermine... Also.. is it possible that flying squirrels demolished a wasp nest?
So glad to hear you are doing this with your kids. The fire challenge could be a great one to do with them if you have a safe place to do it. The next video in the series is on tracking, and yes, I will consider making some videos on snow tracking. Tracking & natural awareness are the main focuses of my Natures Language Course & Community as well if you are interested. Enter "Community" for $75 off. www.learnnatureslanguage.com
Fun tree mystery for the folks here. Today I found some brown spongey growths on an eastern red cedar. Roughly shaped like brains and of varying sizes. Dimples like a golf ball. A few were dried up. I picked some, wondering if they were edible and broke one open. Looked to be vegetable matter, not fungus. Whitish inside that later oxidized darker. Sampled one, did not ingest. Checked some field guides then internet bc I couldn't let the mystery stand, having tasted one. I'm all for cliff hangers, curiousity and field guides but sometimes... Any ideas?
Love the helpful distinctions about the trees today! Thank you!
I just love what your putting out here. It's not just teaching how to recognize bird calls and identify trees - but to deepen our relationship with the natural world. Being someone who grew up in a city and made my own efforts/felt a pull to learn more about the land, I see how people can be so ignorant about how connected we/everything is. And I don't mean that in a harsh way. I just think that living in cities has disconnected us so much that we don't consider the negative effects our daily lives can have on the natural world. And in reconnecting/learning, I've witnessed so many people have those moments of realization of the importance of having a relationship with nature and all its beings. And how that extends to a shift in lifestyle to care for our other than human relations. A tree becomes family, not a piece of wood. If that makes sense! haha
I guess what I'm trying to say my take away is, is a profound respect and happiness to witness you sharing in this way! It has a ripple effect and it's so wonderful. :)
A Larch in our back yard looses its needles every winter. Beautiful tree.
The bonus question is the Larch tree, I believe. Very useful information, especially the code Mad Horse! Thank you, enjoyed it.
So glad you enjoyed and learned a cpl things Debra. Thanks for your comment and I loved your bird reflections on the last video :)
You have such lovely demeanor! I bet you'd give wonderful workshops for kids, too, but I didn't find any on your website.
Thanks for the kind words Lily. I used to do a lot of work with youth & run summer camps. I do almost exclusively adult education now though. I know it’s important work but my passion is in adult education. I do a lot of training for outdoor educators who work with youth though, thus I get to impact youth indirectly.
I remember a few years ago, I first met the Basswood tree. Despite growing up in Southern Ontario, I was not familiar with this tree. After learning to recognize it, now I see it frequently in the city where I live and like to stop and say hello. And snack on the tasty young leaves in springtime :)
Nice one. Young Basswood leaves are such a tender spring edible treat!
Another great video. On our new property we are starting out in winter, and although I can so far identify Cedar, Spruce & yellow birch I haven’t been able to “see” the other trees for the forest. So overwhelming. This will help me focus on one tree at a time to see if I can start identifying others (I *think* there may be hemlock, but need to explore more). I also heard a crow fly by and make a caw caw Aoouu Aoouu sound. I’d never noticed hearing the Aoouu sound before…something new to figure out. Fire challenge I’ll try and get to this week hopefully. If not next weekend.
Thanks Chris, so cool. I am an avid birder and just starting to get into tracking. Thanks for the excellent little shorts that motivate and inspire. Can I share this with a life coach I know. I love in Nova Scotia,
Pip strachan
Tatamagouche, NS
Ps bumped into you at the Royal with my brother…
Hi--such great videos, Chris!! I'm going to put in a word for what the deciduous conifer would be if you were asking the question in Maryland (where I spend much of my time): Bald Cypress.
Nice Christina, That was not the one I had in mind for the Eastern Woodlands. Thanks for sharing, I did not know there was a cypress that lost it's needles seasonable as well. Cheers :)
I think the tamarack drops it's needles in the fall?
Hackmatack; American Larch; Tamarack
Is the deciduous cone-bearing tree a tamarack
Had my 3 kids watching this.. they didn't realize such a difference in firewood.. larch.. think you can do vid on snow tracks.. Im still not 100% which ones are ermine... Also.. is it possible that flying squirrels demolished a wasp nest?
So glad to hear you are doing this with your kids. The fire challenge could be a great one to do with them if you have a safe place to do it. The next video in the series is on tracking, and yes, I will consider making some videos on snow tracking. Tracking & natural awareness are the main focuses of my Natures Language Course & Community as well if you are interested. Enter "Community" for $75 off. www.learnnatureslanguage.com
Fun tree mystery for the folks here.
Today I found some brown spongey growths on an eastern red cedar. Roughly shaped like brains and of varying sizes. Dimples like a golf ball. A few were dried up. I picked some, wondering if they were edible and broke one open. Looked to be vegetable matter, not fungus. Whitish inside that later oxidized darker. Sampled one, did not ingest. Checked some field guides then internet bc I couldn't let the mystery stand, having tasted one.
I'm all for cliff hangers, curiousity and field guides but sometimes...
Any ideas?
can you send me a pic? you can get my email off my website www.chrisoutdoors.ca
The way I was taught to remember white pine - the word WHITE has 5 letters, clusters of 5 needles.
Tamarack or larch - deciduous.
hemlock /tamarack
Tamarak