Kai: Once upon a time, I had not seen a turtle in five years.
That all changed this year, when we started seeing turtles (both dead and alive), in our urban neighborhood. We, and several neighbors now have turtles living in our yards – some say they’ve had them for years, but we had not seen one until November of last year, when I was then inspired to do more reptile research.
Tag Archives: Nature
Invisible Helpers
Invisible helpers are everywhere in the soil, air, and water. We actually depend on healthy microbes for our very existence. When you build a natural system for composting raw materials into nutrients for growing food, you have given life back to the garden’s environment by adding living top soil, which ideally should be full of beneficial fungus, bacteria, and other decomposers. These Invisible warriors help keep roots protected from harmful invaders, and add probiotics to the food you grow.
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Homesteading in Winter
What is our homestead like in the Winter?
Winter is Mother Nature’s vacation. Many plants and animals slow down and rest after the productive Spring and long hot Summer.
Pensacola Native Plant Spotlight W/ Duane Tant
Native Plant Society volunteer Duane Tant showcases multiple native plants at Bruce Beach Pensacola, their uses and importance for tree planting projects and habitat reclamation. (More videos below)
Continue reading Pensacola Native Plant Spotlight W/ Duane TantCreek Fest – Native American Pow Wow 2022
Had a great weekend recently at Creek Fest, A Native American flute and Pow Wow festival, taking place November 19-20th 2022 in Milton Florida. Wonderful vendors, music, dance, and Native American arts and culture.
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What is it like to Homestead?
Kai: What is it like to homestead? Well, here’s the truth: Homesteading is admittedly not for the faint of heart – not to say that we aren’t in certain areas of this lifestyle, but I think it’s important to come clean about it. It can be a lot of work, requiring spur of the moment changes, working in the bad weather, learning basic survival skills and much more.
Continue reading What is it like to Homestead?Saltbush – Native Plant Spotlight Fl
Native Plant Society volunteer Duane Tant showcasing Saltbush at Bruce Beach Pensacola, a wonderful plant for attracting monarchs, and a native to Florida and the Pensacola area.
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A Permaculture Fish System
Kai: When I first started breeding goldfish, I knew I wanted to do it in the most permaculture fashion I possibly could. This led me to challenge myself – no filters, no chemicals, no prepackaged fish food. To overcome the commercial ways, I partition the ponds often, and use an ecosystem strategy to keep them clean. When I partition water, it is used to water the garden instead of just getting dumped. It might be odd to say, but I did treat some ill fish naturally, and as for food, I used a Japanese method used for koi – feed from the garden! Meaning fruits, veggies, eggs and garden pests! This all worked well, but there were two things that I could not wrap my head around in the beginning. The first, was when fish would leap out of the ponds and kill themselves. The other, is when I put fry in seemingly “safe” crystal clear water, which caused them to perish. These were conundrums that first year.
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Learning Experience
Kai: Homesteading, permaculture, whatever you call it in which you are doing, requires more than just reading about it. All skill sets eventually force you to go gain the experience. Which is where we must face failure, trial-and-error, and the unexpected.
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The Art of Bird Watching – Ebook
Kai: I just finished my very first non-fiction book! The Art of Florida Birdwatching.
Being a bird watcher all my life, I knew I wanted to create a work of non-fiction themed around my knowledge and experience.
In addition to the information, I was still able to utilize my more aesthetic side, using art and photography as the pictures.
This book features over 30 species of birds that can be found right here in Florida, and includes an artistic depiction, fun facts about the bird, and stories about my personal encounters. Many were photographed at Grand Lagoon State Park, Myakka River State Park and Wakulla Springs State Park.
I really hope you enjoy this book, as it is one I am quite proud of. These are the wild birds I know best, many of which are quite dear to me. If you are interested in birds, or are just getting to know them, I hope you’ll take a look at this book and be inspired to continue your birding journey!
Awaken the Wild Soul 