Trackers PDX Blog

The Chopping Block

16th

September

Last week at our Fall Nature of the Village Skills Share I watched our Immersion Program Director Jason Craban knead a newly formed "loaf" of mozzarella cheese. He made it from morning fresh milk given by our two LaMancha goats Patience and Sage. The basil chevre took a little longer yet was well worth the wait.

From oyster mushrooms on a fallen alder log to corned lamb, brine-cured to perfection, the great things in life come from early mornings and slow days. Lately I've find myself looking out over the hillside of the Trackers Homestead appreciating how dark the evening can become. No streetlights, only stars winking their old stories.

I think a lot about "simple living" lately. How our lives don't need to drastically change, only evolve. How pining for the better life is a trap preventing us from making change right now. Nowadays, each day, I hold a new ritual I call the Chopping Block. I pull up my calendar and see what I can cut out and kill then and there. What "very important business" can get by without attention from Tony? I'm learning to be savagely brutal at the Chopping Block; understanding that if I make more time for real life such as building and gardening, everyone close to me will be better for it. My work at Trackers is meant to wage inroads into a better world for everyone around me. In order to help bring others back to the wild life I to need to wander its kinder and more realistic landscape more than once and awhile.

Do me a favor, for just one week take 5-minutes a day to put your own calendar on the Chopping Block. Get rid of meetings and quibbling appointments. Let the empty spaces you create become time to explore with the kids, with grandma or the friends who've grown into your family. Then email me the results.

And if you had a appointment that I canceled, please don't take it personally. See it as the Chopping Block working well for both me and you. That 2-hours is now your chance to start building a bee box for next Spring or to pick some apples falling from the neighborhood tree. I'll come help you harvest honey and drink cider in place of our long-dead meeting. Plus, Molly and I will try to bring some fresh goats mozzarella when we visit.

Featured Courses...

4-Seasons Permaculture Design Certification January 15-September 23, 2010, every Friday Taught by the best in the Pacific Northwest Toby Hemenway, Marisha Auerbach, Leonard Barrett & more.

Winter Sodas and Wild Spirits November 8, 2009 Join June Rzendzian for an afternoon of sipping and creating wild-crafted beverages the whole family can enjoy. You’ll be guided through the basics of wine-making, berry soda and cordial-concocting, plus experimenting with some holiday classics.

Preventing Colds: Cedar & Oregon Grape Tincture November 15, 2009 You know that echinacea and goldenseal tincture you buy in the store. Why not go with a Pacific Northwest local version? We teach you how identify Western Red Cedar and Oregon Grape, then we prepare the tincture as a class.

Also on the calendar...

Wilderness Survival Basics Sept 26-27 or Nov 21-22
Making Artisan Goat Cheese at the Cabin Sept 27
Traditional Bowmaking Begins Oct 1
Primitive Skills Evenings Nov 3-24, Tuesdays
Knot Tying and Ropework Nov 4-5
10 day skin on frame kayak building Nov 6-16
Healing Wounds: Plantain Salve Dec 13
Wilderness First Responder Jan 27-Feb 5, 2010 or April 10-19, 2010
Boat Building & Folkcraft Skill Share Jan 4-8, 2010

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