Sep 11, 2023·edited Sep 11, 2023Liked by Gavin Mounsey
Gavin, you have taught me so much about Mother Earth's offspring throughout our life together, and i am sure in the years to come i will continue to learn oodles more. But even more than that is that you have changed my perspective. There was a time when i did not notice the beauty of fall. All i saw was the end of summer and i would become sad but through our 12 autumns together you have gently shown me the wonder of autumn and now i look forward to its crisp morning, its sun-kissed jeweled colors and the beautiful leaves that don our grass. I look forward to this year's bonfire nights wrapped in a blanket with you as we watch the gorgeous crystal clear stars over head and the dancing flames that illuminate the leaves as they fall. Thank you for helping me to unfold my perspective and unlocking the love in my heart for this beautiful season called autumn. ❤️
What an informative post, Gavin! A couple of episodes back, I did one on Reinventing Education, that imagined cultural exchanges with month-long sabbaticals. When I read about your ecosystem there in Ontario, I think "Let the party begin!" I want to come learn about all your forest's secret and bring you here, to California, where you could likely teach me about mine ;-)
My daughter Cassandra, the Perfumer's Apprentice (name of her local supplier) has always had a passion for Pine-Sol. She keeps trying to recreate it with her potions of fir and spruce. I think she decided finally what's missing is the soap!
And the color of my front door is Japanese Maple but I didn't realize how gorgeous the Keys are!
Thanks! Cultural exchanges with month-long sabbaticals!! I love that idea. I actually have a vision of opening a school in the distant future where I offer immersive multi-day educational experiences for families to learn basic hands on regenerative gardening skills, foraging and preservation techniques. Also offering more advanced classes in hands on herbalism and methods for merging natural medicine with culinary creativity as well as guided meditation classes (intended to help one discover/hone and foster one's own unique gifts and imagine ways they can serve as a conduit for giving back to Mother Earth). Your vision very much aligns with the spirit of what I would like to offer my community some day.
Doing a sort of 'exchange student' reciprocal program where one goes to learn about a forest ecosystem from another region and then invites those they were learning from to come and do the same.. I love that too! I might know about a few species that call your region home (given all the time I spent on the west coast) but I imagine you could teach me a lot. :)
The idea of a perfume (or cologne? ;) ) that incorporates the essential oils of conifers appeals to me a lot. I can even think of ways in which some essential oils that have appealing/enticing aromas (to human senses) could also simultaneously serve to repel unwanted insects and boost the immune system (via aroma therapy). 'Stacking functions with fragrances'.. hmm I may have to experiment with that for my next book.
Ah, I don't think I could teach you anything about my ecosystem but my friend Caitlin could. She teaches yearlong seminars of wild women that culminate in days and nights spent alone in the wilderness. She's also an amazing herbalist and a singer in a rock band. When we do our cultural exchange, I'll introduce you ;-)
Gavin is a humble man who would never say this but as his wife, i can honestly say there is very little about Mother Earth, the wilderness or even herbal treatments that he doesn't already know. He is an astounding man and i have never met or known anyone who is more connected or more knowledgable than he. ❤️
Such a wealth of knowledge in one post :) and your autumnal pictures are gorgeous 😍
Thanks! :)
Gavin, you have taught me so much about Mother Earth's offspring throughout our life together, and i am sure in the years to come i will continue to learn oodles more. But even more than that is that you have changed my perspective. There was a time when i did not notice the beauty of fall. All i saw was the end of summer and i would become sad but through our 12 autumns together you have gently shown me the wonder of autumn and now i look forward to its crisp morning, its sun-kissed jeweled colors and the beautiful leaves that don our grass. I look forward to this year's bonfire nights wrapped in a blanket with you as we watch the gorgeous crystal clear stars over head and the dancing flames that illuminate the leaves as they fall. Thank you for helping me to unfold my perspective and unlocking the love in my heart for this beautiful season called autumn. ❤️
Gavin, such an awesome post!
Wow. this is absolutely stunningly beautiful. My own homage to Mother Earth but not with my own gorgeous photos https://georgiedonny.substack.com/p/a-tiny-water-flea-has-31000-genes
Thank you for posting
wow,
Jo🙏🏽
What an informative post, Gavin! A couple of episodes back, I did one on Reinventing Education, that imagined cultural exchanges with month-long sabbaticals. When I read about your ecosystem there in Ontario, I think "Let the party begin!" I want to come learn about all your forest's secret and bring you here, to California, where you could likely teach me about mine ;-)
My daughter Cassandra, the Perfumer's Apprentice (name of her local supplier) has always had a passion for Pine-Sol. She keeps trying to recreate it with her potions of fir and spruce. I think she decided finally what's missing is the soap!
And the color of my front door is Japanese Maple but I didn't realize how gorgeous the Keys are!
Thanks! Cultural exchanges with month-long sabbaticals!! I love that idea. I actually have a vision of opening a school in the distant future where I offer immersive multi-day educational experiences for families to learn basic hands on regenerative gardening skills, foraging and preservation techniques. Also offering more advanced classes in hands on herbalism and methods for merging natural medicine with culinary creativity as well as guided meditation classes (intended to help one discover/hone and foster one's own unique gifts and imagine ways they can serve as a conduit for giving back to Mother Earth). Your vision very much aligns with the spirit of what I would like to offer my community some day.
Doing a sort of 'exchange student' reciprocal program where one goes to learn about a forest ecosystem from another region and then invites those they were learning from to come and do the same.. I love that too! I might know about a few species that call your region home (given all the time I spent on the west coast) but I imagine you could teach me a lot. :)
The idea of a perfume (or cologne? ;) ) that incorporates the essential oils of conifers appeals to me a lot. I can even think of ways in which some essential oils that have appealing/enticing aromas (to human senses) could also simultaneously serve to repel unwanted insects and boost the immune system (via aroma therapy). 'Stacking functions with fragrances'.. hmm I may have to experiment with that for my next book.
As always, I appreciate your thoughtful comment.
Ah, I don't think I could teach you anything about my ecosystem but my friend Caitlin could. She teaches yearlong seminars of wild women that culminate in days and nights spent alone in the wilderness. She's also an amazing herbalist and a singer in a rock band. When we do our cultural exchange, I'll introduce you ;-)
Gavin is a humble man who would never say this but as his wife, i can honestly say there is very little about Mother Earth, the wilderness or even herbal treatments that he doesn't already know. He is an astounding man and i have never met or known anyone who is more connected or more knowledgable than he. ❤️