In the spring, I sprinkled a small mason jar of biodynamic preparation 500 under my fruit trees and around my garden beds, just as Anna Helmer had shown me. There didn’t seem to be a very specific science to it, although I videoed her doing it and watched it over several times to make sure…
Saving the World, One Word at a Time
This story is featured in the summer 2019 Save the World issue of Coast Mountain Culture magazine. With thanks to editors Mike Berard and Tara Cunningham and art director Chris Rowat for their incredible contributions towards helping this story find its fullest and best expression. Of an estimated 7,000 languages spoken around the world, only 25 of them…
Don’t Die Curious
On May 22, 2019, the Class of 2033 had their kindergarten orientation. I drove past Signal Hill and saw the swell of improbably small and cute four and five year olds spilling out of the school, peeking in their welcome packets – 60 families on the cusp of a big transition. I distinctly remember sitting…
When Farmers and Writers Talk Shop
Frontier thinking. Everything you do happens at the place where your ideas meet your idea of the world. This is the time of year when the farm machines roll full-tilt out of winter hibernation. At least, that’s how Andrew Budgell speaks of it. Co-owner of Laughing Crow Organics, one of Pemberton’s small scale organic mixed…
Nina Caprez: Sorry, not sorry.
In Nina Caprez’ instagram profile, she describes herself as a “Sponsored athlete, life artist with a free spirit.” I had the chance to interview her for Arc’teryx. This story ran on Arcteryx’s Bird Blog in late March 2019. Nina Caprez is a straight-talking weapon of a climber who is not ashamed to have big goals. That makes…
Uncontainable
Soundtrack: This time last year, I was writing obituaries. I wrote a lot of them. This month, I’ve been grateful for the ability of other people to put some of the grief and loss swirling through our community into words. It’s the thing about loss – it knocks the wind out of you, and with…
Paolo Marazzi: profiling a spiderman
What matters most is to wake up in in the morning, still exhausted, in a place few others have been before. Because you will have been part of the stunning view, not on the other side watching from a viewpoint. This profile of Italian guide and pro climber, Paolo Marazzi, was first featured on the Arc’teryx blog…
Are you smarter than a tree?
It didn’t weird Dr Suzanne Simard out, when I told her I talk to trees. Dr Simard is a professor of forest ecology with UBC and the researcher behind the viral TED talk that introduced the general public to the idea that trees communicate with other trees, and share information, carbon, energy, in collaboration with…
How an unlikely couple of craft cider makers started Squamish’s Northyards Cider Co
This is one of the best dharma (finding your calling) stories ever. It was a treat to connect with Alison and Kathleen of Northyards Cider, to hear how they came to start a craft cidery in Squamish. I definitely need to do more thorough research in the tasting room, though. In the meantime, this story…
Crowning a “junk” tree with overdue appreciation
“What’s this?” asked my clutter-resistant husband, observing the giant mason jar of oily plant matter on the counter. “Ohh, it’s medicine! It’s called Balm of Gilead,” I explained. “Oh. But what is it?” “Cottonwood tips in oil.” “Hmm. And what’s it good for treating?” he asked, in an impressively neutral manner, eyes scanning to the…
