Earth Friendly

When my grandpa was alive, he would take me fishing all of the time, and I always seemed to catch sunfish, which I always put back. I’ll admit fishing was fun, but I always had to put the fish back in the water. Maybe I wasn’t the most passionate fisherman, but Sak Narwal knows everything about this hobby.

Fishing can be a rewarding experience, and it took Sak Narwal to some of the most amazing natural landscapes. He literally developed a bond with nature through fishing. Imagine that?

Spring will officially be here on March 20. Although there isn’t any guarantee that the weather will be warmer, it’s still a date to look forward to. So what are your plans for this summer? Maybe you’ve always wanted to take a hiking or camping trip in the mountains. If enjoying the outdoors is going to be a part of your spring/summer itinerary, you should know how to maintain your vegetarian diet while your living off of the land. It might be easier than you thought, and you can always pack some extra snacks to have on hand. To learn more about vegetarian foods in the wild, check out Hunting Vegetarian Style Part 1 and Part 2 .

Summer might be several months away, but if you want to have the backyard of your dreams, you have to start saving up for it now.

Pools can be a great addition to your yard, especially if you have kids. When you have a pool, you don’t have to drive back and forth to the swim club or gym. You can even make the pool eco-friendly by customizing it. Shasta Pools in Arizona can help you design a pool that meets your needs. For example, you will want to have a pool cover to help decrease water evaporation, which will reduce the need to add chemicals. Or, if you require a pool for physical therapy, check out the fitness and therapy features that Shasta Pools has to offer.

I might hate driving in the winter, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love winter. This season is a great time to take outdoor adventures with family and friends. Skiing is my favorite sport, and it can be a fun experience if you are a first timer. If downhill skiing doesn’t entice you, resort to cross country skiing. This will get your heart rate up in no time, and if you have younger children, it might be an easier activity for them to do. Some ski resorts now have separate areas designated for sliding down the hills in inner tubes, which might be more appealing to your children. Regardless of what winter activities you like to do, make sure you take time to admire the winter wonderland.

With the presence of autumn, it’s not quite here yet, but I feel it sneaking back into the scene, so there is one last opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in a way that you might not have been able to during the summer. Although I like summertime, I’m not a big fan of the hot weather, especially when it’s 90 degrees. While it’s cool and not yet snowing, you should take morning walks in the park or even take one during your work break. Before you know it, the colorful leaves will be falling off and you will be bundling yourself up indoors and drinking hot cocoa. So take your kids to the zoo or go for a hike or camping trip because the weather is perfect.

If you want to get your little ones involved, have them collect leaves. Then create a book and label the leaves or create a wreath to hang on your front door this season.

Believe it or not, there are ways to get your protein off the land when camping or hiking. Edible plants (seaweed, wild lettuce and spinach, etc.) and nuts (acorns, chestnuts, walnuts, etc.) are a great way to keep your energy up.

Depending on the area where you will be camping, it’s best to do some research and bring along a guidebook. You definitely want to be able to identify and avoid poisonous plants, berries and nuts.

Dandelions are common edible plants, which you can eat for vitamin C. If you cook their leaves over the fire, you can make a variation on Italian greens. Other minerals can be found in a tree’s sap and inner bark.

If eating off of the land isn’t for you, bring along the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Also protein bars and nut mixes can be easily packed.

Photo Credit: Made available by www.tsa.gov.

Although the animals are not in their natural habitat, it’s still interesting to go and visit the animals at the zoo. Today I went to the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. I think the most interesting creatures were the sea dragons, big cats and the lemurs.

You never know what neat facts you’ll learn while you’re at the zoo. I guess as you get older, you pay more attention to the signs displayed around the animals. It’s a great opportunity to take children and help instill within them an appreciation for animals. Showing them endangered species as well as the grim future of rainforests may encourage them to take more interest in helping to save these things.

Photo Credit: Made available by www.smh.com.au.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget about all of those star and planets above us. When is the last time you laid in the grass and stared up at the stars?

I have this particular spot I like to visit, because it’s not a lit area. The landscape consists of a few houses and the rest is land, trees and sky. Every year I look forward to visiting, especially when the lightning bugs have made their appearance. I must say that a field full of lightning bugs definitely compliments a starry night.

However, it’s always nice to have someone else to enjoy it with and hosting a star-gazing party is a unique way to get your friends together.

Having fun and entertaining yourself doesn’t mean that you have to spend a lot of money. Below are some ways that you can reconnect with nature while having a good time.

1. Walk your dog on your street or in your local park.

2. Go swimming in a nearby lake, ocean or river.

3. Make your lunch or dinner at home and eat it on the deck or have a picnic in the yard.

4. Plan a hiking or camping trip with friends or family. You can even setup a tent in your yard.

5. Go on a scavenger hunt and try to identify different birds and flowers.

6. Visit the library and read your new book in one of your favorite outdoor places.

There are many different ways to have a good time outside. What are you going to do this summer?