We finally got a close up look at a Beaver!!!! We were sad to see it had died, but after talking about how the nocturnal animal probably got hit trying to cross the road & how awesome it was to know there are active Beavers here, our kiddos didn’t waste one moment in using this experience as a chance to gain knowledge. Lilly squealed with excitement when she realized she had her sketchbook in the van- ran back with a pencil in hand & got to work!
And I just got a call back from a local DNR officer, we get to keep the Beaver! Next project, figure out how to preserve this so we can share this beautiful animal with lots of other interested children! We took kids from the Luna Hill Wild School to visit a nearby Beaver damn, during the Beaver Moon this year...now, in the years ahead, we will get the chance to help kids understand the Beaver & all its clever adaptations to its environment, even better!
#naturejournal #beaver #lunahillwildschool #howwehomeschool #naturelover
Our very patient doggy, Penny Lane, watching as our bunny got passed around at circle round-a sharing/listening circle we start with at the beginning of every class together.
And John sharing his Turkey fan, from long ago, before children, when he had just a LITTLE extra time to hunt. 😆 Soon, Lilly & Hank can go Turkey hunting & not just Deer hunting with Dad & Mom!
#lunahillwildschool #minirex #patientdog
Here’s our family’s moon for this cycle-the Coyote Moon! Slowly getting the others filled in & leaving a couple blank for us to decide together.
This banner means a lot to our family-it’s in the center of our home, visible from both sides, & holds is throughout our journey together. This will be the first year we are choosing some of our own names instead of the more commonly accepted ones from differ Native American tribes.
And overtop is our word for this year Hone...more on that another day-busy honing in on a few more important tasks right now & reminding myself that my needs are a priority, too😊 Staring at a computer is not one of my favorite past times & I’m working on listening to my needs as well! So, you’ll probably see less lengthy & less frequent posting from me this year....we’ll see, old habits die hard-I love educating & sharing! But now that I am writing more for paid jobs & now that we are looking to expand the school here, I know that the best version of me can be given when I am not over-stretching myself by making sure to share all the amazing moments online. There are just too many! 😆 Guess you’ll just have to come out to Luna Hill Farm for yourself...planning & filling up our calendar for this year now & we are looking forward to bringing a lot of folks together!
#cantfillfromanemptycup
#kidsmoonclub #coyotemoon #wildfamily #coyote #moontime #cultivatingcommunity
Want your child to have some outdoor play/learning this winter? Every Wednesday, until Spring, John & Amanda Jo hold the Luna Hill Wild School at 1-4 o’clock, on our 4 acre, permaculture-based farm in Plymouth, Indiana. Amanda Jo is a Certified National Geographic Educator, Purdue Master Gardener, & both John & AJ have a special at knack for connecting with children. If you would like to meet us first and see for yourself, reach out.
We start with a listening circle, take care of the animals together, then head out for our activity for the day- sometimes a hike, finding wild edibles together, making a craft together-always so much fun! See our website for more details and reach out if you are interested. We are missing a few kids in this photo but we do have a couple of openings right now.
And look for an exciting announcement with updates on the expansion of the Luna Hill Wild School soon. Can’t wait to share the ways in which we aim to reach and serve more of our community this Spring & in the coming years ahead!
#lunahillwildschool #nuturingwonderwithnature #visitmarshallco #natgeocertified #mastergardener
We harvested these while barefoot in the garden on Christmas day & roasted them for dinner tonight!
Some call them Jerusalem Artichokes, some Sunchokes-we call them absolutely delicious!
What a treat our garden gives to us, even through Winter! Nutty, rich, yet simple...slightly sweet. Crunchier & more lively then a Potato...really, just lovely!
#wildedibles #jerusalemartichoke #sunchoke #harvested #ediblemichiana #edibleindiana #permaculturefarm #organicgarden
We surprised the kids this morning-woke them before dawn, pulled on our warm gear, headed out the door just as the sky show was beginning, & drove to nearby public land for a sweet sunrise tea party in the woods. Well, a coffee & hot chocolate party.
Since we celebrate on the Winter Solstice, our dedicated time for gift-giving to one another had past, but Irie’s tea set came late in the mail.
So, the night before, John wrapped it with pages from a book that was in our donate pile & I made berry delicious muffins for our hike.
The kids were so excited & grateful when Iris opened her gift! We drink tea together at the New Moon when we do our listening circle & set our intentions together, & it’s high time we have a dedicated set for us to use at special moments together.
Today was the last day in the Quiet Moon & so tomorrow we begin the journey again, with the Wolf Moon. We reflected over the last years beauty, but talked a lot about what was hard this last journey around the Sun. About people & animals we have lost, about friendships that were difficult, & changes that were trying. I read a poem the kids & I really enjoy (by Samantha Abeel, called Sunrise) & reminded them, just as the Sun will rise again, onward we will go & even through the hard times, the light will return.
It was only on our way out that I realized it was Christmas Day. It brought a slow smile to my face to feel yet again, that the traditions our family have created & those that we have chosen to observe are in alignment with our hearts.
This is our second year celebrating the Winter Solstice & not celebrating Christmas, as John & I both grew up in homes that did, & I can tell you that it just feels really good. Going against the grain-from almost every single person you know-is scary, strange, & awkward at first, & maybe still will be for a while, but it is so worth it. We said goodbye to our last circle around, now, as a family, we are ready to move forward.
Cheers to all those out there who create or follow intentional holidays & traditions that align with your way of living!
#intentionalliving #christmasmorning #hike #getoutside #wildschooling #outfam #nontheist
