I came across this article recently and found it compelling. Woman have always had a strong tradition of tending to the earth and growing food for nurturing the home and family. Permaculture is a way of creating a whole system approach to these vital skills. It is disappointing that woman are not feeling well represented in this relationship of life and permaculture. Below is an interview from Omega that brings …

Here at avajane.com I like to write about ways that people are making a positive change in the world and standing up for the environment and childrens’ connection to nature. There are many factors that come into play and everything is interconnected from the trees in the forest to the sand on the beach we can nurture nature and help ourselves at the same time. Little Gift Big Smile is …

writing words, intentions, feelings burning for renewal wait and listen

The following is an article I found on Nature Education in urban areas. There has been a disconnection to nature in that children are given less and less opportunities to connect with the natural world. The first connection to nature comes primarily through a parents perspective, however with longer hours at work or the need to provide for a family this priceless information is being set aside. I first came …

This article on John Stewart and his wife Tracey about their farm in upstate New York is great. It is true that nurturing nature can bring so much joy and meaning to ones life. article from Upworthy Anna and Maybelle are just two of about a dozen other animals living in the lap of luxury on the Stewarts’ farm 50 miles outside of New York City, “CBS This Morning” reported. …

Women Conservationists doing what they feel is natural. I don’t believe the women of Chira at first thought of themselves as Conservationists or Environmentalists they were just trying to make things better for the world around them, naturally. I believe this innate drive with in us is all we need to heal the world. That spark of taking action, even when is seems small or insignificant can be all the …

I can’t explain my interest in the culture of the First Peoples of this land other then respect, I have also seen how their lands have been taken time and time again with out asking. I would like to bring light to this, I also have observed a sense of entitlement by those who are taking. The Navajo Youth Farm is an organization preserving a way of life that is …

Finding myself in a conversation earlier about GMO corn and a friend stating as fact that all corn is now GMO. Also seeing a trending topic by Gwenyth Paltrow that humans have been genetically modifying food for millennia. It is interesting to me that there can be so much non-fact based stats and misleading information out there. I guess I am interested today in getting the facts. Where does this …

a donation to African Wildlife Foundation can truly make a difference. their Mission “The African Wildlife Foundation, together with the people of Africa, works to ensure the wildlife and wild lands of Africa will endure forever” I came across the African Wildlife Foundation through the grants by explore.org they are a wonderful and much needed foundation. They not only help conserve the wild life of Africa but also contribute to …

Here on avajane.com I truly enjoy bringing to light small ways that people are making a positive change in the world around them. One area that really strikes me is native indigenous culture. There is so much to learn about how to take care of the environment from these first nation people and how they went about things ages ago. Children’s Ground comes to us from Australia and is an …

Biodynamic Gardening is a holistic approach to working with the land, from digging in the dirt, plant selections and companion planting, to seasonal cycles and harvesting. Within my landscaping company in Southern California I have used biodynamic concepts from the first site oveview to the final walk through once installation is complete. On the ranch were we live for instance we use double digging and soil preparation everytime we install …

Whenever I am adding a new garden to the landscape in Southern California or where ever the garden path leads me I am thinking of the environment and how the new plants that are being brought in and installed can help effect change in a positive way. Choosing plants with intention from drought tolerant to food, not only for people but for butterflies, humming birds and bees. We live in …

Seeing Photosynthesis from Space: NASA Scientists Use Satellites to Measure Plant Health July 24, 2013 NASA scientists have established a new way to use satellites to measure what’s occurring inside plants at a cellular level. Plants grow and thrive through photosynthesis, a process that converts sunlight into energy. During photosynthesis, plants emit what is called fluorescence – light invisible to the naked eye but detectable by satellites orbiting hundreds of …

KRISTA TIPPETT, HOST: Gordon Hempton says that silence is an endangered species. He’s an acoustic ecologist — a collector of sound all over the world. [recording of nature by Gordon Hempton] MS. TIPPETT: He defines real quiet as presence — not an absence of sound, but an absence of noise. The Earth, as Gordon Hempton knows it, is a “solar-powered jukebox.” Quiet is a “think tank of the soul.” We …

I just started a course on Biomimicry, it is profoundly important and creates soulful purpose for humanity. Definetly worth checking out. The following is an article that was part of the openning weeks lesson plan. Enjoy!! Companies seeking breakthrough products tend to ignore the greatest invention machine in the universe: life’s more than three-billion-year history of evolution by natural selection. by Amelia Hennighausen and Eric Roston February 23, 2015, 9:48 …

Source: Mother Nature Network MNN Called a wool sower gall, these fluffy, polka-dotted balls are caused by a species of parasitic wasp. One look at this fluffy, polka-dotted flower and you’d be forgiven for thinking a Truffula Tree straight out of Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax” was found growing in Texas. This bizarre display of nature, called a wool sower gall, was discovered by a ranger while on patrol at the …

Source: BBC Image: Getty Images A court in northern Indian has given the Ganges and Yamuna rivers the status of “living human entities”. The high court in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand said this would help in the “preservation and conservation” of the highly polluted rivers. It added that the “legal status” ensures that polluting the rivers would now amount to harming a human being. Both rivers are considered sacred …

Oregons coastal range is a beautiful place and needs attention. This area is dear to me because my brother lives there and we have visited several times over the years. I have driven through Oregon and seen first hand the devastating clear cutting of loggers and I know that the side effects are negative for the environment. The old growth forests and natural waterways of Oregon need protecting they are …

A quick story about Apache Tears which are a type of Obsidian: This is an excerpt from http://www.healing-crystals-for-you.com Apache Tears are a type of Black Obsidian Stone found in the south-western USA and Mexico. The meaning of their name comes from an American Indian legend. It was said that certain members of this tribe were pursued by the Cavalry… and although they fought bravely they were outnumbered.  Rather than be captured they …

Understanding the Connection You have more in common with trees than you think. It’s not such a weird idea when the emerging field of plant neurobiology is seeing increasing collaborations with other fields into the nature of plant intelligence. These studies are prompting scientists and spiritual communities, such as Damanhur, to reconsider the scope of communication and adaptation found in nature. From a spiritual perspective, plants can be viewed as …

In the Name of the Most High In the Name of my Ancestors From my Heart, I extend to You My Sun and My Moon As it is Above, So it is Below Of the Body Of the Mind But forever and ever in the Spirit… This is a prayer that we say for our baby blessing ceremonies, it comes from a time when my husband Miklos and I first …

This Little Gift Big Smile is dear to me because I grew up along the Jersey Shore.  My father and I used to walk along the beaches and the shells featured are from one of those times. The link below is a website that can offer ways that you can help heal the bay, even if it is just a click through to the site! http://www.littoralsociety.org some of the featured …

Sage is just starting to bloom here in southern california. Today I am thankful for all of the beauty in my life, It wasn’t always beautiful though. Tiny Living has changed our lives here in Southern California. Did you know that the average household uses about 220 gallons of water a day! This is approximately 73 gallons per person. Here we conserve our precious resource so much! We use approximately …

Here’s something I have been saying to my children lately, this mostly comes up when we see something that needs to be picked up, inside or outside. If you don’t pick it up or take care of something who will? Are you going to wait for your mom to come pick it up? I think this simple phrase or thought can translate to so many things. Pollution, DeForestation, Oil Spills, …

Preservation for the future I am so inspired by my family every day and truly want to give them a beautiful world. Reading the news can be difficult though, war, oil spills, poverty, drought, hunger I want to make a change Here at avajane.com I am committed to that change All postings here will carry with them a story, a story of positive change and caring for the environment. Please …

The Earth is full of treasures, all are precious. Here at avajane.com I will be featuring natural elements, simple and raw. As a landscape designer I take notice of the seasons changing, the cycles of water and the richness of the soil.  I know that with nurturance and nourishment life springs forth and health is abundant. Nourishment of our selves is important for if we don’t take care of our …

Recently our family purchased a 20 acre property in Vermont and have discussed being able to leave a legacy for our children. The property was purchased by my husbands father and we have begun to dream of what that means for us all. My thoughts go to the garden and how we can be self sustaining below is an article that offers good information for this process. Also with Marc …

Lighting up my life

This is something to consider Where do some of the beautiful gems that we adorn ourselves and our homes come from Yes they are beautiful, but at what price does the environment pay. I love finding treasures when I am out for a walk or going to a semi-precious gem store and looking at crystals. I came across Rhodochrosite because I feel it has an important story to tell, it …

after playfully scooping the slimy seeds River and I put them out to dry! fun and helpful in the kitchen! more information on drying and saving seeds below: I am a big fan of Martha Stewart enjoy a link from her site on saving seeds! http://www.marthastewart.com/266525/saving-seeds Seed Saving How-To 1. Cut the fruit or vegetable open and extract the seeds. 2. Place the seeds in a colander and rinse with …

Gathering the seeds from an acorn squash that had been sitting on my counter for too long! since I am not going to be cooking it I might as well save the seeds from within to be dried,  sprouted and planted a beautiful cycle of life and renewal tips on saving seeds from Farm Flavor: http://farmflavor.com/saving-seeds/ Saving and Storing Pumpkin Seeds Cut the top off your pumpkin and scoop out …

Little Gift Big Smile is a collection of charities that I have researched and found to be making the world a better place. Most of the charities are Earth/Land based Our planet needs our help Help Nourish the Land Since I have always enjoyed collecting elements from places I visit I am also aware that many of these places need our attention for other things besides their beauty. seeds, sand, …

annie wright and avajane photography gardening inspired living

#gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */ getting seeds started, there are many different ways to begin this fun project here is some information I gathered from Organic Gardening http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/starting-seeds-indoors Starting seeds indoors will give you earlier vegetables and flowers, …

Companion plants assist in the growth of others by attracting beneficial insects,  repelling pests, or providing nutrients, shade, or support. They can be part of a biological pest control program. information from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companion_plants corn and bush beans Onions and carrots and potatoes squash and nasturtiums beets and marigolds cucumber and camomile there are many combinations to explore! simple fun great performers little gift big smile

spouting seeds from the ones I have gathered for little gift big smile Sunflower Hollyhocks Lupine Amaranth

the reds come to winter in southern california by the blushing from the cold dodeneas turn from brown to red the roses gather pigment from the frost

I love collecting feathers with my kids I like to think about where the bird has been how high it has soared recently I gave a Ravens tail feather to my friend Carrie-Anne I know there was magic in it!   “May my heart always be open to little birds who are the secrets of living” E.E. Cummings

planting a seed planting a thought   these are the seeds of change

something inside of me is so very drawn to nature.  I love animals I love plants I love the dirt something that I often adore is when animals and humans co habitat, get a long, enjoy each other.  Here you can see my daughter Lily and our Russian Quail Rosey hanging out. so much love love of nature love grows

Every day I look to myself to take initaitive starting small 1 hour a day this is my meditation my work my time create

Are Women the Key to Solving Climate Change The following is a very interesting article on how women are a big part of leading the way to helping create a self sustaining world in agriculture and technology. Women put themselves on the forefront of aid in the developing world and are compounded by their lack of equal rights. Below are some highlights from the article and the full story as …