Nettle Harvest Skills Day 9-24-16

The Ospreys gathered together again to start the 2016-17 season with a bang! The Ospreys had lots of practice with the motto Collaborate and Compromise, and decided almost all of our large decisions for the day. As mentors, we strive for girls to work towards this goal, and the Ospreys have proven that they are up for the challenge. Fro now on, your Osprey will be spending even a larger chunk of her time on outings working on interpersonal communication and decision making, which we argue helps our explorers much beyond our days together.

Found on the ground by an explorer-- A sentiment shared!

We began our opening meeting on a gorgeous fall day-- we shared among ourselves the changes in nature and our daily lives that accompany the coming of autumn: leaves changing color; FALLing limbs, leaves, and  trees; darker days; bird activity (including the sighting of a HUGE Barred owl!)...and for humans, new homes, new schools, new changes. 

Before setting out, we talked about cordage. What is it? What could it be made from (all sorts of plants and roots, and even hair!), how essential string and rope were to the development of civilizations. We brainstormed uses (pull, carry, tie, climb, attach to make nets, snares, bows, clothing, sandals, baskets, shoelaces, bags, mats, lines, etc…). Would progress have marched on without rope and string? We doubt it! On this day, we were going to engage in an ancient activity: seeking out nettle in her tall, fall form, to strip for string that we would dry for cordage making later. 

We hit the trail with explorer’s eyes – and what an abundance of things to see. We stopped for a game of Fox and Rabbit tag in the large field amongst giant trees. We stood beside Padden Creek and figured out where it came from and where it was going, and the ways it provides habitat and obstacles for salmon (hooray for the current project to daylight Padden Creek!). Girls clambered along and in and over the stream with exploring joy. 

Coco showing off her nettle string!

We could have spent all day in the microcosms of that short stretch of trail, but there was work to be done, and it was time to meddle with nettles. Where the sky and the forest opened up, we began to gather nettles to turn into string for cordage behind the Center for Local Self Reliance. As we collected, we remembered the best practice of the One in Twenty principle of harvesting.

After harvesting, we were brought back into focus, and experienced the satisfaction and calm that comes when we get busy with our hands. It was a lovely thing to see how focused the girls became on the task – like a meditation for many, and a great chance to talk about our lives with each other. By the end, we had an impressive amount of stripped nettle string that will dry through the winter and be ready to made cordage in the spring!

Shaking hands with our new tree friend, Spruce!

We made our way up to the parking lot with time to spare, and stopped to walk and admire the Labyrinth in Fairhaven Park. We enjoyed a Peaceful Place, another couple of games, and closed with our Attitude of Gratitude at Closing Circle!

To see a slideshow of our day, click here!