When I began camping again as an adult, I was not sure what primitive camping meant. Making a shelter with pine boughs? Starting a fire with a bow drill? Foraging for food? In fact, primitive camping simply means camping in a tent. It’s not nearly as popular as RV camping, which means tent campers often […]
Carey Smith
In addition to freelance writing, Carey Smith also manages the Enos Park Neighborhood Gardens. She's a big fan of trees, prairies, board and card games, her family, and assorted nerd-out topics like soil science, archaeology and systems thinking. She loves living in the Enos Park neighborhood.
Posted inSpecial Issues
Growing fruit for the home gardener
While farmers markets bring us fresh, local fruit in season, and grocery stores bring us everything else, nothing beats the taste – or the carbon footprint – of a freshly plucked fruit from the backyard. Growing fruit in the backyard is easy, even for those without a green thumb. First things first, what do you […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Gathering to garden
When we think of community gardens, what usually comes to mind is a juicy strawberry or a tomato plucked fresh from the vine. While home-grown local produce is delightful, also keep in mind that community gardens function as a nexus of community. They are places to meet and get to know others with similar interests, […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
When our children are transgender
Coming out to a parent can be a challenge at any age, but with increasing social freedom, more parents are trusted with their children’s view of their true selves. Alice, a Springfield-area mom, was one of these parents. She asked to be identified by a pseudonym to protect her child’s privacy. “I don’t feel like […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Out of the shadows
“I’m proud of the work that midwives and midwifery advocates have done over the decades,” said Hannah Landis, certified professional midwife (CPM) and vice president of the Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives. “I’m proud we finally got something negotiated,” said Landis of the law signed in December by Gov. JB Pritzker that allows the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Wellness tracking
Wellness tracking has become a popular way to get a handle on physical, spiritual and mental health needs. Whether you track using a personal fitness device, apps or a bullet journal, keeping track of personal habits helps us to be mindful and reach our target goals. Typically worn around the wrist like a watch or […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Weaving a legacy
“People may say they don’t have much of a story to tell, but when people start talking, when they are given permission to share, they start revealing that there is a great narrative over the course of one’s life,” said Dan Frachey, owner of Legacy Weavers Video. Frachey began working on the concept for his […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Celebrating the season
As increasing numbers of Americans abandon traditional churches and belief systems, many find themselves seeking something that provides meaning to their lives, but outside of the traditional religious purview. The idea that a person can be spiritual, but not necessarily religious, is drawing more adherents. Many people still desire the feeling of community, hope and […]
Posted inOpinion
Working for less than minimum wage
The scene was brutal: 32 adult men with intellectual disabilities housed in segregation in an abandoned schoolhouse rented by Henry’s Turkey Farm in Iowa. A social worker who checked on her clients found them living in squalor, sleeping on soiled mattresses in a residence infested with rodents and cockroaches, a leaking roof, windows covered with […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Urban rewilding
Butterflies drift lazily over the gardens, bees hum while pollinating flowers and birds feed on petals and at a feeder while the sweet smells of milkweed blossoms drift through an open window – these are the joys of front yard rewilding. Rewilding is an environmental effort involving the repair of damaged and degraded ecosystems and […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
The great outdoors
Fall is a lovely time of year to be outside, moving our bodies and settling our minds. Immersing ourselves in nature is like a balm to the soul. Time spent in the great outdoors can disconnect us from the hurried and harried pace of life, giving us time to reflect on our status as biological […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Backyard fun
Whether you’re hosting a party or entertaining your kids, outdoor games are fun for everyone. Traditional games like horseshoes and bocce ball can be played in a spacious backyard, as can croquet. These games are relaxing and require negligible athletic skill, though supervision is advised with children, given the nature of flying horseshoes, balls or […]
