Author Archives: Jack Elliott

Ice Cans To Rockets, A New Stove For A New Century

The rocket stove was developed by Dr. Larry Winiarski in the early 1980s. (A detailed explanation and design principles of the rocket stove: PDF) Nearly one hundred years ago an enterprising butcher in southern California fabricated a stove from a … Continue reading →

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Petroglyphs, Isle of Arran, Scotland

The petroglyphs are found just inside this stand of planted conifers, silviculture being an important part of the local economy. At nine at night I stepped out for a walk in the woods. Couldn’t sit around the house after dinner … Continue reading →

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Vernal and Nevada Falls, Yosemite National Park

Mortars in Yosemite Valley. The Urban Wilderness Yosemite National Park represents a contradiction to me. A place entirely about nature, but it’s crawling with hordes of chattering tourists and hiking trails are paved. There is something oddly and strikingly askew … Continue reading →

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The Allure of Grass

A small, but remarkable potrero in the Los Padres National Forest that is a short distance away from Mollisol Meadow. “But it is upon the grass, mediator of soil and sun, that the human gaze has always tended to settle, … Continue reading →

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Mollisol Meadow

“Maybe 7% of the landscape across the world is mollisol.” -Dr. John Reganold, Professor of Soil Science and Agroecology, Washington State University “Mollisols (from Latin mollis, ‘soft’) are the soils of grassland ecosystems. They are characterized by a thick, dark … Continue reading →

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