Ash, Clay, Silt & Sand

During our fire feast last week, we also fired our earthenware pottery. This is clay we harvested and processed last fall, then sculpted with in the spring. It sat to dry for many months in the lodge, waiting for a big campfire day.

We layered it carefully in between the wood, trying to cushion it with small branches.

My favorite part is digging through the ashes, which we did this week, to find all the treasures. They were muddy ashes after all the rain, and some of the pieces broke apart, but we found quite a few. We also saw a couple of pieces of tofu and a potato skin that somehow survived the fire…?

After a quick rinse in the pond, you can see the verigated colors from midnight black to bright red- you never know what you’re going to get.

At the plot later, Terran started collecting samples for the soil texture part of his soil project. We’d made a plan during our online meeting earlier in the week, and had all the tools we needed. Simon kindly volunteered to help out, while the others measured and labeled trees. Terran decided to collect three samples from each spot, randomly selected using a random number generator for two numbers: 1) direction (1-360) and 2) distance from center (1-30) feet. We used a compass to set the bearing, and the long tape to find the distance.

Once the site was located, they carefully removed the duff and filled a container halfway.

Building on our cordage skills, I gave everyone a stalk of nettles after lunch and attempted to teach them how to strip the outer bark and use it for cordage. Those who succeeded were impressed with the strength of nettles’ fibers, which was a lesson I had hoped they would learn. Overall results were mixed- some got frustrated, another cut themself. Note to self: next time I teach this, don’t hand them their fibers until after the demo is over. It was very hard to get them to watch me demonstrate the technique; they just wanted to start doing it. Which I get, I’m the same way. I have a bundle of fireweed, so perhaps we’ll circle back and try fiber extraction again.

The mushrooms were everywhere! I found one chanterelle, which made us wonder if there were others.

We wandered in the woods for some time, discovering all sorts of interesting and beautiful things. Some were interested in learning more, so we’d stop and talk about whatever someone had found.

We didn’t find any more chanterelles, but Simon found an old deer antler!

Eventually, our wander took us to the nearby clear-cut, where we discovered the slash piles still smouldering. My guess is they lit them yesterday, but the centers were still smoky at hot. I’m glad we got to see it, but we didn’t stay long because the smoke was intense.

Back at main camp, Terran remembered we still needed to add a little dish soap and water to his soil samples. He got some help shaking them up as these three did a little dance in the name of science.

I’m looking forward to seeing how they settle out next week.