133: Wildtending, Ancient Skills, & Listening to Nature

Components of nature connection and the basic skills that everyone's ancestors practiced. Host/co-producer Ally Richardson and guests Iraiah & Austin – who run Smokebrush’s Earth Skill Club – talk about facilitating opportunities in our local community to foster deeper connections, not only with fellow humans but with all living things in our surrounding ecosystems. Deeply engage your senses, so together we can witness how living closely with our earth is practical, accessible, & tangible. Tune in to explore how these ancient practices can enrich our modern lives. Mentioned in this episode: Join Earth Skill Club for three hands-on classes — 2nd Saturday of the month all spring long! ⏰12:30 pm - 2:30 Fiber & Cordage - March 8th. Learn the basics of fiber processing through cordage making, an essential for making tools, shelter, and clothing from the earth. Learn how to make rope with the help of your friends, tie knots to create proper leverage, and create an ultralight backpack tie. Stone & Bone Tools - April 12th. Dive into the art of crafting tools from materials such bone and stone all stemming from the simplest of measures - a sharp edge. Play with nature as we create our own biodegradable, primitive cutting devices. Tap into curiosity as we listen to the density of rock’s sounds, observing what they can tell us to discover their best uses. Friction Fire Building - May 10th. Ignite your instincts and get a work out as we tap into the age-old skill of fire building, a cornerstone of surviving and thriving. Practice creating a fire with sticks through the power of hand and bow drill friction kits, using different local woods to birth the coal that will provide nourishment to our bird nest kindling. Earth Skill Club on Facebook Earth Skill Club on Instagram Rocky Mountain Highway's Meadowgrass Music Festival May 23, 10am - May 25 · 11:30pm Be sure to check out Smokebrush's Puppet Show! Listen to last year’s Studio 809 podcast about Meadowgrass here: Pikes Peak Permaculture’s The Seed Garden Class March 15, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Go to or click here to register: Join us for this class and discussion on the value of seeds. Learn about seed starting and saving techniques and participate in a seed swap. Learn the value of climate adaptation and landrace development in seed stock and how it helps to strengthen community food sheds. Build community and meet great people who face the same perils of gardening our region as you do. An Amazing List of Resources our guests recommend! Check them out at your local library. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus , Book by Charles C. Mann Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California's Natural Resources , Book by Kat Anderson What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World , Book by Jon Young Eavesdropping on Animals: What We Can Learn From Wildlife Conversations , Book by George Bumann Forgotten Fires: Native Americans and the Transient Wilderness , Book by Omer Stewart Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains , Book by Harold Harrington Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West , Book by Michael Moore Mammal Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species , Book by Mark Elbroch Participating in Nature: Wilderness Survival and Primitive Living Skills , Book by Thomas J. Elpel Animal Tracking Fundamentals: Animal Track Identification , Flashcards by Silva Tracking Colorado Wildflowers Search , Free App by Steve Sullivan (has a Columbine as the app image) A big thank you to sponsors: Old Town Bike Shop – your local bike shop since 1976 And thanks to Becky Elder for her support. You can provide support here. This episode was produced by Pikes Peak Permaculture, a content partner with Studio 809 Podcasts. Visit for opportunities to learn more about sustainable organic living through permaculture design – certifications, workshops, classes, field trips, and networking. The following environment/sustainability organizations in the Pikes Peak region collaborate to produce the Peak Environment podcast about environmental stewardship, sustainable living and enlightened public policy in the Pikes Peak Region. Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future Pikes Peak Permaculture GrowthBusters Keep up with all the organizations and events making our area a better place to live. Follow on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode.

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133: Wildtending, Ancient Skills, & Listening to Nature is an episode from Peak Environment by Dave Gardner.

This episode is 52:57 long.

This episode was published on Feb 26, 2025.

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