We´ve had snow on the ground for almost two weeks now but today settled the case, rain and above zero –temperatures that we´ve had for a few days melted the rest of it. Even the lakes, excluding the bigger ones, were frozen already but they´re ice-free now. Winter is just behind the corner one could…
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First snow and the colors of autumn
Yesterday morning there was a real surprise waiting when I woke up, the first snow had landed during the night! Whole September has been really warm and deciduous plants haven´t even dropped their leaves yet so this happened unusually early this year. Permanent snow is still to be expected because the ground was green by…
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Into the wilderness by bike
Last weekend I decided to head into the wilderness by bike instead of walking. I do prefer walking in these forests because of its calmer tempo and because that way it´s easier to observe nature and have animal contacts but variation creates refreshment! Cycling about 25 kilometers through varying terrain turned out to be very…
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Picking berries and cooking with mushrooms
In Finland, late July and August are very busy months if you are into picking berries and cooking with mushrooms for example. It´s simply great that one can just head out there and harvest and preserve all the tasty wild foods of the season! This is the time when first mushrooms can be found here…
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Local summer activities in Hossa
The last few days here in Hossa have included making bath whisks for sauna and other local summer activities taking place this time of year. A bath whisk is simply a bunch of leafy, fragrant branches of Silver Birch that is used to gently beat oneself in a sauna. This has a relaxing effect on…
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Hiking in the aapa mires of the old growth forests
Yesterday I went hiking in the aapa mires of the old growth forests near the Hossa recreation area. These forests and mires have gone through restoration and now they are being protected with a few hiking trails passing through. After my trip I ended up noticing that hiking in this area provides so variable sceneries…
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Catching northern pike and brown trout
It is the beginning of the summer fishing season, it was early during the spring when I started to wait for the moment when I can go and fish northern pike and brown trout by spin casting so last week me and a friend of mine decided to head to the rivers and lakes of…
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Early summer activities in Hossa
A quick report concerníng my movements taking place at the moment! Catching perch with fish traps is part of our living with the seasonal variation of nature, at this time of year they are spawning and thereby easily catched with passive methods.It´s local food at its best; delicious natural ingredients combined with the joy and…
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Scent of spring
During this time of year when the snow melts at accelerating speed and the lakes and ponds are released from their long icy captivity, there´s definitely a recognizable scent of spring in the air. Soon we will be enjoying from the constant buzzing of different insects and the daily concerts of dozens of nesting birds….
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Local communities and urbanization
Urbanization is accelerating as is the abandonment of the countryside, this post is a short article about my thoughts concerning local communities and urbanization. At this very moment, every month seven million of us human beings move to live their lives in the urban environment. Living in the middle of concrete, under high pressure sodium…
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