Nature Philosophy – Learn Your Land

Humans Don’t Consciously Need Nature

Adam Haritan — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:45:11 +0000

There’s a question that runs through my mind almost every single day: Why do things look the way that they do? Of course, I’m mostly referring to why things in nature objectively look a certain way — why a particular forest is coniferous, or why calcium-loving plants grow in certain wetlands. I think a lot […]

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To Squash Or Not To Squash: Musings On Invasive Species

Adam Haritan — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 19:17:37 +0000

The devil was on one shoulder. An angel on the other. Both were telling me how to proceed, but I couldn’t decipher which voice belonged to which entity. “Cut the bag open,” one voice instructed. “Leave it alone,” said the other. Apparently my former sense of good and evil was blurred. Who was the devil, […]

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A Prescription For Swans

Adam Haritan — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 13:51:05 +0000

The arrival of spring can easily be seen on a lake. Melting ice, blossoming poplars, and migrating waterfowl are among its most faithful signs. Like an unerring calendar, the lake reminds us that the darkest days have expired and a season of growth awaits. While walking the shores of a local lake one chilly morning, […]

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The Miracle Of Woodpeckers

Adam Haritan — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 13:01:57 +0000

A few weeks ago, I decided to explore a familiar wooded area located only a few miles from home. I didn’t have any particular goal in mind other than to enjoy a rainy afternoon in the company of blooming plants and trees. Two hours of botanizing had passed before I headed back to the trailhead, […]

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What Could Be More Important Than A Wildflower?

Adam Haritan — Sun, 15 May 2016 04:00:00 +0000

That’s an interesting question — one I don’t remember seeing on any of my plant biology exams. Where would your list begin? Where would it end? How in the world could nothing be more important than a wildflower? These are all great questions with no easy answers. Still, it’s quite profound that such a humble entity […]

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Nature Connection Through Foraged Food And Medicine

Adam Haritan — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Much of the knowledge involved in the procurement of wild food has been dampened over several generations, though don’t be misled — this wisdom is still important and relevant in the 21st century. Here’s the reality: The number of global environmental transgressions is increasing and the negative effects on the land are becoming dismally apparent. […]

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Foraging For Wild Medicines And The Importance Of A Medicinal Strategy

Adam Haritan — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 04:00:00 +0000

There’s no doubt about it — plants are (extremely!) valuable members of their ecosystems. They provide food for animals, shelter for wildlife, nutrients for the soil, and oxygen for many organisms. Of course, this list could quite possibly fill an entire library of books, and as time moves forward, more plant/ecosystem interactions will likely be discovered. […]

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Eating Wild For Exceptional Health

Adam Haritan — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Hunt. Gather. Eat. Sounds a bit antiquated, doesn’t it? We all know that loincloths went out of style centuries ago. And besides, what are grocery stores for, anyway? You see, as convenient as it is to purchase all of our food today from supermarkets, restaurants, convenience stores, pizzerias, etc., we may be doing our bodies […]

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Hang Out In A Place Like This, And It’ll All Make Sense

Adam Haritan — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 05:00:00 +0000

May I ask you a question? If you close your eyes and imagine yourself fully relaxed and stress-free, incredibly content with the feeling of complete freedom — where would that be? What would your surroundings look like? For some of us, the beach comes to mind. For others, the mountains are calling. And without a […]

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Learn Your Land With Gary Lincoff And The Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club

Adam Haritan — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 04:00:00 +0000

September is a great month for the Pennsylvanian mushroom hunter. The cooler temperatures and autumn rains provide favorable conditions that allow some of the choicest edible mushrooms – for example, chicks, hens, and honeys – to fruit in mass quantities. Perhaps just as exciting (or even more so!) to the Pennsylvanian mushroom hunter this time […]

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Foraging With Jennifer Pharr Davis – Hiker, Author, & Speaker

Adam Haritan — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 04:00:00 +0000

Jennifer Pharr Davis is a real powerhouse. She’s an author, hiker, speaker, and business owner who is passionate about the outdoors. In 2011, she broke the overall Appalachian Trail record by completing the entire 2,100+ miles in just over 46 days. Every year (several times a year!), she embarks on tours across the country in […]

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Learn Your Land With Mike Douglas From The Maine Primitive Skills School

Adam Haritan — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 04:00:00 +0000

“Be careful what you say in the woods, for often it is true.” And so began the 2-day primitive skills workshop led by a barefooted Mike Douglas of the Maine Primitive Skills School. The event was hosted by Kathryn Cardinal and her partner, Ian Thunder, on their beautiful land in Northwestern Pennsylvania. A fresh water […]

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