Preparing to Live with the Natural World

doodah · 09-24-2008, 02:45 AM

Moving from the Unnatural to the Natural: Are you prepared?

How do you feel about bugs and snakes, scorpions and fleas? When you think of moving to a rural Radiant Zone, have you checked out the inhabitants of the local Natural World? Do you know what already lives where you are headed?

A Radiant Zone is not just a place of survival. It is a place that begins new, with new ideas about community. Humans are also part of the larger community of all life on this planet, which includes all manner of insects, bugs, reptiles, spiders, snakes, mammals, etc. Have you thought about how you will co-exist with these other creatures, especially if you are coming from a city?

Cities are largely unnatural places, sanitized environments. All Natural life has been killed off, except perhaps rats and houseflies. But the rural world is very different, very alive. Have you thought about how you will make peace with the land and everything that lives on it? Much can be learned by slowing down and studying what comes to you on the land. Learn their ways, give respect where respect is due.

This thread is dedicated to raising awareness about this aspect of rural Radiant Zones. I invite people from different areas of the country/world to talk about what the Natural World is like for them on a day to day basis. There will be magnificent sunsets and spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities, but there is also much common sense needed about this topic. In the US, your local Cooperative Extension office will have people whose job it is to answer questions about anything and everything. Call them! That's what they're there for.

Southwestern Virginia:
I will begin by describing some of the lifeforms I have made peace with where I live in southwestern Virginia. There are many living creatures around me, not all of them friendly, and even the friendlier ones can sometimes be troublesome.

First line of defense: Basically I have a little conversation with everybody. I tell all these creatures they can live wherever they want to, but not in my house. They have plenty of space. I don't want their lives, just my own peace.

My second line of defense is a homemade spray made from graywater with any kind of soap and some vinegar. If need be, I spray aggressive flying insects. The soap coats their wings, not enough to kill them, but they have to go off somewhere to clean their wings. That gets rid of them for the moment. They will be back, but they do seem to learn to avoid certain places, like my front porch. This spray also works on mosquitoes; it collapses their wings and kills them.

Third line of defense: Caulking. Fill every hole you can find in your house, even tiny ones. You can use any kind of fill, doesn't have to be oil-derivative plastic or vinyl caulks you find in tubes in the stores. Even wet newspaper will work, it dries hard as a rock; or use rags covered over with plaster of Paris. This will also be of benefit in the winter, because every opening you fill to keep out bugs will also keep out cold winds.

Chiggers and Ticks: These are picked up from certain plants and also just walking around in the woods. Chiggers make you itch. They are very small and can't usually be seen. Ticks suck your blood and can carry disease. I kill these.

Grubs - fat, white, worm-like pupa stage of the Japanese beetles, found in the soil, destructive to plants. Many foraging birds "grub" for these in the ground.

Granddaddy long-legs - not a true spider; these hang around my front door. They seem to hang in family groups, frequently two adults and a few young ones. They are not harmful, don't bite (well, really they do but their bite doesn't penetrate human skin). They get into the house if I don't keep them cleared. I give them a free flight into the yard by getting a stick under them and giving them a flip.

Mosquitoes: I kill these and have tight screens on my windows. One adult lays thousands of eggs in a 7-day cycle of birth to death. They breed in only a teaspoon of water, so keep all standing water cleared out.

I wear long sleeves, socks, and long pants when it's cool enough outside. I also have a "bug suit" which I made. It is lightweight white cotton, so I can see anything crawling on it, with tight closings at wrist and ankle. I wear this when mowing the yard if mosquitoes are still around rather than using sprays.

Snakes - all kinds and everywhere. Most are harmless, but there are a few poisonous (but not very plentiful) varieties, including rattlesnakes and the occasional water moccasin or cottonmouth. We sometimes find snakes in the basement and attic, in the creek, in the yard. Study and learn which is which.

Spiders: Most spiders are not harmful, but many will bite and a few are deadly. It is almost impossible to keep spiders out of the house. Even window screening is not fine enough to prevent very tiny spiders from entering, or tiny young ones. It is best to study and identify the spiders that come to you, to know if you need to be afraid of them or not.

Wasps, yellowjackets, European and Bald-faced hornets - It's best not to swat at any of these creatures, just let them be unless they are attacking you. If you're being attacked, run.

* By and large wasps won't hurt you.

* Yellowjackets, however, need a wide berth, particularly if you're using a lawnmower. They don't like the vibration and possibly the noise. They build nests in the ground and cut you no slack if they are disturbed. They will attack and sting you.

* European hornets are big and can be aggressive if you mess with them. Just let them fly on by.

* Don't ever mess with a bald-faced hornet. You'll be sorry, and pretty quickly!

Wireworms - destructive root-eating hard-bodied worms found in the soil. Just let them be.

Bugs in the house:
Ladybugs, which sometimes gather in the thousands in the fall and will invade homes. I collect them and take them to the woods. Some people have had to vacuum them up, there are so many and they are so persistent.

Boxelder beetles - ditto - these will gather by the hundreds in tight clusters, usually outdoors on the warm south side of the house. Tractor grease painted on the gathering places will deter them. They don't like getting the grease on their feet.

Stinkbugs - can accumulate in large numbers also. Not harmful, but do stink if you squash them. I collect them and release them away from the house.

Earwigs - not harmful, will get into foods and other things. They can be anywhere in the house. They don't bite.

Raccoons, Opposums, Bears, Coyotes
They're usually after food. I keep my food scraps in the freezer until garbage pick-up day. Never keep pet foods outside. You'll get visitors!

astraya · 09-24-2008, 02:46 AM

BEST CASE SCENARIO: We communicate with the animals & "vermin" and we don't have to worry about them harming us or vice versa. :-)

doodah · 09-24-2008, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astraya

BEST CASE SCENARIO: We communicate with the animals & "vermin" and we don't have to worry about them harming us or vice versa. :-)

Good thought! But I have never convinced a Yellowjacket not to sting me! I'd rather just not disturb them!

Racsouran · 09-24-2008, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doodah

Good thought! But I have never convinced a Yellowjacket not to sting me! I'd rather just not disturb them!

i suppose there must be a very psyquical background for you to be able to communicate with animals,

LOST IN SOUL · 09-24-2008, 06:59 AM

sorry i deleted mine. i missed the point.

MargueriteBee · 09-24-2008, 07:15 AM

I love spiders and snakes. I used to have a pet turantula. I love the little bugs that live in my flower pot sitting next to me. They never bother me and I leave them in peace. IMHO it's all in your attitude and acceptance level.

doodah · 09-24-2008, 05:45 PM

I'm sure you're right, Marguerite and I can see you are already attuned.

That's exactly the understanding that is needed, and that may come to many with time. But, as I said, I've never successfully convinced an angry yellowjacket to not sting me. To know where they live and what to look out for seems to me good information to have.

I only kill mosquitoes and ticks. But a thousand ladybugs in my house, as much as I love them, is also not a welcome event.

I was hoping in this thread to share practical information with people who may not be attuned as you are, or have experience with these Natural creatures. So many people are thinking of relocating from city to country without ever having had a single encounter with any other life form than people and cockroaches. There is so much more life out here in the country! At the very least, this thread was meant to get people thinking about this aspect of what they might be planning.

The assortment of Natural Life I commented on is particular to this area. I encourage people from other areas to share what the Natural World is like where they live. It varies from place to place. No alligators here! But what is a reasonable way to deal with alligators if you need to?

Dantheman62 · 09-24-2008, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doodah

I'm sure you're right, Marguerite and I can see you are already attuned.

That's exactly the understanding that is needed, and that may come to many with time. But, as I said, I've never successfully convinced an angry yellowjacket to not sting me. To know where they live and what to look out for seems to me good information to have.

I only kill mosquitoes and ticks. But a thousand ladybugs in my house, as much as I love them, is also not a welcome event.

I was hoping in this thread to share practical information with people who may not be attuned as you are, or have experience with these Natural creatures. So many people are thinking of relocating from city to country without ever having had a single encounter with any other life form than people and cockroaches. There is so much more life out here in the country! At the very least, this thread was meant to get people thinking about this aspect of what they might be planning.

The assortment of Natural Life I commented on is particular to this area. I encourage people from other areas to share what the Natural World is like where they live. It varies from place to place. No alligators here! But what is a reasonable way to deal with alligators if you need to?

Hey D, it's a great topic, alot of city folk who might relocate to the country have no idea what they're getting into. I think just alittle prep is needed, it'll help in the long run. PEACE!

doodah · 09-24-2008, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racsouran

i suppose there must be a very psyquical background for you to be able to communicate with animals,

Hi Racsouran,

Maybe some part of it is psychical, but much of it is a willingness to look and listen, and slow down long enough to observe and appreciate. Most lifeforms are very beautiful, and I think that appreciation is a bridge to connect with them.

As a child I had many experiences of connecting with animals in such a way as to discover their personalities ... what a water bug might be thinking, what it's interested in, for instance. I learned their habits by watching and studying them, and learned that they communicate non-verbally by behaviors and actions. When you can read the signs, the animals tell you many things.

Peace of Mine · 09-28-2008, 12:26 AM

For years, I lived quite content in the Appalachian mountains on the North Carolina/Georgia border, making peace with the noisy crickets who sought warmth in the winter, or lady bugs so prolific they had to be vacuumed up. I got used to my cat bringing a copperhead snake on the patio so I could praise her hunting skills. A neighbor reached into a hen’s nest and surprised a copperhead. She survived.

You learn to take sensible precautions, and pay attention to everything. One chigger attack will teach you to rub on Neem Oil, wear long sleeves and pants with rubber bands before going berry picking. Ticks require vigilance.

What is the difference in adjusting to heavy traffic and “people” noises and petty crime that plague any city?

Today, we live on a sailboat "off the grid." The wind and the sun run the laptop and the PC card, lights, tv, and the top-load refrigeration that is so power-efficient. We can live for weeks without going to the grocery store, and horde the water supply with ease.

It is liberating to use our bikes and kayaks as our transportation system, or take a trolley for 25 cents. Whatever we need, including the best of farmer’s markets, is within reach of our bikes and our boat.

An unexpected bonus is how much I feel one with the earth. I am aware of the wind speed and direction, whether it is sunny or cloudy or rainy, what phase the moon is in, and how hot or humid it is. Or when a Norther, or Hurricane, is blowing through. Fish jump, a Manatee brushes against the boat, dolphins announce themselves with their blows.

A jelly fish explosion tells me how much pollution lurks in the water. Dirt and the chemical stew from agricultural run-off ruin a pristine beach within a day of the Okeechobee release. Thoughtless humans, hordes of them, have no respect for live starfish, or rare seahorses, or sand dollars exposed by the out-going tide.

I share my world with my grandchildren. Can they learn reverence for each tiny critter by watching me pick my way through the maze of live sand dollars, careful not to step and destroy?

doodah · 09-28-2008, 12:45 AM

Thank you, Peace of Mine, beautifully said! Paying attention and appreciating. It's the Earth path!

09-24-2008, 02:45 AM	#1
doodah Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 373	Preparing to Live with the Natural World Moving from the Unnatural to the Natural: Are you prepared? How do you feel about bugs and snakes, scorpions and fleas? When you think of moving to a rural Radiant Zone, have you checked out the inhabitants of the local Natural World? Do you know what already lives where you are headed? A Radiant Zone is not just a place of survival. It is a place that begins new, with new ideas about community. Humans are also part of the larger community of all life on this planet, which includes all manner of insects, bugs, reptiles, spiders, snakes, mammals, etc. Have you thought about how you will co-exist with these other creatures, especially if you are coming from a city? Cities are largely unnatural places, sanitized environments. All Natural life has been killed off, except perhaps rats and houseflies. But the rural world is very different, very alive. Have you thought about how you will make peace with the land and everything that lives on it? Much can be learned by slowing down and studying what comes to you on the land. Learn their ways, give respect where respect is due. This thread is dedicated to raising awareness about this aspect of rural Radiant Zones. I invite people from different areas of the country/world to talk about what the Natural World is like for them on a day to day basis. There will be magnificent sunsets and spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities, but there is also much common sense needed about this topic. In the US, your local Cooperative Extension office will have people whose job it is to answer questions about anything and everything. Call them! That's what they're there for. Southwestern Virginia: I will begin by describing some of the lifeforms I have made peace with where I live in southwestern Virginia. There are many living creatures around me, not all of them friendly, and even the friendlier ones can sometimes be troublesome. First line of defense: Basically I have a little conversation with everybody. I tell all these creatures they can live wherever they want to, but not in my house. They have plenty of space. I don't want their lives, just my own peace. My second line of defense is a homemade spray made from graywater with any kind of soap and some vinegar. If need be, I spray aggressive flying insects. The soap coats their wings, not enough to kill them, but they have to go off somewhere to clean their wings. That gets rid of them for the moment. They will be back, but they do seem to learn to avoid certain places, like my front porch. This spray also works on mosquitoes; it collapses their wings and kills them. Third line of defense: Caulking. Fill every hole you can find in your house, even tiny ones. You can use any kind of fill, doesn't have to be oil-derivative plastic or vinyl caulks you find in tubes in the stores. Even wet newspaper will work, it dries hard as a rock; or use rags covered over with plaster of Paris. This will also be of benefit in the winter, because every opening you fill to keep out bugs will also keep out cold winds. Chiggers and Ticks: These are picked up from certain plants and also just walking around in the woods. Chiggers make you itch. They are very small and can't usually be seen. Ticks suck your blood and can carry disease. I kill these. Grubs - fat, white, worm-like pupa stage of the Japanese beetles, found in the soil, destructive to plants. Many foraging birds "grub" for these in the ground. Granddaddy long-legs - not a true spider; these hang around my front door. They seem to hang in family groups, frequently two adults and a few young ones. They are not harmful, don't bite (well, really they do but their bite doesn't penetrate human skin). They get into the house if I don't keep them cleared. I give them a free flight into the yard by getting a stick under them and giving them a flip. Mosquitoes: I kill these and have tight screens on my windows. One adult lays thousands of eggs in a 7-day cycle of birth to death. They breed in only a teaspoon of water, so keep all standing water cleared out. I wear long sleeves, socks, and long pants when it's cool enough outside. I also have a "bug suit" which I made. It is lightweight white cotton, so I can see anything crawling on it, with tight closings at wrist and ankle. I wear this when mowing the yard if mosquitoes are still around rather than using sprays. Snakes - all kinds and everywhere. Most are harmless, but there are a few poisonous (but not very plentiful) varieties, including rattlesnakes and the occasional water moccasin or cottonmouth. We sometimes find snakes in the basement and attic, in the creek, in the yard. Study and learn which is which. Spiders: Most spiders are not harmful, but many will bite and a few are deadly. It is almost impossible to keep spiders out of the house. Even window screening is not fine enough to prevent very tiny spiders from entering, or tiny young ones. It is best to study and identify the spiders that come to you, to know if you need to be afraid of them or not. Wasps, yellowjackets, European and Bald-faced hornets - It's best not to swat at any of these creatures, just let them be unless they are attacking you. If you're being attacked, run. * By and large wasps won't hurt you. * Yellowjackets, however, need a wide berth, particularly if you're using a lawnmower. They don't like the vibration and possibly the noise. They build nests in the ground and cut you no slack if they are disturbed. They will attack and sting you. * European hornets are big and can be aggressive if you mess with them. Just let them fly on by. * Don't ever mess with a bald-faced hornet. You'll be sorry, and pretty quickly! Wireworms - destructive root-eating hard-bodied worms found in the soil. Just let them be. Bugs in the house: Ladybugs, which sometimes gather in the thousands in the fall and will invade homes. I collect them and take them to the woods. Some people have had to vacuum them up, there are so many and they are so persistent. Boxelder beetles - ditto - these will gather by the hundreds in tight clusters, usually outdoors on the warm south side of the house. Tractor grease painted on the gathering places will deter them. They don't like getting the grease on their feet. Stinkbugs - can accumulate in large numbers also. Not harmful, but do stink if you squash them. I collect them and release them away from the house. Earwigs - not harmful, will get into foods and other things. They can be anywhere in the house. They don't bite. Raccoons, Opposums, Bears, Coyotes They're usually after food. I keep my food scraps in the freezer until garbage pick-up day. Never keep pet foods outside. You'll get visitors!

09-24-2008, 02:46 AM	#2
astraya Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 28	Re: Preparing to Live with the Natural World BEST CASE SCENARIO: We communicate with the animals & "vermin" and we don't have to worry about them harming us or vice versa. :-)

09-24-2008, 06:59 AM	#5
LOST IN SOUL Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Newy, The land the illuminati forgot Posts: 26	Re: Preparing to Live with the Natural World sorry i deleted mine. i missed the point. Last edited by LOST IN SOUL; 09-24-2008 at 06:11 PM.

09-24-2008, 07:15 AM	#6
MargueriteBee Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 216	Re: Preparing to Live with the Natural World I love spiders and snakes. I used to have a pet turantula. I love the little bugs that live in my flower pot sitting next to me. They never bother me and I leave them in peace. IMHO it's all in your attitude and acceptance level.

09-24-2008, 05:45 PM	#7
doodah Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 373	Re: Preparing to Live with the Natural World I'm sure you're right, Marguerite and I can see you are already attuned. That's exactly the understanding that is needed, and that may come to many with time. But, as I said, I've never successfully convinced an angry yellowjacket to not sting me. To know where they live and what to look out for seems to me good information to have. I only kill mosquitoes and ticks. But a thousand ladybugs in my house, as much as I love them, is also not a welcome event. I was hoping in this thread to share practical information with people who may not be attuned as you are, or have experience with these Natural creatures. So many people are thinking of relocating from city to country without ever having had a single encounter with any other life form than people and cockroaches. There is so much more life out here in the country! At the very least, this thread was meant to get people thinking about this aspect of what they might be planning. The assortment of Natural Life I commented on is particular to this area. I encourage people from other areas to share what the Natural World is like where they live. It varies from place to place. No alligators here! But what is a reasonable way to deal with alligators if you need to?

09-28-2008, 12:26 AM	#10
Peace of Mine Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 23	Re: Preparing to Live with the Natural World For years, I lived quite content in the Appalachian mountains on the North Carolina/Georgia border, making peace with the noisy crickets who sought warmth in the winter, or lady bugs so prolific they had to be vacuumed up. I got used to my cat bringing a copperhead snake on the patio so I could praise her hunting skills. A neighbor reached into a hen’s nest and surprised a copperhead. She survived. You learn to take sensible precautions, and pay attention to everything. One chigger attack will teach you to rub on Neem Oil, wear long sleeves and pants with rubber bands before going berry picking. Ticks require vigilance. What is the difference in adjusting to heavy traffic and “people” noises and petty crime that plague any city? Today, we live on a sailboat "off the grid." The wind and the sun run the laptop and the PC card, lights, tv, and the top-load refrigeration that is so power-efficient. We can live for weeks without going to the grocery store, and horde the water supply with ease. It is liberating to use our bikes and kayaks as our transportation system, or take a trolley for 25 cents. Whatever we need, including the best of farmer’s markets, is within reach of our bikes and our boat. An unexpected bonus is how much I feel one with the earth. I am aware of the wind speed and direction, whether it is sunny or cloudy or rainy, what phase the moon is in, and how hot or humid it is. Or when a Norther, or Hurricane, is blowing through. Fish jump, a Manatee brushes against the boat, dolphins announce themselves with their blows. A jelly fish explosion tells me how much pollution lurks in the water. Dirt and the chemical stew from agricultural run-off ruin a pristine beach within a day of the Okeechobee release. Thoughtless humans, hordes of them, have no respect for live starfish, or rare seahorses, or sand dollars exposed by the out-going tide. I share my world with my grandchildren. Can they learn reverence for each tiny critter by watching me pick my way through the maze of live sand dollars, careful not to step and destroy?

09-28-2008, 12:45 AM	#11
doodah Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 373	Re: Preparing to Live with the Natural World Thank you, Peace of Mine, beautifully said! Paying attention and appreciating. It's the Earth path!