Commentary
MAKING RIPPLES: It’s A Jungle Out There
Go outside in different weather for different experience Our “Natural State” of Arkansas is as interesting as any exotic jungle. And like many explorers who endure extreme weather as they
Amanda Bancroft: Winter pond provides peek at surprising passerby
AMANDA BANCROFT Making Ripples One bitterly cold day in February, we decided to check the pond for migrating flocks that might have gotten stranded here during the blizzard. Two dozen
Pioneer Adventures: Winter storm wasn’t easy off the grid
AMANDA BANCROFT Making Ripples Whether we get our electricity, heat and other utilities from a grid system maintained by a city or off the grid maintained by ourselves, winter storms
To Stack Or Not To Stack?
What some consider art, others call vandalism AMANDA BANCROFT Making Ripples Editor’s Note: Amanda Bancroft is busy dealing with living off-grid in a major winter storm. This column first ran
Environmental Ups And Downs
AMANDA BANCROFT Making Ripples The journey to move off the utility grid into a solar-powered cabin has so absorbed the bulk of our time over the past three years that
A Solitary, Resilient Heron
Big birds adapt to changing weather and diet AMANDA BANCROFT Making Ripples Driveways are runways to some with wings. A great blue heron once flew past our cabin windows, just
Let There Be Light!
Solar lanterns celebrate lengthening of days AMANDA BANCROFT Making Ripples Twilight is even more magical now that solar lanterns are part of our off-grid cabin. As the sunset fades, each
Let In Light And Air
Candle choices make a difference to environment AMANDA BANCROFT Making Ripples Candles make great ambiance and brighten dark winter days. But some of them are not very cheery when you
Bluebird Smackdown
Friends at night, birds may squabble by day AMANDA BANCROFT Making Ripples The bleak wintry landscape of hay-colored hills and bare branches is suddenly interrupted by flashes of deep blue,
Choosing The ‘Right’ Path
Thought required before creating a new trail AMANDA BANCROFT Making Ripples There are many paths in life that could be considered the “right” path. Everyone has the right to create
