The forest got quiet, the stove finally drew right, and our maps changed overnight. We’re gearing up for a northern chaga harvest and bringing you into the decisions that make or break a trip: who’s coming, what to pack, and how new logging roads, landings, and skidders can open a backcountry maze if you know how to read them. We walk through the trade-offs between staying unplugged and bringing Starlink to keep the crew connected and safe, and we test a drone as a scouting tool to spot birch stands before burning miles on bad trails.

Gear talk gets real: climbing with spurs and a double-lanyard system, using a specialty hatchet and pinch bar to leave trees healthy, and catching heavy conks in haul bags to protect the harvest. We share a complete curing routine—why canvas beats plastic, why you cut within 24 hours, and how to hand-clean for a smoother cup—to help you turn fieldwork into quality tea or coffee add-ins. A long-time user drops a candid testimonial, and there’s a simple code you can use if you want to try chaga yourself.

Then we pivot from forest floors to foundations. Garrett, working as a rodbuster on a major hospital expansion in Red Deer, breaks down piles, footings, crane bases, and why rebar is the skeletal strength inside concrete. You’ll learn how tension, shear, and compression play together in bridges and slabs, and how those same principles inform a smarter sauna base with reinforced drainage on exposed shield rock. Along the way, we even decode why highway sweepers matter more than you think and how veneer logs become plywood after a steam and spin.

If you love practical backcountry systems, modern field tools, and hard-won building insights, this one’s for you.

What if your next good night’s sleep, calmer joints, or steadier digestion starts with a mug and a handful of leaves? We dive under the canopy with herbalist Penelope of The Ginkgo Tree to turn everyday plants into practical tools—no mystique, just methods you can trust. Jerry kicks things off by tackling the most common chaga questions—how to brew it in drip coffee, what grind to use, and why harvest timing matters—before we expand into a wider, grounded guide to home herbalism you can start this week.

Penelope shares how to identify and harvest safely, when to take roots versus leaves and flowers, and how to dry or tincture without ruining your hard work. We explore simple, high-impact teas: chamomile for sleep, nettle for nutrition and inflammation, ginger and peppermint for digestion, echinacea and elderberry syrup for immune support. You’ll learn why turmeric needs fat (and often pepper) to actually work, how chicory and roasted dandelion support the liver and gut, and why variety—dozens of plants over a month—feeds resilience in a way single-ingredient routines can’t.

We also step into the kitchen and the field. Sumac moves from trail-side shrub to za’atar spice and lemonade, paired with clear safety tips to avoid poison look-alikes. A quick guide to poultices, a DIY dandelion oil you can make on a windowsill, and straightforward drying and storage methods bring the craft home. Along the way, we talk plant ethics—cultivating at-risk species like golden seal, leaning on reputable growers, and using field guides and mentors to build confidence. Expect practical detours too: a chaga-and-green-tea blood pressure testimonial, black garlic’s sweet surprise, and a comfrey trick for a dog’s hot spots that might save your vet bill.

If you’ve been curious about herbal medicine but unsure where to start, this is your map: clear steps, real-world recipes, and a mindset that values safety, observation, and respect for the land.

Ever wanted to move through the woods with real confidence—no glowing screen, no second-guessing, just clear decisions and steady steps? That’s the energy fueling this week’s journey under the canopy, where we blend a love of seasonal living with the practical art of orienteering and a thoughtful look at chaga’s place in everyday wellness.

We kick things off in early-fall Ontario: an off-grid chaga camp to prep, a simple generator humming at night, and a grocery plan for a rotating crew of helpers. The home apothecary is buzzing—apples, mints, sage, lemon balm, sumac, mullein, burdock, and milk thistle are all in play as we build a winter toolkit from the land. Then we welcome Nevin French, president of Orienteering Ontario, who unpacks the sport’s core: reading hyper-detailed maps, using a thumb compass as a tool (not a crutch), and choosing routes that fit your strengths. We talk strategy, from “take seconds to save minutes” to relocating with big, reliable features like hills, creeks, and shorelines.

From local beginner courses to World Championships, orienteering thrives on community. You’ll hear how clubs across Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Collingwood, Parry Sound, and Kingston make navigation accessible, with loaner compasses, easy-to-learn maps, and events for families, hikers, and athletes alike. We touch on safety—whistles, tick awareness, smart footwear—and how GPS fits as a post-race learning tool, not as a navigator. There’s even a tour of unique experiences, like racing across the Bay of Fundy’s ocean floor at low tide and Hamilton’s Raid the Hammer along the Niagara Escarpment.

Threaded through the episode are grounded stories about chaga: field-tested routines, a father’s blood-pressure shift with daily tea, and an MS journey marked by improved clarity and gait. While everyone’s path is personal, the theme holds: nature teaches, if we pay attention. Ready to build your outdoor confidence and find your line through the woods? Press play, subscribe for new journeys each week, and share your best “got unlost” story with us in a review—your tips might guide the next listener into the forest with a steadier step.