122 ~ A birthday! And some thanks.
It was five years ago today that the first "Bird in the Bush" post went up, the first chronicle of life lived on a smaller ecological footprint. And now, 122 posts, one pandemic, and three US presidential administrations later, we're still here. Thank you, dear readers. My goal was to write and share about two posts per month, and I'm happy and grateful I've been able to deliver - and thank you for following along. The Bird wouldn't still be here without you.
The world has changed in some ways since that first post, but the oak woods are still here, the vegetable gardens go on, and trout still swim in the streams. That is, we've still got some of the priorities covered.
I'd be most grateful if you would consider wishing "A Bird in the Bush" a happy birthday with a modest contribution to the blog. As you may recall, I resolutely keep the blog free from advertising, or links to the surveillance capitalism of X, Facebook and the like, and I will never share your email. Consequently, your direct, voluntary contribution is all that supports this modest chronicle of life closer to the land, including things like the platform fees. Please consider sending a birthday wish by clicking on the "Support" button above (any amount welcome!) - thank you.
And as always, please share these posts with anyone else you think might enjoy them.
What's next? I'll keep the blog going -Nature and the land here are abundant, and thus also are their stories. But I plan to start bringing in some other voices. You've listened to my yammering aplenty, and it's time to mix things up with some other voices, other perspectives on living with the Earth. Consequently, as "A Bird in the Bush" keeps flying in 2025, look for more frequent guest posts by others.
And also, please feel free to put in the Comments below suggestions for other things you would like to see - more recipes, perhaps?? Book reviews? Just let me know.
I'll start this next phase of expanded guest content with a few words by Edward Abbey, from Desert Solitaire (1968):
"All men are brothers, we like to say, half-wishing sometimes in secret it were not true. But perhaps it is true. And is the evolutionary line from protozoan to Spinoza any less certain? That also may be true. We are obliged, therefore, to spread the news, painful and bitter though it may be for some to hear, that all living things on earth are kindred."
Finally, here’s a review in pictures - a selection of images from the past five years of posts (the number below each image is the post #, in case you’d like to revisit). It’s been a fine, fine journey. “What you choose to eat directly reflects the quality of your days.” -Jim Harrison.
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96 This artwork sums it up well - the last five years of life here on the land in community with many of you.