Foxhollow Farm

Many thanks to John-Michael for guiding us through the Woodlands of Foxhollow Farm. Through his Wilderness Survival Skills Series we are learning how to build shelter, identify edible plants, make fire, and create natural cordage. Though John-Michael teaches Survival Skills, he does not  subscribe to a “Survival Mentality”. On the contrary, his classes foster a deep sense of connection to the earth and one another. “The time of the Lone wolf is over–we must now look to our community, our pack” –working together is an essential part of John-Michael’s teaching.

Throughout the past few months, John-Michael has shared with us the knowledge passed down to him from his teachers. He participated Lynx Vilden’s Four Season Prehistoric Project. With veteran teachers, he and a handful of others went through the process of shedding their modern layers: learning to hunt, fish and gather their food; to make the fire and the vessels necessary to cook in; To clothe, shelter and keep themselves warm; And, most importantly, how to live with a group of human beings under extreme conditions.His training continued with a journey to Africa, where he and a small group of trackers spent time with their mentor Jon Young and the Naro Bushmen of the Kalahari. Here he was given a most profound view of the world he so avidly works for: getting to know a people who live in balance with the land they call home.

We are delighted to have the opportunity to explore the woodlands here at Foxhollow, a key component to the health and vitality of our farm. Each time we venture out into the forest, I find myself more familiar with the native plants growing in the fields and along the woodland paths, and can now identify a handful of trees. Though this naturalist knowledge nourishes my desire to continually grow and learn, it is sitting around the fire, sharing warmth and good conversation with my fellow wilderness skills students that leaves me feeling so grateful for this land and the opportunity to come together and slow down.At the end of each class, John-Michael ask’s each student to reflect on the day. We each offer our “apple” (the thing we learned which was delicious and nourishing), and our “onion” (something we experienced that was not particularly enjoyable, but may prove to be  quite savory after it cooks for awhile). It is in this final circle where I am most inspired by the passionate people in our community and reassured that we are moving in the right direction.

“By aligning ourselves with the rhythms of nature, we can live and move in this world with greater ease. These teachings can be applied to anything from team management to city planning.”– John-Michael Musselman