Discovering Fishers

In Last Child in the Woods, author Richard Louv makes the case that we, as suburbanites, are suffering from “Nature Deficit Disorder.” This deficiency causes our lives to be less fulfilling. We at Greenerfishers.org want our visitors to discover their community, and according to Louv, “it takes going out the front door to discover your community.” We heartily agree. We recommend this book as a path to understanding that experiencing nature is not a privilege— it’s a necessary part of becoming a part of the place where we live.

This is a great book to help fathers get better at their jobs. Fatherhood can feel overwhelming at times because of all the responsibilities and all the pressure that comes with the role. For the times when it is necessary to take a step back, relax, and realize how enjoyable fatherhood can and should be, this book suggests 101 “secrets” to share with a son or daughter. Many of these ideas involve the outdoors, such as:

• How to catch a frog
• How to get the honey out of a honeysuckle
• How to identify a poisonous snake *
• How to get a cricket to tell you the temperature
• How to tell a moth from a butterfly
• How to pick up a crab
• How to paddle a canoe
• How to skip a rock

Ironically, the last line of the book is “always listen to your mother.” That would make for a good secret #102.

* Of course, that should be venomous, since no snakes are actually poisonous! Poison is used to discourage predators, while venom is used to catch prey.