Ep 27: Arthur Haines on Rewilding Ourselves

Arthur Haines is a hunting and recreation guide, forager, ancestral skills mentor, author, public speaker, and botanical researcher. He grew up in the western mountains of Maine, a rural area that was home to swift streams known for their trout fishing. He spent most of his childhood in the Sandy River Valley hiking, tracking, and foraging. 

Arthur now runs the Delta Institute of Natural History in Canton, Maine, where he teaches human ecology, focusing on the values of foraging, wildcrafting medicine, and primitive living skills. He continues to spend a great deal of his free time practicing his skills as a modern hunter-gatherer. 

In 2017, he authored "A New Path", a comprehensive work on nature connection and rewilding, detailing how to incorporate ancestral practices into modern living. As a research botanist for the Native Plant Trust, he completed an inclusive flora of the New England region titled "Flora Novae Angliae" and has authored over twenty publications in peer-reviewed journals and books, including naming species of plants new to science. His series of YouTube videos has inspired thousands of people interested in foraging wild edible and medicinal plants. 

Quotes:

"Don't jump to a solution."

"There's consequences to people going into the wilderness, but there is greater consequence to people staying in the city." 

Topics Discussed:

Definition of a hunter-gatherer The progress cultureThe four C's:ComfortConvenience ClassCulpabilityArthur's upbringing & the wildernessUsing grief as a motivatorThe loss of various speciesSoil depletionThoughts on war, famine & pestilence The waning number of huntersRewilding our lands & wilderness degradation Conserve & not preserveRewilding in the East vs. the WestBecoming apathetic toward the outdoorsEuropean vs. American mindset on building things The importance of leisureAncestral foods The three sisters: corn, squash & beans Chronic disease & wild foodsFire & its effect on civilization

Resources Mentioned:

Website: Arthur HainesBook: A New PathBooks: Tom Brown JrTED Talk: What's Wrong with our Conservation Paradigm Facebook: Arthur Haines Community Facebook Page: Wilder Waters CommunityPodcast: ReWild YourselfPodcast: Wellness MamaPodcast: WildFed

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