We harvest trees for various practical purposes – lumber, furniture, paper, writing utensils, boats, signs, musical instruments, crates, boxes, cellophane, adhesive, and more. Most trees are harvested for valuable and long-lasting purposes, while the Christmas Tree has no purpose other than to act as a fleeting ornament. This time of year, millions of Balsam, Douglas, and Fraser Fir trees are chopped from the earth, exchanged for pulp dollar bills, and hauled home. The cut tree is carefully positioned indoors and embellished with lights, ornaments, and ribbon, marking the once-living tree […]
Yearly Archives: 2010
38 posts
“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.”— Gaylord Nelson There are so many ways we can minimize our impact. Here are a few things that we practice here at Outdoor Herbivore. Clothing and Gear Purchase, sell or swap used outdoor gear at Gear Trade (USA). Buy less clothing by purchasing higher-quality items that will last longer. Look for lightweight, compressible and durable fabrics. Items made or blended with polyester, nylon, hemp, spandex (lycra), or wool are […]
Chia seeds offer extensive value for the lightweight backpacker. Here’s why: Tiny and lightweight with a storage life of up to 5 years. Require no cooking. Chia seeds are great for making cold-soaked pudding, cereal, or smoothies. Chia Seed High Energy Content: 140 Calories per 1.0 oz (28.35 g) or 2 TB. Have a good nutrient profile with omega-3 fat, dietary fiber, phosphorous, and calcium. How to Eat Chia You can eat chia seeds by cold soaking them in water, sprinkling them on oats and other meals, or sprouting them. […]
For long-distance backpackers, the importance of consuming high-calorie vegetarian fats cannot be overstated. You can burn up to 5,000 calories daily when you’re backpacking in mountainous terrain. Because fat provides the highest source of calories by weight, hikers should consume more fat to account for lost calories. But it’s not just about energy. Fats also play a vital role in insulating your body, supporting immunity and brain health, and aiding in the absorption of vitamins you get from food. They even act as carriers for fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and […]
It is sensible to carry a foldable paper map as a reliable backup to your GPS device when hiking in an unfamiliar wilderness. Our experience is that not all trail maps are created equal. Here are a few of our thoughts after traveling countless trail miles over the years and examining their accuracy – First Choice: Maps printed by the US Government Outdoor Herbivore’s first choice among hiking maps is the USFS (United States Forest Service) maps. These maps provide an accurate summary of each trail (main features, distance, and level of […]