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“Mother Culture,” an idea from Charlotte Mason and coined by Karen Andreola, simply encourages mothers to keep learning and growing, even while raising children. Andreola describes it this way:
Mother Culture® is a way-of-life, the skillful art of how a mother looks after the ways of her household. With a thinking-love she creates a culture in the home all her own. A mother does a lot of taking care, so she needs to take care of herself, too. Much depends on how she manages her life.
It’s been a long time since I’ve deeply pondered a work of literature. Since I don’t belong to a book club, I usually just read a book at face value and move on. Some effect me more deeply than others, but for the most part, I don’t take the time to hash out overarching themes and word choices and other literary things. Reading Home along with the Close Reads Podcast has been a fun change of pace and I’m really enjoying it. I read ahead and finished the book, but these are the two episodes I’ve listened to so far:
✔ ASSIGNMENT #2: Research edible plants that grow in my area.
Native fruit and nut trees can be grown to produce food for people and/or wildlife while protecting soil, water and air quality. Because they are multifunctional, native fruit and nut trees and shrubs are prime candidates for agroforestry plantings and home landscaping.
I found a really cool resource from Virginia Tech describing some of the edible fruit and nut trees that grow in my area. There’s everything from a black walnut tree to an Allegheny blackberry bramble to a pawpaw tree. I hope to take this knowledge and use it to purchase specific species of plants that will thrive here. Setting myself up for success!
✔ ASSIGNMENT #3: Buy the supplies needed to learn how to crochet.
And the two assignments I didn’t get to:
✘ ASSIGNMENT #4: Discover and listen to another new musician.
For October, I’m planning to circle back and finish the last two assignments. I also think I’ll take this month to finish the top of my hand-sewed scrap quilt before starting in on crochet lessons. One thing at a time, right? So October: a month for finishing what I’ve started. Here we go!
