Jun 20The Thighs of the Apocalypse — Nicole Sallak AndersonI stood at the bottom of the stairs, another load from the car ready to be carried up three flights. I’d stopped counting how many times I’d been up the stairs already — there were still several more loads in the car. It’s amazing how much I was able to…Climate Collapse7 min read
May 29Starting From Scratch — Nicole Sallak AndersonAfter two years of tending the land post-fire, we’re able to move forward with the second half of our plan-purchase a condo in Chicago near our families. I’ve written before about wanting to be closer to our elders as they age. Covid-19 has taught me that these days are precious…Recycled Furniture13 min read
May 5Asking the Bees — Nicole Sallak AndersonIt was a perfect day today to apply a “501 horn silica” biodynamic preparation on the land. A medicine best taken with sunrise; it nourishes the flowers as well as the bees. Since becoming a bee guardian over a decade ago, I’ve applied this prep every spring as a means…Wildfires7 min read
Mar 31The Monopoly Money Era — Are We Too Immature for Capitalism? — Nicole Sallak AndersonIt was love at first sight when I got out of the realtor’s car and saw the building, a beautiful six-flat built before cars and cheap, industrial, profit driven architecture-only a block from Lake Michigan. Gazing upon it, I knew I was home, only making the home mine was a…Real Estate9 min read
Jan 27One More Chance — Nicole Sallak Anderson“Pressure, pushing down on me. Pressing down on you, no man ask for.”* My most recent permaculture class was about disaster preparedness and I know that other than earthquake, wildfire is the number one disaster our community faces on a regular basis. I understand this more than most. So, I…Climate Change10 min read
Jan 7Member-onlyGrandmother Wisdom — Nicole Sallak AndersonLast week, I was on the phone with my mom, giving her an update on life in the Anderson household. My husband had just headed out to care for his mother who wasn’t doing well, and I’d stayed behind because our dog, Evelyn, had been diagnosed with aggressive cancer, and…Pets7 min read
Nov 24, 2021Member-onlyThanksgiving: Appropriate or Appropriation? — Nicole Sallak AndersonGrowing up, I looked forward to Thanksgiving more than any other holiday, for it was the one time each year my entire family gathered. My mother and father’s siblings along with all the cousins would descend upon our house and mayhem would ensue. My mom worked for days, if not…Thanksgiving9 min read
Jul 24, 2021Member-onlyAdytum — Nicole Sallak Anderson“Sometimes, the fastest way to get there is to go slow. And sometimes, if you wanna hold on, you’ve got to let go. I’m gonna close my eyes, and count to ten. I’m gonna close my eyes, and when I open them again, everything will make sense to me then.”…Wildfires6 min read
Jun 22, 2021Member-onlyWhy So Much Stuff? — Nicole Sallak AndersonStuff: Noun 1) matter, material, articles, or activities of a specified or indeterminate kind that are being referred to, indicated, or implied. “She lost all her stuff in a fire.” 2) the basic constituents or characteristics of something or someone. “Grandma was made of tougher stuff than I.” Verb 1)…Consumerism8 min read
Dec 29, 2020Member-onlyThe Not-So-Empty Christmas TreeThere are so many ideas I cling to in life. From one day to the next, I set expectations, measure myself by them, and then attack all the various feelings that accompany a life of plans, because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life doesn’t ever go as…Christmas8 min read