Pittsburgh Permaculture

I am SO tired of hearing people complain about the snow. Saying things like, “I am SO tired of all this snow!” Guess what, its winter in Western PA. Its snows here! Maybe its more snow than most Pittsburghers are used to…sure it hasn’t snowed this much since ‘93 or whatever. But its just snow, get over it!!! (That’s the rant part!)

Mostly I don’t like to hear people complain because it makes me feel like I can’t go on and on about how much I love the snow. Yep, LOVE IT!!!

And at first I was thinking that a snow rant had nothing to do with permaculture…..or very little anyway. But as I read more and more about permaculture I realize that its all about permaculture. Mainly, the belief held by permaculturalists (permas) that, “the problem is the solution; everything works both ways. Its is only how we see things that makes them advantageous or not.” And another, “turn problems into assets.” See its only how we perceive snow that makes it a problem. If you look at it with the eyes of a child there are no problems at all.

Let me share with you some of the reasons why I love snow. This may help you to change your perspective for the next time it comes….(and I think we have one more big snow coming….or at least I hope we do!!!).

Its fun! If you don’t love snow then you’re probably not playing in it enough. And quite frankly, I’m a little upset that I didn’t get to play in it more myself this year! And I was in it a lot. This year I snowshoed for the first time ever! And I gotta tell you…its SO much fun. You feel like you are walking with big flippers. Add sun glasses and two trekking poles and you are an explorer off to measure polar ice caps (or something). Its fun. I also cross country skied for the first time ever! Its more awkward (in my opinion) than snowshoeing, but still fun. The great thing about it is if you fall..you fall into a pile of soft snow! I also went sled ridding at 3am!!! I almost forgot about ice skating!!! Even just walking in the snow is fun for me. And that has its benefits. Each time it snowed I bundled up and went for a big walk, sometimes walking from my home in Hazelwood to the grocery store in Squirrel Hill and back. I am in the best shape I have been all year!

I am able to enjoy the snow because I dress well in the winter. I swear it, if you don’t dress well and you aren’t warm when you go outside you aren’t going to want to play in the snow. And that’s a shame, because, as I have already said…its fun!! Dressing warm in the winter is easy and I think it can be enjoyable as well. I like to wear a super thick, long, colorful scarf in the winter. The bright colors make me happy and because its wool….its keeps me very warm. I just bought the cutest hat and I wear fingerless gloves that have a flap so they can convert into mittens. Layering helps too. Long underwear, sweatpants then snow pants on the bottom…with knee high socks, wool socks and leg warmers. A good pair of boots. Up top its a t-shirt or tank top, long sleeve shirt, fleece, warm jacket. Usually I am so warm that I have to begin stripping as I walk. That’s ok…you can always take layers off! When you are warm you are more likely to want to be outside and enjoy the snowy weather. This brings me to my next point.

Snow is beautiful. Get your layers on and take a walk through Schenley or Frick park and you will be blown away. The snow lined trees are amazing, especially when sparkling under the low winter sunlight. The entire landscape is changed when covered in snow. Everything is fresh and new. The white snow reflects light on sunny days making everything brighter. Even the sound of snow as it crunches under your feet can be enjoyable. I love seeing animal footprints in the snow. Rabbit, mice, turkey, and deer, they are all out and about leaving traces that you wouldn’t normally be able to see.

Snow slows everything down a bit, if we let it. I like this. I like staying home from work and going snowshoeing because there is no way that I am going to get my truck out and drive on the narrow snow covered streets. Take a day off. Relax. Breathe. Its beautiful. Gosh, I hope we get one more big snow fall before it all melts and makes way for spring!

So next time it snows…quit whining, get your layers on and go outside and play! It’s the permaculture way!