Saltwater Cure by: Ali Gripper

Book Review

I just finished reading Saltwater Cure. I pity those who do not live near the sea. I am an hour from the sea and love to venture there when my soul needs replenishing. I envy those who have homes or cottages along the coast, they are able to recharge life’s batteries frequently. Author Ali Gripper understands this need to connect with the primal force of life. Saltwater Cure is a collection of stories of people who have found that great connection with the sea and seen profound effects from the interaction.

My favorite story in the book came at the end. The artists and locals of the island Erub, off the coast of Australia use sea pollution, old nets and fishing line to make art masterpieces depicting the creatures whose home was “trashed” by nets cut or torn away from their fishing vessel. These nets ensnare and kill many sea creatures so actively collecting and repurposing them saves marine lives. I have seen many videos of whales, seals and other marine life being cut from fishing debris. I am so happy to hear of this group that actively helps save our seas by creating art from the detritus.

If you yearn for days by the sea, are drawn to the ebb and flow of waves, dream of sand, salt and spray, this book is for you. I picked my copy up at a bookstore down near the sea. It was published 2024 by Murdoch Books.

The post Saltwater Cure appeared first on Carolyn Stearns Storyteller.

 “You can’t make me!”, a childhood declaration en route to the unwanted bath, or the dreaded family event, it is a classic line of resistance. Often the phrase is a playground recourse to a dare or command to adhere to some childhood standard.  We learn this early in life and wear the moments proudly in memory.

The time has passed. It is time to put down the memory in the category of childhood power and embrace social media, at least at some level, a beginning!  There are those who yearn for the days pre-social media, the pen and phone days of yore. I am not advocating putting down  your pen or your phone they are both powerful tools in the tool box of promotion, and marketing of you and your interest. Social Media is for business and an integral piece in my worlds of the Arts, Agriculture and Non-Profits. It is not the teen thing, or the young persons place, it is the place for our business today.

A century or more ago there was a resistance to those silly glass balls and wires, after all the fuss the LIGHT BULB was and is, a great idea. The image has become the icon for  new ideas.

Passing over Social Media as a unwanted trend or fad will only leave you with the Edison resistant- in the dark. Social Media is as relevant to life today as Walter Cronkite was to news, so please tune in.

You don’t need to partake of the whole pie, just select a couple bites and begin to engage people and build a following. Today your circle of friends can circle the globe, so join a conversation, comment on a blog,( start with this one – what do you think?) favorite a great photo and begin to reach out with all these wonderful tools! Engagement is the seed you sow, what you work on, growth, network, reach are the harvest. Interested in more about my other social media sites? Here is a link to my page listing them: https://www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com/Index.cfm?PageID=1512

credit for photo shared through:

 
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

The post Social Media “You Can’t Make Me” appeared first on Carolyn Stearns Storyteller.

   The workshop and demonstration S.T.E.A.M. Ice Cream  is rocking the schools with excitement and creating buzz at expos and fair type outings.  S.T.E.A.M. Ice Cream uses alternative energy to make 5 gallons of delicious ice cream. Students don’t think twice about the math and science because the workshop naturally engages their imagination and willingness to experiment and improvise.

The art of storytelling releases the student inquisitive nature through stories of inventors and innovators, many of whom were very young when they began their work. With these stories shared we get the group consensus that it is cool to invent and  there are no wrong answers when brainstorming. Students inhibitions about sharing off beat thoughts diminish as they work in a atmosphere of acceptance. The goal of producing 5 gallons of ice cream is a worthy reward too!

With the stories and math done the brainstorming comes in. How can we use what we have to power the ice cream maker. Bike power or solar power, are available, wind and water are coming in 2013, and a novel way invented by one of the workshop students!  We may even get kid power harnessed!!

                                A recycled bike make a great power unit even a cow can run!

The S.T.E.A.M. Ice Cream  Workshop can be a 3 hour workshop, a 2 hour workshop, it can be done with large groups that rotate through stations and  it is a great 45 demonstration with tasting after a batch is made!

When we do shorter workshops we send the math and science worksheets along in advance and have some things as follow up. Students see the process of making the ice cream using alternative energy and hear the storytelling/literacy component. I always include info on open space, farm to school, farmland preservation and buy local to the conversation during my visits.

At a fair, expo, event, corporate visit or museum S.T.E.A.M. Ice Cream can be an ongoing demo  with  ice cream being sampled. 

If you are looking for the newest way to engage students or the public at an event S.T.E.A.M. Ice Cream is sure to please a crowd!

visit my website for more details: https://www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com/Index.cfm?PageID=1511

from the website you can call or email to query a date, find links to grants that could cover this program for your non profit or school and contact me with questions.
        

S.T.E.A.M. Ice Cream is on Facebook come “Like” the page please

The post Students Caught Eating Curriculum appeared first on Carolyn Stearns Storyteller.