Fairy Houses

Like building a cairn on a trail, fairy houses can be irksome if you're looking for a nature walk that shows no sign of those who came before you. 

When I was a wee one myself, my mother, eager to get my brother, sister, and me out from underfoot, sent us outside to be with nature. Equipped with a square of cardboard, a jug of craft glue, and instructions to find sticks and leaves and build something, we had our marching orders.

What a great idea, it was all consuming. Foraging was fun and for a good chunk of time the three of us sat quietly gluing and constructing. We were in the zone, together and apart, as each of us worked with our found materials and shared glue.

Though fond memories leave me partial to these tiny abodes, consideration must be given to the leave-no-trace movement. Communities are finding solutions: designated areas for building, natural materials only. Materials already on the ground—no cutting, snapping branches or adding man-made objects (coins, figurines, etc.).

A neighborly way to keep the peace.