Comments on: Starting a Natural Collection

By: partgypsy

partgypsy — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:51:22 +0000

If you like sketching, nice to bring a blank sketch book and draw in pencil or other medium, plus can date and make comments in the margins. You can do this for flowers, or even people in a bar you meet while having a conversation.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:08:52 +0000

That’s funny. I always thought geodes were most prevalent in the American Southwest (because of all the dry creekbeds). I remember going out when I was young and collecting all sorts of geodes.

By: Sonia

Sonia — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 02:09:39 +0000

Great ideas! In Australia many reserves are “collector free” zones, but taking note books in and taking away observations is a great idea. However, parks are fine places to collect leaves etc, and of course our own gardens. I love your tips for bringing the whole family in on the art.

By: Chad Oliver

Chad Oliver — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:04:03 +0000

” . . . try the National Audubon Society’s Field Guide to the Night Sky (my wife has that one – it’s stellar)”
Love the pun! Was that intentional?

By: Marie

Marie — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:43:38 +0000

You would love home schooling! We keep nature journals and time line books.

I only collect what I can use in my everyday life. (I hate clutter also) I collect plates. Everyone has a favorite plate. We buy them when we travel and we talk about the trip when it is on the table. It’s cheap,fun and the kids can tell their kids about them when they eat at the grandparent’s house.

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:09:34 +0000

What a great post on an inexpensive hobby! I’d love for you to post more like this..maybe a series on low cost hobbies. I’m a relatively new reader, so if you’ve done this before, never mind.

By: bob

bob — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:05:47 +0000

I like collecting porno movies.

By: Diane Taylor

Diane Taylor — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:17:06 +0000

My son became an avid bird watcher in high school with the encouragement of his biology teacher. He used much of his summer job money to buy better and better binoculars and a spotting scope. We looked on it as his “hobby”, but he is now a field biologist in Hawaii working to protect endangered species. He has held and banded birds that most people will never see. You never know where a hobby will lead you, especially if it is the “passion” of a young person.

By: Shana

Shana — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:44:49 +0000

I only collect Hallmark Ornaments and buy them when they are half off after Christmas. They do tend to keep their value and most sellers do sell them at the half off price or more except for the older ones. When I get them down again I am going to sell them on ebay.

Also, I don’t ever get them down until December so they do stay in the attic until then keeping my house clutter free.

By: Carol

Carol — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:40:26 +0000

Melissa, thanks for your comment – I just finished a book called The Creative License by Danny Gregory which speaks volumes about art and drawing. Check out this great book if you ever get a chance.

I started *collecting* flowers when I walk my dog in the spring and summer. I never realized how many varieties are in my neighborhood and they adorn my house. I like the idea of taking pictures of the flowers. Thank you for the idea.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:09:10 +0000

I collect dust bunnies – heeheehee!!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:29:28 +0000

I liked Danny DeVito’s coin collection best of all, in the movie, “Throw Mama from the Train”.

There isn’t much nature in cities or carefully groomed suburbs.

And “minimal artistic skill”? Such a sad phrase. All first graders love to draw and paint pictures, don’t they? Learning the alphabet must ruin a lot of creativity. Can you write your signature? That’s minimal art, hey? Just joking!

It’s proven that art taught in schoole produces better SAT scores……MelissaK

By: Greener Pastures

Greener Pastures — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:32:36 +0000

Whatever floats your boat. I’m not much of a collector, but I can certainly appreciate fine collections. I tend to be a “purger.” When in doubt, get it out.

By: Stop Getting Cheated

Stop Getting Cheated — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:34:06 +0000

Trent,
Great post. I like how you you value collecting observations as opposed to “stuff.” It seems the older I get, the more I want to simplify and de-clutter my life.

Creating experiences in the natural world is far more beneficial to the spirit than a roomful of “stuff.” There is no maintenance cost. Just benefits.

Thank you for adding the great images.

Cade

By: Shelly G.

Shelly G. — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:08:15 +0000

Great ideas…There are so many things in nature to enjoy…

By: Tony Katz

Tony Katz — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:34:53 +0000

If you’re collecting something because you think it might one day be valuable, you are wasting your time, forty2.

By: budding gardener

budding gardener — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:00:09 +0000

This is a great idea! I too have a tendency to collect, and was trying to think of what I might do to substitute for my book and dvd collections (which I have committed to getting rid of). I’ve recently bought a nice digital camera, and love the outdoors. Taking pictures of my outdoor adventures can give me two things: something to jazz my blog posts up with, and something new to collect. Thanks for the inspiration!

By: forty2

forty2 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:54:45 +0000

add me to the “I don’t understand collecting” clique. at one time I collected US and UK stamps (geek alert) but once I found out that my collection was worth at best face value, that kinda burned me on collecting anything.

at least stamps don’t take up much space, though; it all fits in a 3″ binder, so it’s worth the slight effort to keep it around.

By: Andy @ bloginyourface

Andy @ bloginyourface — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:49:55 +0000

I like to take extreme close up pictures of flowers and frame them and give them to my mother. They are especially pretty if you find them after it has rained or early in the morning when they have little droplets of dew on them. My Mom just DIES when I give one to her.

By: kufreabia

kufreabia — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:05:09 +0000

trent,
i think u are right about the books except the fact that real old books sell well, even if they are not 1st editions. i sold a copy of red robin for $65 on alibris.com, and i bought it for $3 in a thrift store!