Nature

Hiking

Photography

Travel

Northern California

Magma makes every moment matter. Create digital, mini-magazines to share your life’s greatest experiences.

NorCal - our road trip itinerary — @undefined's mag on Magma

Agriculture

Food

Mental Health

The Learning Garden

Venice Story : The Learning Garden

<h1>About the Garden</h1>
The Learning Garden was launched in March of 2001. Since then it has quickly become one of the country’s largest and most successful school gardens.
The Learning Garden is a model example of how school gardens can transform the lives of students and teachers and the environment of their community. For several years, many groups worked with the high school horticulture program to transform the 60,000 square foot plot of land into a garden, but due to lack of stronger community support it remained mostly an eyesore filled with trash, overgrown with weeds, and a magnet for vandalism. 
Today, the agricultural plots are filled with organic food grown by the high school students. Health-related classes such as tai chi, qigong, and natural food cooking are offered on its large stone patio. The garden has a large medicinal plant section for educational purposes, a pond with a water garden and waterfall, and a California native plant and cacti garden. 
A community garden is tended by local volunteers, and numerous groups and organizations use and support the garden.

<h1>The Experience </h1>
<h2>Connecting to Nature</h2>

The Learning Garden is much more than a garden. For the students of the high school it is an opportunity to be closer to nature, a place to learn about respecting the environment and taking care of plants and animals. 
For the teachers it is a place of solace. For the community it is a place of visual beauty. For those who have dedicated thousands of hours to making the inspiration of the garden a reality, it is a joyful and fulfilling accomplishment. 
For all who come, whether to a single event or as a regular volunteer, The Learning Garden is a remarkable and unique place that touches something deep in the heart and soul.

Since the first groundbreaking ceremony, The Learning Garden has received ongoing support and assistance from many generous benefactors and hard-working volunteers. The garden was founded by Julie Mann and David Crow. 
The Garden Master is David King. The Horticulture Program at Venice High School is taught by Diane Pollock. 
Students from Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine have played a major role in the development of the Chinese medicinal herb garden, and the school holds regular classes and events at the garden. 
The Agape Spiritual Center is actively involved in regular work days and special projects at the garden. 
The UCLA Horticulture Department teaches its extension program at The Learning Garden. 
Students from Emperor’s College of Traditional Chinese Medicine contributed to the development of the herbal database.

LAUSD began constructing a new STEM building for the school, and unfortunately they required the garden space for construction vehicles and trailers. This caused the relocation of many plants and had a pretty big impact on the soil ecosystem.
After construction, the Venice Learning Garden and its volunteers were tasked with soil remediation. The soil was packed down and stagnant throughout the year plus of construction. It was finally time to regrow and revitalize the soil and bring back the beauty out of a barren field.

The progress we have made to rejuvenate the soil and bring life back to the garden has been profound and a delight to watch.
We let the wild￼ Alfalfa grow to bring nitrogen back into the soil along with many other variety of naturally growing plants.
We did not till the soil, we let the weeds and other hearty plants to naturally break up the compact soil, which allowed for aeration and microorganisms to flourish with the incoming oxygen.

Some of the plants we use to remediate the soil are sunflowers, red clover, fennel, alfalfa, and wild mallow.￼ 
Fennel brings Black Swallowtail butterflies to the garden to hatch their eggs on. The caterpillar you see above is one of their offspring that love to munch on the fennel.
It is truly fascinating to watch this natural phenomenon and the presence of these critters really brings you into the moment and just for a moment, you're not thinking about anything, just pure presence with a sense of awe.

<h1>Keep the Garden Growing</h1>
The Learning Garden is a living classroom and a place of sanctuary. We invite you to get involved in the ongoing work that supports this project. There are many ways to participate, from volunteer gardening to donations. Together, we are building a healthier future for the students and the community.
<h2>Volunteering </h2>
If you would like to come to the garden to volunteer your time and effort in keeping us growing, we take volunteers 12pm-3pm on Saturday and Sundays. 
We welcome all people from all walks of life, just wear some shoes and apparel you don't mind getting dirty!
Location: 13000 Venice Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90066
Venice High School Where Walgrove and Venice meet (Access from Walgrove)

<h1><a href="http://www.thelearninggarden.org/donate/">Make a donation!</a> </h1>
Checks should be written to The Learning Garden, and mailed to Julie Mann, 2454 Louella Ave, Venice, CA 90291. 
To make a donation by PayPal, click the “Make a Donation” link above. The Learning Garden appreciates your support and thanks you for your generosity! 
Financial contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

The Venice Learning Garden — @undefined's mag on Magma

Mountains

Yosemite National Park

<h1>Glacier Point </h1>
Wow is all I can say! This might be my favorite area in the entire park. Although it can get quite crowded, there are spots where you can avoid the big crowds and is truly the most breathe taking view of Half Dome and both Nevada and Vernal Falls! I would highly recommend heading here for sunset one night or even sunrise!

Keep in mind that the drive from the Valley is about an hour and a half, so you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time, as there is a possibility you could see a bear in the meadows and may want to stop to check it out. If you want to avoid the crowds of Glacier Point, stop just a few minutes before you get to Glacier Point at Washburn Point that offers arguably better views and is much less to busy. Wherever you go, it is an absolute must get to this area while in the park. However, they unfortunately close Glacier Point Road in November and don’t open again until April.

<h1>Tunnel View</h1>
Tunnel view is an impressive spot to watch the sunset all-year round! Here, you’ll get a spectacular view of all the big rock faces in the park! It is much more accessible from the Valley than Glacier Point, as it is probably only a 15 minute drive from the floor. Sunset here one night is an absolute must during your stay!

Tunnel view

Arrive here early as parking is pretty limited and a very popular spot to watch the sunset. If parking is full, there are other spots if you continue up the road where you can pull off to watch, but Tunnel View would be the ideal spot. Here, you can cross the road to get an up close view. If it is super crowded, there is a little trail above the tunnel where you can hike up for a much quieter and less crowded option!

Insane! El Capitan is MASSIVE! For me, it is a must do to eat lunch under El Cap during my trip to the park. It is absolutely incredible to look up and see this rock face.

If you look closely, you can usually see climbers climbing up. It is so crazy to watch them climbing, and amazing that they’re there for several days climbing and sleeping on the face.

<h1>Cook’s Meadow</h1>
The meadows anywhere in Yosemite Valley are great and usually relatively quiet places to sit and enjoy the absolutely stunning views! You can park anywhere and sit or walk through the meadows here and view Half Dome, El Capitan, Three Brothers, Yosemite Falls, Cathedral Rocks, and so much more! The meadows are a great place to rest between hikes or after a long day!

Yosemite Viewpoints — @undefined's mag on Magma

Snowboarding

Skiing

Lake Tahoe

<h1>Lake Tahoe</h1>
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, straddling the border of California and Nevada. It’s known for its beaches and ski resorts. On the southwest shore, Emerald Bay State Park contains the 1929 Nordic-style mansion Vikingsholm. Along the lake’s northeast side, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park includes Sand Harbor Beach and Spooner Lake, a gateway to the long-distance Tahoe Rim Trail.

What to Do in Lake Tahoe | 36 Hours Travel Videos | The New York Times

❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️

Featuring Content Creators and Photographers | Lake Tahoe   — @undefined's mag on Magma

<h1>I’ve always liked taking photos of small creatures. I don’t think insects are appreciated enough.</h1>
<h1>This is something I learned from my mom. </h1>
<h2>My mom is a biologist: raised on a farm in New Jersey, got a PhD in chemistry at Harvard, spends a lot of her time these days trying to explain to local politicians why building developments on the town water supply might have an impact on water quality. </h2>
<h2>She also loves bugs. Other kids’ mothers thought they were anywhere between a nuisance and a menace; my mom couldn’t wait to get them under a microscope.</h2>

<h1>Bugs are endlessly diverse and endlessly fascinating. I like taking photos of them because these images capture details that most of us never get close enough to see.</h1>

<h1>Hope you enjoyed this! If you’d like to see more, follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/csilverman/">Instagram</a> or <a href="https://vsco.co/csilverman/gallery">VSCO</a>. Stay tuned for the next issue of 2X.</h1>
<h1></h1>
<h2>Until next time,</h2>
<h2>—Chris</h2>

2X1: gin and coffee – a brief commentary on bugs – infringement on the estate of Charles Schulz  — @undefined's mag on Magma

Wyoming

TRAVEL: Snapshots around Wyoming📸 

We went to Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, and a few other places. It was a great trip! Have you been to Wyoming? I’d love to hear in the comments⌨️💬 — @undefined's mag on Magma

Fashion

Fishing

Street walk  — @undefined's mag on Magma

Sneakers

Stan Smith designed to Help End Plastic Waste.
On January 8, 2021, Adidas announced that they are going to pivot their brand toward a new era: End Plastic Waste.
Adidas decided to introduce three new sneakers by launching the Stan Smith Forever Campaign.
To keep up with its timeless design, Adidas will remain the same. However, ITS COMPOSITION WILL BECOME AN EXPERIMENTAL CANVAS for Adidas.
The first two sneakers in this drop will feature PRIMEGREEN upper with 50% recycled content.

NOW MORE SUSTAINABLE
Featuring a Primegreen upper, made from a series of high-performance recycled materials

A timeless design gets a playful new look in the adidas Originals x Disney, Stan Smith collection—thanks to appearances from characters across the Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars universes.

Stan Smith logos on the tongue and heel tab are paired with details from the world of our Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters—alongside the classic three perforated stripes.

@STP's mag on Magma

Community

Education

Plants

<h2>Together let’s Build a Community</h2>
<li>Magma is the perfect social tool to start something meaningful in a very organic way. We decided to use this social tool to inform and create a community that respects and values our world’s beauty. The goal is to work together to start building a lifestyle that focuses on sustainability. Therefore, until we introduce our unique product, we will create a community that focuses on sustainable products. Thus, we are happy to create a lifelong community toward a safe environment. More countries are introducing laws to help end and practices harmful to the environment.</li>
<li>Save the Planet is happy to start this community.</li>
<li>We hope you join us along this beautiful journey we are about to embark on. </li>

<h1>Sustainability </h1>
Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations (United States Environment Protection Agency, 2021).

You may ask, why is Sustainability important? 
- Environment Protection
- Social Development 
- Economic Development

Astronomy

News

Science

<h1>What is EARTH DAY? </h1>
Earth Day is observed every year on April 22nd. It’s a day dedicated to the beautiful Mother Nature and with each passing year, as the world battles a climate crisis, Earth Day is gaining significance. In 1990, Earth Day became an ''environmental movement, working with more than 75,000 partners in over 192 countries to drive positive action for our planet''.
🌎
This year marks the 51st Earth Day and the theme is “Restore Our Earth.” This theme focuses on natural processes and emerging green technologies that can restore the ecosystems.

Lil Dicky - Earth (Official Music Video)

We only have one life to live- how are you going to experience it? The world is the one thing all beings have in common, let’s keep it clean and sustainable.

<h1>FACTS YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT OUR PLANET 🌍 </h1>

•	The Earth was once believed to be the centre of the universe.
•	There is only one natural satellite of the planet Earth.
•	As a percentage of the size of the body it orbits, the Moon is the largest satellite of any planet in our solar system. In real terms, however, it is only the fifth largest natural satellite.
•	Earth is the only planet not named after a god.
•	The other seven planets in our solar system are all named after Roman gods or goddesses. Although only Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were named during ancient times, because they were visible to the naked eye, the Roman method of naming planets was retained after the discovery of Uranus and Neptune.
•	The Earth is the densest planet in the Solar System.

The History of Earth - How Our Planet Formed - Full Documentary HD

earth day 2021: let’s keep our earth moving — @undefined's mag on Magma

Boating

Camping

Everglades City

An Evening on Jewell Key, Everglades National Park
Looking for something different to do, something maybe a trifle adventurous? Consider paddling out to Jewell Key in Everglades National Park and spending the night. Heck, get crazy and spend two!
You'll need a vessel to get there, either a canoe or a kayak. Either can be rented in Everglades City (see Resources at the end of this article). You'll also need a camping permit from the national park. And you'll need camping gear, and food and water. It takes a bit of planning to pull it off.
You find options other than Jewell Key, too. Tiger Key, Picnic Key, Rabbit Key, and Pavilion Key all have lovely campsites. I like Jewell Key because you can see both the sunrise and the sunset from the campsite. Some of the other keys have this feature too, but require a longer paddle.
On the way out look for wildlife. Expect to see exotic-looking birds, bottle-nosed dolphins, and several kinds of fish. You might even see a manatee!
This is not a summer excursion. Visit during the winter, any time between about Thanksgiving and Easter. There are fewer bugs then, and the temperatures are much more comfortable. And those long nights are great for both star-gazing and catching up on your sleep!
So consider a trip out to one of the park's Gulf islands. Who knows, maybe we’ll meet out there!
——————————————————
All text and photos copyright john kumiski 2021. All rights reserved.

Resources
Boat Rentals in Everglades City
<a href="https://evergladesadventures.com">evergladesadventures.com</a> 
<a href="https://www.evergladesareatours.com/">www.evergladesareatours.com/</a> 
<a href="http://evergladesadventuretours.net/everglades-canoe-rentals/">evergladesadventuretours.net/everglades-canoe-rentals/</a> 
Everglades National Park links
<a href="https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm">www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm</a> - ENP website
<a href="https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/gcdirections.htm">www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/gcdirections.htm</a> - Contact for the Gulf Coast Visitor Center
<a href="https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/wildernesscamp.htm">www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/wildernesscamp.htm</a> - the wilderness trip planner
camping trip equipment list- <a href="https://www.spottedtail.com/trip-equipment-list/">www.spottedtail.com/trip-equipment-list/</a>

Everglades National Park adventure! — @undefined's mag on Magma

Florida

<h1>Which is Better- Sunrise or Sunset?</h1>

Which is better- sunrise or sunset? We don't have a panel of experts to ask, so we'll have to make do with my reasoning- such as it is.
Some folks prefer sunrise. Sunrise signals the end of night, the end of darkness. Sunrise represents the beginning of an exciting new day. Sunrise happens at a time when many people are still sleeping. If you enjoy solitude, this is a good reason to enjoy the sunrise. For maximum sunrise enjoyment, it helps to be a morning person!
Other folks prefer sunset. It happens at a time which is more convenient for many people. You can easily share the beauty of a sunset with friends. Nightfall follows sunset. Nightfall is when lightning bugs come out, crickets start chirping, owls start hooting. I remember playing hide-and-seek at nightfall as a child. It was so much fun! Nightfall is such a magical time of day!
As you scroll through the photos, try and guess whether each is a sunrise, or a sunset!

<h1>Title goes here</h1>
<h2>Subtitle goes here</h2>

<h1>So, which is better- sunrise or sunset? It's silly argument. They are both special. In a photograph, you can't tell which is which! So make it a point to enjoy one, or enjoy the other, or enjoy them both. Each is a great reason to celebrate, and each happens only once every day!</h1>

Sunrise or Sunset? — @undefined's mag on Magma

Bryce Canyon National Park

Sunset at Bryce. 🧡 — @undefined's mag on Magma

Holidays

Edinburgh

Winter walks in the snow ❄️ — @undefined's mag on Magma

Animals

Whale Pass

The Lodge at Whale Pass
Located at the north end of Prince of Wales Island, water surrounds the Lodge at Whale Pass. That water includes the Pacific Ocean and the Inland Passage. Some small streams, that nonetheless support great fisheries, are found there, too.
In addition to fishing, the Lodge at Whale Pass offers hiking, biking, caving, wildlife watching for birds, bears, and marine mammals, trips to the LeConte Glacier, and more. You find incredible scenery. You can't get bored there!
It was my privilege to work there three seasons as a guide. I captured these images during that time.
Contact the Lodge at Whale Pass at <a href="https://lodgeatwhalepass.com/">https://lodgeatwhalepass.com</a>.

There are many hikes on the island. This one takes you to Red Bay Lake.

The Lodge at Whale Pass, Alaska — @undefined's mag on Magma

Maine

In 1976, Jim bought the canoe- an Old Town Tripper. He came up with the idea to go to Maine, too, a great idea.
Backcountry trips require a lot of planning and preparation and a certain degree of skill. We bought maps and guidebooks, made lists, purchased equipment, tied flies, and went canoeing every weekend. We learned how to paddle the hard way. Hell yeah, it was rugged falling into those ice-cold rapids, but it was tremendously exciting and oh, so much fun!

<h1>In Camp</h1>
Make camp, break camp. Make camp, break camp. It quickly becomes a routine on a canoe trip. Layover days are luxuries, to be savored and appreciated. Most days are spent paddling.

Youth passes. Responsibilities grow. I look back on my days paddling in Maine and the rest of New England with fondness, knowing I will probably never paddle there again.

All photos were shot with a Konica Auto-S and a Canon AE-1 with a 50 mm lens between 1976 and 1980. Film was most likely a mix of Kodak Plus-X and Tri-X but honestly, I can't remember.
To see the entire memoir, visit <a href="https://johnkumiski.com/maine/">https://johnkumiski.com/maine/</a>

Canoeing in Maine- a Memoir — @undefined's mag on Magma

King Salmon

<h1>A Visit to Alaska’s Katmai Lodge</h1>

A Visit to Alaska's Katmai Lodge
Katmai Lodge, located on Alaska's wild and scenic Alagnak River, offers visitors world-class fishing for trout, salmon, and grayling. They offer so much more.
You'll eat well, including shore lunches of freshly caught grilled salmon.
Watch incredible wildlife from your boat, on the river. You see brown bear, moose, fox, birds of all kinds. Fly out to Brooks Falls to see the largest concentration of brown bears on the planet.
As if fishing in the Alagnak was not enough, you can fly out and fish other streams, too.
Visit the ruins of the Russian Orthodox church, downstream from the lodge. The original Bible still sits on the altar.
If this isn't enough, staff can arrange helicopter tours and more. A trip to Katmai Lodge is the trip of a lifetime.
For more information visit the Katmai Lodge website at <a href="https://www.katmai.com">https://www.katmai.com</a>

A visit to Alaska’s Katmai Lodge. — @undefined's mag on Magma

England

<h1>Hiking England's Hadrian's Wall Path</h1>
During the second century, The Roman Empire extended into what we now call England. The Romans were there about 400 years! In 122 A.D., the Emperor Hadrian paid Brittania a visit. He found that the three legions of soldiers stationed there had little to do.
Hadrian was no fool. Tribes from what is now Scotland would raid Roman settlements periodically. A fortified wall would protect the settlements, give control over immigration, and allow collection of customs taxes. Bored soldiers cause trouble, so he gave them something to do- build a wall across the island.
Construction took six years. Hadrian's Wall was occupied until the late fourth century, when all Roman troops were recalled for what proved to be the last defense of Rome.

Once the Romans left, the locals realized they had an excellent source of building material, both for structures and roads. The Wall began to disappear.
During the 1800s a man named John Clayton, the classic eccentric Englishman, became enthusiastic about preserving the Wall. He bought large portions of land along which the Wall ran, and restored what he could.

The Wall was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987. It is in fact the longest, best-preserved example of Roman fortifications anywhere. In 2003 the National Footpath was opened, running the length of the Wall.
&nbsp;
Susan and I hiked this path, starting in Newcastle and going west to Carlisle. When I tell people we walked across England, they "ooh" and "ahh" like it's a big deal. It's only 80 miles, folks! England is a fairly small island! We took ten days, taking it easy, stopping at pubs and tea rooms for lunch and staying at bed and breakfasts at night.

We would leave the B&amp;B in the morning carrying some water, some snacks, a first aid kit, raincoats, and cameras. A company called MACS Adventure would come to the B&amp;B some time later and pick up the rest of our luggage, then transport it to our destination for that evening. When we arrived at the next B&amp;B, our things would already be in our rooms. It was all very civilized!

<h2>We spent a month in England and saw many fantastic historic and cultural places- Evensong Service at Westminster Abbey, a performance of the Royal Shakespeare Company, the entire city of York, the Roman baths at Bath, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Tower of London, and much more. But by far the highlight of our trip was the walk along the Hadrian's Wall Path. Highly recommended!</h2>
<h2></h2>
<h2>For more information visit <a href="https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_US/trails/hadrians-wall-path/">https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_US/trails/hadrians-wall-path/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

For information about MACS Adventure, visit <a href="https://www.macsadventure.com/us/walking-tours/uk-walking-tours/england/hadrians-wall">https://www.macsadventure.com/us/walking-tours/uk-walking-tours/england/hadrians-wall</a>

Hiking England’s Hadrian’s Wall Path — @undefined's mag on Magma

Took my yellow hat for a walk up the crags today📸 (swipe to see some crows looking like binbags)  — @undefined's mag on Magma

The Florida Trail runs 1,000 miles, from Big Cypress National Preserve to Fort Pickens at Gulf Islands National Seashore, in Pensacola. Another 300 miles are planned. Also known as the Florida National Scenic Trail, the Florida Trail provides permanent non-motorized recreation opportunity for hiking and other compatible activities and is within an hour of most Floridians.
Florida is home to a unique range of environments not seen anywhere else in the world; this means that there are amazing wildlife and nature viewing opportunities on the FT. The Trail crosses both urban and remote wilderness areas, and traverses a variety of semi-tropical ecosystems. From swamps to forests to prairies to springs, there are endless habitat exploration opportunities.
I'm fortunate that the trail passes within a five minute walk from my home. The other day I took a walk of a couple of miles, and got these photographs.
For more information, contact the Florida Trail Association at www.floridatrail.org.

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