The area this article is talking about was oak savannah:
Within these oak savannas, which were interlaced with prairies, tree crowns covered between 10 percent and 30 percent of the ground. They were essentially a transition between the tight deciduous forests of the East and the fully open grasslands further west.
May 1st colour being red is a nice subtle touch.
Sky burial for me please.
I’ve been trying to find clothing made in my overdeveloped country. Though the only textile we make here is wool, maybe linen, it’s a way to support labour practices that are not sweatshops.
Still learning more names of species that live here. I’m starting to spot some trees quicker. ID’d all the trees around my apartment.
Edit: also found local farms to get a good chunk of produce from. Food miles don’t matter as much as people believe, but strong rural economies do: less likely to turn into exurbs, and less of my money going to supermarket extortionists.
Modern bikes being less maintainable is largely on the extreme low-end like Walmart bikes, or extreme high end carbon-fiber nonsense designed for rich weekend warriors.
Best if you find a shop that deals in second-hand bikes and get a cheap one. A bike that has been maintained by such a shop is likely to continue being maintainable. Plus you may not know what kind of bike you like til you ride it for a while so don’t spend too much for your first one.