Wild & Free Project

Springtime In The Northwest

By Jeremy: One of the strangest things for me about living in Hawaii was that there weren’t really “seasons” to speak of. As I’ve written on here before, there are changes but they don’t came in waves like the turning of a season. Although it wasn’t on purpose, my return to Seattle coincided with … Continue reading »

Experiencing The Cold

By Jeremy: I have seen pictures before of monks meditating in snowy forests like the one above. I have always wondered, how could they concentrate in that cold? Are they going so far into their minds that they are no longer aware of their bodily sensations? Today I went for a walk in the woods … Continue reading »

Reflecting On A Hawaiian Year

By Jeremy: I have now been back on the mainland for almost two weeks. Being back here has been nice, but strange; I am reexperiencing Seattle now after being gone for almost a year, and truly realizing how different I am. I am so grateful to have lived in Hawai’i for a year. The sun … Continue reading »

Trade surplus switcheroo: China's green technology has a red, white, and blue pedigree

Reblogged from Quartz: For those who fret over the US trade deficits and China’s dominance of the solar industry, here’s some good news: The US is in the black with a massive $1.6 billion green technology trade surplus with China. That’s according to a study released today by the Pew Charitable Trusts based on data gathered … Continue reading »

Wind-Blown Meditation

By Jeremy: We have been having very intense winds here the last few days. 20-30 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph. Since we’re in a desert with few trees and little else to get in the way of the wind, it moves undispersed in huge waves across the lava rocks. You can hear it … Continue reading »

How To Become One With Nature Without Destroying It

By Jeremy: I read an interesting article this week in our local newspaper, The Ka’u Calendar, about problems associated with a “Rainbow Gathering” taking place at a beach near us. For those of you unfamiliar with Rainbow Gatherings, they are large informal festivals for “free spirited” types that often involve camping, drum circles and the … Continue reading »

Watch The 2013 State Of The Union Address Here

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Overcoming Derealization And Depersonalization Part Two

By Jeremy: I’ve written on here before about my personal experiences with derealization, a particularly unpleasant anxiety disorder that is more common than you would think, but not often talked about. I realized though that while it is valuable to share my own story, much of what exists on the internet is very similar: peoples’ … Continue reading »

Reflecting On Eight Months Off The Grid

By Jeremy: All my life I thought I would be a die-hard city person. I was raised in the center of Seattle, and I always found comfort in the never-ceasing sounds, sights, and movements of the city. Living among the lush rainforests of the Northwest I often went camping and hiking, and this instilled an … Continue reading »

The World Is My Country

By Karyn: Wild and Free has gone international. We’re transitioning to become a travel and philosophy blog, so that Jeremy and I can use this space for personal thought, while writing seriously as a profession. We begin with my adventures in Bali and greater South East Asia.

Going Green With Waimea Ocean Film Festival

By Karyn Boenker: In Hawaii, it feels like summer all year long. Waking up on the islands brings promise of a mild temperatures, warm beaches, and fresh fruit. No matter the scenery, you cannot escape the surrounding Pacific Ocean. Locals joke that every home in Hawai’i has an ocean view.

Making History At Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Kahuku Park

Written by Karyn Boenker: Edited and Created with Jeremy Konick-Seese: Recently, I sat down with a few park rangers including two youth interns. An original story was posted on Kalev.com, but the Wild and Free Project has exclusive rights to audio and video content from the park and interviews. Check it out here.

Evaluating Personal And Environmental Choices

By Jeremy: Often the things we are forced to confront in our lives can seem incredibly powerful and overwhelming. We are working with an evolving world that usually doesn’t wait for us to catch up and isn’t very good at giving us all the details.

Environmental Extremes And The Reality Between

By Karyn: Politics are complicated, so is science. When the two are combined the confusion is multiplied. Both offer methods for identifying problems and solutions. Politics are inherently competitive, subjective, and conflictual. Science is inherently uncertain and attempts to be objective. For the most part, the two do not mix. When they do, extremes arise … Continue reading »