In this episode of the Ground Shots Podcast, I chat with Hannah Smith, a writer, naturalist, hiking and climbing guide who lives seasonally working outdoor jobs or doing artist residencies in different parts of the country. I interviewed Hannah while we camped together in Big Sur, California early April 2019. Hannah and I studied papermaking and printmaking together at Penland School of Craft in North Carolina a few years ago.

Since our time together at Penland, Hannah has continued to write, make artwork, and also work in wilderness settings while incorporating her creative practice in those places. In this conversation, we touch on a few big experiences she has had in the past few years. Hannah also reads some of her poignant and thoughtful poetry commenting on a dying earth, our 'disconnection' from the land and history and the relationship between our human body and the earth body.

Hannah's meditation practice in relationship to the land

observing intuitive plant information

how 'watching' is the heart of it

writing as an act of noticing and medium for connecting to the land

giving care to a dying earth

working as a climbing/hiking guide in Switzerland with the International Girl Scouts

Hannah's job working on a storytelling project in Alaska

Hannah's thoughts on making the outdoors and land accessible to all physical abilities

working as a hut caretaker and naturalist in the White Mountains of New Hampshire for the AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club)