Wildwoods
Wisdom, Encounters with the Natural World
With the
easy voice of a country storyteller, Elliott draws on his
own adventures — hitchhiking across the country,
sketching in the Rocky Mountains, capturing snakes,
tracking animals, hunting the mystical, medicinal ginseng
plant and searching out the wisdom of country folk and
native peoples — to show how the natural world
provides us not only with food, clothing and shelter but
also the spiritual truths that can enrich and transform
our lives. In these pages you'll view nature through the
eyes of many people from different walks of life, some
who embody ancient wisdom, others with scientific
knowledge, and still others who have been touched deeply
by an encounter with the natural world. You'll hang out
with Native Americans, Appalachian mountain men and
biologists. And you'll hear stories of Pentecostal snake
handlers, hoodoo root doctors, possum breeders, and even
a New York stockbroker to name a few. Join
"Ranger" Doug as he stalks old time apples,
hoots with owls, sips nectar from tulip tree blossoms,
disciplines coons, stalks groundhogs and befriends
possums. Watch as he reveals beauty in unexpected places
— like the fleshy bald head of a buzzard or the
graceful dancing ladies on a turtle's shell — and
Truth in the depths of a beehive. Listen as he recounts
Beaver Legends and Coyote Tales, The Night of the Living
Skunk, The Serpent and the Egg and much more. Beautifully
illustrated with over 100 drawings by the author Wildwoods
Wisdom is a journey of awakening, of being at home
in a world we may not often see, but to which we are
forever joined. 196 pp, Clothbound $23 "Thoreau
would have enjoyed Wildwoods Wisdom. It is learned in
scholarship, but mostly it is Elliott's candid and
refreshing story of his experiences in his pursuit of
knowledge -- knowledge of the planet with which he is
shamelessly in love." — Michael Simms, Book
Page "Elliott is a fine storyteller and his
entertaining nature tales are accompanied by
illustrations that have a charming simplicity."
— Publisher's Weekly "The
author brings together entertainment, humor, and artwork,
making this one of the best and most original books in
this genre. Elliott's warmth and love of nature is
evident throughout. Even his drawings of buzzards seem
sympathetic." — Steve Brill, Newsday
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 Wild
Roots -- A Forager's Guide to the Wild Edible and
Medicinal Roots, Tubers, Corms, & Rhizomes...has
been around for more than 25 years and is considered an
"underground" classic. In 1995 it was given a
new cover and re-released by Healing Arts Press. Wild
Roots offers all nature lovers rare discovery; the
chance to look at and learn about the mysterious
"other half" of the plant world which lies just
beneath our feet. More than75 plants are covered. You'll
learn about roots, rhizomes, corms and tubers —
those that are deliciously edible, and others that you
can use to make medicines, shampoo, soap, toothpowder and
vegetable dyes — and about a few that are deadly.
You'll read what famous historical figures such as Capt.
John Smith, Peter Kalm, and even Plato had to say about
various roots. And you will probably chuckle at certain
root foraging anecdotes of the author. For many years
Elliott was a fulltime root and herb gatherer, and in
this book he opens the earth with considerable experience
and exacting botanical knowledge. His extraordinary
drawings alone provide an incomparable underground
adventure. 128 pp, softcover $17. "With its wealth
of information and delightfully humorous flavor (Wild
Roots) refreshes the spirit like a hot cup of
sassafras tea." — Maslowski, The Cincinnati
Enquirer
 WOODSLORE
"This book is a savory stew of the knowledge Doug
Elliott has accumulated during a decade of
woods-stomping, jungle-jumping and tidepool-splashing
throughout eastern Turtle Island and Central America.
Woodslore is actually a compendium of Elliott's greatest
hits, as much as the material has been published before.
But although you may have seen the classic "How to
use Road Kills" in the Whole Earth Catalog of years
past, and unless you are a regular reader of Wildlife in
North Carolina magazine, much or all of the material in
this Ranger Doug reader will be new and fascinating. It's
best of course to meet and know Doug and to walk in the
woods with him, getting the benefit of his knowledge of
the wild, his hilarious stories, his infectious laugh,
and the twinkle in his eye. But as an introduction to
Doug and what he knows, Woodslore will do just fine. He
covers a variety of topics from his beloved possums
through old-timey apples and the infamous ramp plant of
the Katuah hills. He tells us how to make rope and
baskets from natural materials found in the wild, and he
talks about herbs, orchids, bears, ginseng, and
millipedes and there's more… There's little rhyme or
reason to this book . Its topics are as varied and as far
flung as Elliott's wandering mind . But Doug has a unique
and deep perspective on the world, and seeing it through
his eyes is always educational and fun. This book is
wonderful collection of some of the high points of
Elliott's literary career, full of woods sense, common
sense and good humor. " — David Wheeler, Katuah Journal 76 pp,softcover
 Everybody's
Fishin'
A Cross-Cultural Fishing Extravaganza
Sunfish, herring, mudfish, trout,
Grab that catfish by the snout!
Join fisherman, storyteller and harmonica champ Doug Elliott, on a cross-cultural fishing extravaganza -- a celebration of fish, fisherpersons and other wet, wonderful, watery critters. Journey from the frigid North Atlantic to the sunny Caribbean -- from tumbling mountain streams to bayous, cypress swamps, and jungle rivers. You’ll hear fantastic fish lore, lively tunes, piscatorial poems, some mighty fishy philosophical probing and true stories of fishing adventures with people of different cultures and nationalities.
Hear about a battle with a sea serpent and about catching fish with all kinds of bait, from dry flies, lures, spinners and spoons to wooly boogers, rubber worms, zoom lizards, pork rinds and even green tomatoes; using cane poles, rods and reels, nets, weirs, purse seines, pistols and dynamite. Learn how to tickle a trout with your fingers and how to get a fine fresh fish dinner just by talking.
On this DOUBLE CD, Elliott flavors his tales with regional accents and he wails away on his trusty harmonica, playing and singing a half-dozen songs, accompanied by guitar, bass and percussion.
Featured: Catfish song, Why do we fish?, Tale of Wandering Aengus - W.B.Yeats, Fishing Blues, Down East, Herring’s Head, The Night Charley Tended Weir, Ruth Moore, Trout Tickling and the Handwriting of God, Take Your Shoes Off Moses, Dynamite fishing, Fish Bumming, Crawfish, Sashimi sushi, Mexican Jungle Fish Tale, Bahamian Welk Encounter
CD $25
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 Crawdads,
Doodlebugs and Creasy Greens Songs, Stories, and Lore
Celebrating the Natural World 64-page book, CD and
audiocassette tape Discover how to catch crawdads, puree
pawpaws, gobble greenbriers, noodle catfish, tickle
trout, cook squirrel brains, twist a critter out of its
hole and predict the weather with a persimmon seed. Learn
how to greet a doodlebug and which rabbit's foot is
actually the lucky one. Hear tales about Queen Elizabeth
when she was courted by a frog, Copper John Higgins when
he swallowed a lizard, and Davy Crockett when he tried to
grin a squirrel out of a tree. You may buy the book and
the recording separately but they are made as a set. The
64-page book features two dozen songs, more than 90
original illustrations and a plethora of stories and
lore. On the recording (CD or cassette) Elliott plays
harmonica and sings 10 of the songs from the book and
tells stories, including two historical tales, two Native
American legends, a mess of traditional bird and animal
lore as well as a few handy wild plant foraging tips. He
is accompanied by guitar, fiddle, banjo and bass.
Featured on the recording: Ain't No Bugs On Me,
Mosquito Story, Doodlebugs, Yellowhammers and
Domineckers, Catfish Song, Cajuns and Crawfish,
Crawdad Hole, Green Rocky Road, Strawberries,
Queen Elizabeth and the Frog, Froggie Went a Courting,
Creasy Greens, Root Blues, Left Hind Leg of a
Rabbit (American Library Association Notable
Recording Award) 64-page book, $5 CD $15 and
audiocassette tape $10 (Top
of Page)
 Raccoon
and a Possum -- Stories And Songs 'Specially For Young
Folks
The stories on this recording are especially
for young folks ages 4 to 10. You'll hear a true story,
an Indian legend, a jived up Aesop's fable, a late night
adventure in the woods, along with some lively harmonica
tunes and some mighty strange animal noises. Included
with the recording is an interpretive fold-out with
drawings, activities and more information about these
tales. Featured on this tape are: The Jive Three
Bears, The Story of Aspirin, Possum, Turtle and the
Wolves, The Fox and the Crow, Uncle Rueben Run a
Coon, and I Had a Dog, His Name Was Blue.
CD $15 and cassette $10
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 Bullfrogs
on your Mind Stories, Songs & Adventures from the
Swamps to the Hen House. You'll have more than bullfrogs
on the brain by the time you're through listening to this
lively collection of stories and songs. You'll get in on
a frog-hunting adventure deep in a southern swamp, you'll
hear a watery creation myth and you'll find out what
happens when two young fellows sneak up to a chicken
roost on the night before Mother's Day. You'll learn
about a 6-foot friend of Elliott's. This 6-footer is
covered with scales and eats mice, rats and a few other
surprising things. Elliott wails away on his trusty
harmonica, playing and singing a variety of old time,
folk, rock, swing and blues tunes. (There's even one rap
song, and also tunes by Uncle Dave Macon and Tony Joe
White.) He is accompanied by banjo, guitar, fiddle,
trombones, bass, buckets, bells, bottles, cans, drums and
rattlesnake rattles, as well as dozens of animal sounds,
including bird songs, gator roars, owl hoots and frog
choruses. Featured on this tape: Bullfrogs on Your
Mind, Guardians of the Water, Roosevelt and Ira Lee, Bake
That Chicken Pie, Who Broke the Lock, Mole in the Ground,
Bulldog on the Bank, Muskrat Oh Muskrat, Rattlesnaking
Papa, The Snake and the Egg, Scat Rap
CD $
15, Audiocassette Tape $10
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 Stories,
Songs, Jokes, and Tales — A Cultural Tour of
America's Backcountry With Doug as our tour guide and
stories, poems, harmonica tunes and tales as our
"transportation", we'll journey from downeast
Maine through the Appalachian Mountains and south to
Louisiana Cajun country. This was recorded live in
concert with adult audiences (there are a couple of
mildly risqué stories). Featuring favorites such as The
Jive Three Bears, Ruth Moore's ballad of Three Green
Waves, Microscopic Orgasm, Canopy Bed, Dynamite Fishing,
Beginning Possumology, Blossom The Possum, The Possum
Growers and Breeders Association, and The Cajun Rat
D'Bois. Audiocassette Tape $10
(out of stock)
GROUNDHOGOLOGY (and Marmotabilia),
Of Whistlepigs and World Politics
It all starts in Elliott's mountain-side cabin
with a gift from an old groundhog hunter. From there we go on a
rollicking and revealing journey, not only through the natural world,
but also into folklore, history, mythology, philosophy and into the
lives of people of
different cultures, past and present.
** You'll hear how groundhogs have been a source of food,
clothing, medicine and music for generations of Appalachian folks.
** You'll learn the mystical aspects of groundhogs -- how they
are woven into Native American and European mythology.
** You will find out the real story of Groundhog Day.** You'll get clues to the great riddle: How
much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
** You will learn how groundhogs can teach us about ourselves
and even give us perspectives on society, and world politics, today!
This
55 minute telling is flavored with traditional songs, regional
dialects, lively
harmonica riffs, and more than a few belly laughs... and wood
chuckles. Tape $10
CD $15
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LOOKING FOR AMERICA
A 20th Century Hero's Journey
We
are all heroes and we are all on a mythic journey. Come on. Let’s
go! . The open road is calling! Grab your pack. Stick out your thumb.
Climb aboard and join in on this modern mythic adventure. Travel with
master storyteller, Doug Elliott, on a journey of discovery. These
true cross-country hitchhiking and freight hopping tales, delivered in
his own outrageous storytelling style, explore not only this amazing
nation, culture and era we are a part of, but also the universal Hero’s
Journey we all embarked upon at birth. You’ll be transported from
congested northern freeways to sunny southern swamps and from the bowels
of throbbing factories and big-city railroad yards to vast deserts and
the high Rocky Mountains. You’ll meet astounding characters and hear
rousing narratives and music ranging from gospel to 60’s rock, country
and contemporary songs, including tunes by Leon Russell, Hank Snow,
Jimmy Rogers and Country Joe and the Fish. It’s all textured with
regional dialects, lively harmonica riffs, guitar, fiddle and soulful
yodels. You’ll return from this rollicking journey of discovery with
new insights, unusual perspectives and more than a few belly laughs.
Elliott has done some traveling. As a young man, he
hopped freight trains and hitchhiked across the continent from Maine to
California and from Canada to Guatemala. For most of a decade he was an
itinerant herbalist traveling around the country with a van full of
herbs, teas and old time remedies, and for a short time he was a
migratory beekeeper hauling a trailer full of honeybees between North
Carolina and Florida.
These days he travels around the country performing,
teaching and telling stories. He has been featured at the National
Storytelling Festival, the American Museum of Natural History in NY, the
Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto and the Smithsonian Institution. He has
trained rangers for the National Park Service and guided people on
wilderness experiences from Down-east Maine to the Florida Everglades.
Double CD $ 25
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