note catcher

Pure Peace on CD

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:52:15 -0700

During the long and productive hours of summer, I’m in the studio making a wonderful new CD series for you: Pure Naturetm Soundscapes. Making it easy for you to enter an atmosphere of creativity, reflection or rest is my ultimate goal. For those times when you need nature to restore, relax or inspire you, and your secret cabin is too far away, let the mountains, ocean and forests come to you. Relaxing in a beautiful place in nature feels good!

From the upcoming “Listening Room” at Wild Sound Stories:

Pristine, hour-long CD's take you deep into the healing heart of nature. Explore lush forests, relax oceanside or by a peaceful stream and let the soothing sounds of natural peace wash over you. Calm the mind, relax the body and ignite your imagination with beautiful, natural sounds recorded in binaural stereo for a you-are-there experience. Pure nature, pure peace.

In the works

Marin Soundscapes come with me to the secret nature escapes of my childhood... just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco is Marin County, CA, a nature-lover’s paradise. (highly recommended)
Two Oceans Lake escape to your own cabin in the woods! Pristine songbirds and dripping fog at the edge of an alpine lake invite you to relax deeply, Grand Tetons, WY
Marin Coast let waves wash your cares away on the best beaches in Marin
Audubon Canyons go where few can, to the lagoon, marsh and canyons of Audubon’s wildlife preserve by the sea
High Sierras escape for a day of nature nourishment in these magical mountains
On Mountain Time slow down, breath in pure alpine air and watch for an afternoon storm, you’re on mountain time (Bernie Krause & Gina Farr)
ABC’s for Baby Birds teaching orphaned and injured baby song birds how to sing their native songs and you’re invited (produced for our wildlife rehab center)

Listen to dawn birdsong on Two Oceans Lake...

Dreaming of coyotes

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 11:12:49 -0700

Coyotes are very cool animals. I was so excited to find a group that answered my calls! But that was after a lot of searching. We spent many nights howling to the moon and going home with nothing but a lovely evening under the stars to show for our efforts. Although the recordings I eventually got were distant, it was a thrilling night. We stayed long after the pack left. Their calls were haunting and beautiful.

My coyote experience was at the same time sad. After only a few minutes of online research, it was quickly obvious how persecuted these beautiful animals are throughout the world. They have been shot, poisoned, trapped and the puppies “denned” in astounding numbers. And yet, they are one of the most successful animals, increasing their numbers while under such intense persecution. When a niche in opened by the death of an animal, more are naturally born to fill it. This is an aspect of nature that we often don’t consider before we kill or relocate.

The moral of this story, it seems to me, is to stop unnecessary and cruel killing of coyotes. It simply doesn’t work. If ranchers want to protect their livestock, why not try llamas, dogs or donkeys? And why court the problem by leaving pets and pet food outside in coyote country? Problem prevention and other humane options to wildlife management are well worth exploring. An added benefit is that you can hug your llama sentry while listening to the beautiful call of the wild night.

Fog and Peace

Sat, 7 Jun 2008 10:48:47 -0700

In the Company of Giants is a special story for me for many reasons. If I could magically transform myself into one of the Green People, I’d become a redwood tree. I’d be tall, wise and very, very old. I’d stand strong against the winds of time, I’d breathe deep the gathering mists and I’d hold a place in my heart for any two-legged who would protect me.

This story is special because Muir Woods is one of the constants in my life. I grew up here in Marin County and loved to walk among the ancients as a child. I felt so safe. The years I lived in San Francisco, I would often drive across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods, it takes about a half hour. I’d walk among the ancients as a young woman, I was in college then. I felt so inspired. In the years since, in my adult life, I still walk among the ancients and I feel at peace. I treasure every tree, every bird, every whisper of the stream, in the fog and in all weather. It seems to me that this love will hold true for all the rest of my days. My deepest appreciation goes to the men and women who have loved and preserved this magical forest so that the rest of us may have “a place to play in and a place to pray in” *. In this sound story, I hope that I have helped you to feel even a fraction of the safely, inspiration and peace that I have known here.

return to Among Giants Wild Sound Story

(*quote by John Muir)

Swimming with whales

Sat, 3 May 2008 11:12:16 -0700

Thank you, Bernie Krause and your ultra cool Wild Sanctuary, once again for jump starting my project with the gorgeous whale song that starts Hero’s Journey, and for your ongoing encouragement and support. If not for my initial meeting with Bernie, I may not have embarked on my own long and worthwhile journey to create this nature education experience.

Creating Hero’s Journey was an experience that was both exhilarating and challenging. First of all, most of my recording took place in December, January and February, the wettest and wildest part of our Northern California year. Recording equipment doesn’t like to get wet, to say the least. I was also at my wit’s end to get recordings that didn’t include the sound of umbrellas, rain suits or building overhangs. I’ve since discovered that I had an option to keep my microphones dry -- a condom. I kid you not. Steve Sargeant, producer of The Wildebeat, told me about this at the Nature Sound Society workshop this past June. I’m looking forward to trying it this winter... I think!

P.S. Salmon really are heroes in my book.

In the beginning...

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:19:39 -0700

Well here we are... together at last.

In this wild weblog, NOTE CATCHER, you’ll get the behind-the-scenes look at what makes a wild sound story. For whatever time you like and in whatever way pleases you, I hope you’ll enjoy your stay and come back again and again.

Love,

Gina