Wildwoods Wisdom

Ellsworth Jaeger was an educator, author and curator of the Buffalo Museum of Science in Buffalo, New York. Born in 1897` Jaeger’s early inspiration was author and Scouting founder Ernest Thompson Seton. Jaeger later became one of Seton’s associates and business partners. He was an early television commentator and published seven books about nature and the outdoors, two of which are still in print.

My favorite Jaeger book is Wildwoods Wisdom. In it Jaeger records the ‘rich American folklore ‘ of living in the woods. Clear explanations accompany wonderful illustrations intended to help us learn to be less dependent on ‘ the myriad of jingle jangle gadgets of some of our modern outdoorsmen ‘. Although his treatment of the subject may be a bit coarse by our standards Jaeger clearly revered Native Americans their knowledge and their traditions.

No one can read this book without itching to try some of the ideas and techniques Jaeger illustrates.

Wildwoods Wisdom at Amazon