Hello Stick Lovers wherever you are. We're here to share our love of, ideas about, and opinions on sticks. This is for all you "stickers", stick lovers like me. Whether you use a cane to get around like me, like to hike a trail leaning on a walking stick, or if you like to carve or paint them, I hope you'll "stick" around with me.
I'll use the term "stick" to mean two things; a) as in to stay with or attach to, and, b) as in doing things with sticks, like looking for, or collecting them, perhaps carving, burning or painting them, or working with and using them. I love the double meaning. Check out lovesticks for more stick insights.
Why Use a Stick?
Not everyone needs a stick to get around, but a lot of us like sticks nonetheless, even if it's just to carry one. Did you know that a cane can relieve as much as a quarter of your body weight from your legs? Think about how much easier it will be to get around, not to mention the relief you'll feel in your feet and back. Canes also make it a lot easier to maintain your balance and that makes you more secure on your feet. In centuries past, the cane was carried as a fashion accessory and not just an orthopedic device or aid. In some instances, canes were also carried as a means of personal protection.
There are many reasons why people use walking sticks, not the least of which, because it's "cool." Whether it's a natural stick just found in the woods or off the trail, a hiking staff purchased at an outdoor store, or an artfully decorated stick with carvings or paintings on it, a walking stick will give you support and help you maintain your balance on uneven terrain. So get yourself a stick and start walking even it's just down your street, around your block or neighborhood, or perhaps your local park.Walking should be fun for all and more than just a mode of transportation. It's been proven to be a great form of exercise and a most effective way to stay healthy, maintain muscle tone and youthful vigor.
Carry Sticks aka Swagger Sticks
Okay, so what is a carry stick? Well, it's just a term I coined for a stick you carry, like a baton, a riding crop or a swagger stick. It's just something to have and to hold when you take your stroll. If it's long enough, you can lean on it. You can use it to keep aggressive animals at bay or to rustle the brush to check for snakes, or bugs, if you're walking off trail, but, most of all, because they are so nice. See what a great conversation piece a nicely carved or decorated stick becomes.
Where Can I Get a Stick?
Believe it or not, sticks are where you find them, they're all around you. Right smack dab in the middle of a city you will find sticks in empty lots, laying about in fields or parks or off nature trails. I need to mention that it is against the law to remove any natural objects from our National Parks and many state parks as well. Also, I don't recommend cutting down tree branches from private property without asking first. The sticks I'm referring to are the ones that come from dead trees or from trees that have been pruned. When in doubt, ask. People have given me sticks they've had sitting around for years. They're either trimmings from their trees or they found them in the trash after someone else trimmed theirs. People are always picking them up, especially kids, though they can't tell you why. I think we pick them up because we all just love sticks. Streets are often littered with trees after big storms and, if you're not fast enough, they're usually ground up into mulch. A friend's gardener has given him great sticks pruned from his customers' trees. He knows my friend is a carver and is always saving sticks and branches for him.
If you're fortunate to live in the country, you'll find sticks everywhere, in the woods and along the banks of rivers and streams. I've found really great sticks in the slash piles by the side of the road, especially when clean-up crews are clearing vegetation for widening highways or fire hazard control. In Florida, there is a tree called melaleuca. It is a member of the eucalyptus family. They were introduced to the state in the early 1800's and are now considered a nuisance. The state is spending millions on melaleuca removal. Perhaps you can pitch in and give them a helping hand. Go get a stick from their slash piles.