Hey There
I'm Janel! I have a deep love of all things nature and the outdoors. I was born at the beach and then moved to the mountains much later in life. While I love the mountains I feel most at home at the beach and spend most of my free time there. I love learning about the treasures the ocean has to offer and just want to share all that I have learned with you!
Welcome to Mountain Momma
All things about the beach and seashells
From as young as I can remember I used to go to the beach and get so excited at every little piece of a shell that I found, like I had just won the lottery. There are so many treasures to find and the beauty of the item is all in the eye of the beholder. I think the saying "it's not the destination but the journey" also applies here... because if you think about it, it's pretty hard to have a bad day at the beach.
The older I got the more I wanted to know about the treasures I was finding. I started researching all I could about the ocean and everything in it. From the shells, water, sand, and all the animals that live there. I have learned so much and it feels kind of selfish to keep it all to myself.
So here I am sharing with you knowledge and information I have learned along the way with some products I have made to make the journey a little easier.
Leave No Trace
I do want to talk for a minute about ways to respect nature. I like to practice the Leave No Trace method. It is so important that we take care of nature so that it can take care of us. This is so much more than just not leaving any trash behind (which I hope we all know better than). There are 7 principles for the Leave No Trace and I will go over all of them here.
1. Plan ahead and prepare
Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
Check the tide charts for safety.
Repackage food to minimize waste.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Do not camp on beaches where it is not allowed.
Where you are allowed to camp on the beach only do so in designated areas.
Stay out of the sand dunes to protect the wildlife and the beach from eroding, it also protects the fragile ecosystem.
Use the boardwalks when walking onto the beach.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your site and rest of the area for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter.
Deposit solid human waste in holes dug 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. Cover and disguise the hole when finished.
Pick up all pet waste in disposal bags and put in the trash can.
Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from ocean and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.
4. Leave What You Find
Preserve the beach by not taking more than you need.
Leave any live specimens as you find them, if they are beached carefully return them to the ocean.
Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches or holes. If you see a hole fill it back in.
Take any sea glass you find, as this is not a natural component of the beach.
5. Minimize Campfire and Light Impacts
Check regulations first as most beaches don't allow for fires.
Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then cover cool ashes with sand.
6. Respect Wildlife
Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
If fishing and you catch a shark or stingray carefully and quickly cut the line and get them back in the water.
If you find a live specimen that has been beached carefully return it to the ocean by scooping up the sand underneath it, instead of picking the specimen up directly. Walk them to the ocean and lay them down.
Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, and dusk or dawn.
Don't use flashlights on beach at night unless they have a red light.
If you find a sea turtle nest call the local authorities to let them know.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
Be courteous. Yield to other users.
Don't run through people on the beach as it kicks sand on them.
Avoid setting up next to people fishing.
Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.
Fine Art Print Shop
While I am a wedding and elopement photographer taking pictures of landscapes holds a special place in my heart. I love getting out into any kind of nature and capturing it through the eyes of my lens so I can remember ho I felt in that moment. I take photos on all my journeys and have selected the best ones from a variety of groups that are available for a small price in my shop. I hope that you find one that you love, print it out and frame it and get inspired daily. There really is no better feeling than exploring a brand new place for the first time and really getting to take it all in.
Products
When I started my journey I went looking for some products to help keeping track of everything easier. When I didn't find what I was looking for I decided to make it for myself that way it would be how I wanted it to be anyways. I have these products so useful that I want to share them with all of you as well. I think that you will truly love these products just as much as I do and it really will help you in your beach-combing journey. So have fun checking them out and using them yourselves.
Beach Guides
There is nothing I love more than visiting a new place and beaches are no exception! I would love to be able to visit every beach in the world one day but for now I will have to stick with exploring every beach on the East coast from Virginia to Florida. I have OCD so I always do a ton of research when visiting a new place to come up with a plan to utilize my time well and see everything I want to. I always wished there was an easier way to get all the facts I needed to make those decisions. That is when I started making beach guides so that people wouldn't have to work as hard as I did.
I do charge for these guides just because it takes me so long to make them, but they are jam packed with information I have compiled and found from experience. These are a game changer in saving time when trying to make plans of your own. I just know you will enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed making them.
