The Beautiful Wild
A 12-Week Course and Book by Richele Baburina & Ashley Olander.
*NOW WITH ADDITIONAL BONUS CONTENT
My hope is that these lessons result in habits of lifelong joy—that you and your family will notice the beauty, receive the gifts Nature has to offer, and become good stewards of the earth. - Richele B.
Welcome to The Beautiful Wild - a course designed by Richele Baburina to explore and work with nature’s gifts while developing and deepening your family’s relationship with the natural world and one another.
The course is self-paced and flexible. Choose one project a month for a full year of adventure or take a few nice-weather days to forage supplies found in the outdoors, while saving the projects themselves for rainy days.
Follow along in a linear fashion to experience the interconnectedness of nature, take lessons based on the season, or choose each in à la carte fashion according to your child’s interests.
If you live in the US or Canada, you'll receive a beautiful 132-page companion book photographed by Ashley Olander. (If you live elsewhere, you'll receive access to a PDF version of the book (digital only).
Note: Due to mailing costs and failure rates, we are no longer able to ship the book to any other country besides the USA and Canada. You can still purchase the course and a PDF copy of the book will be made available to you; however, we are unable to ship the book overseas.
Nature provides endless inspiration and materials for your exploration...
You’ll put your best foot forward with sustainable practices for mindful foraging and instructions for preserving your items.
Your finds will be used in other lessons, such as botanical stamping—simple enough for little hands yet offering open-ended design choices for older children and teens.
Many of the lessons result in wonderful gifts—such as the Ornament of Everlasting Beauty.
Heads, hands, and hearts are engaged as you learn to fashion a crochet hook—from choosing the right stick to revealing the hook within.
You’ll also make willow charcoal, a medium dating back to ancient times, and gather natural earth pigments to turn into paint.
Cultivate an artist’s hand and eye while creating botanical contour drawings and atmospheric landscapes.
Art and science come together as elements from The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady are incorporated into your own nature journal.
Learn a new watercolor technique to paint a full moon, or follow in the footsteps of a young Emily Dickinson by creating your own herbarium. Nature provides endless inspiration for exploration, so let your imagination run wild.
$59
132-page book to US & Canada only
Table of Contents
Lesson 1: Foraging Winter Weeds & Wildflowers
Lesson 2: Stamping with Poppy Seed Heads
Lesson 3: Ornament of Everlasting Beauty
Lesson 4: Whittling a Crochet Hook
Lesson 5: Willow Drawing Charcoal
Lesson 6: Botanical Contour Drawing
Lesson 7: Painting with Foraged Pigments
Lesson 8: Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady
Lesson 9: Atmospheric Landscapes
Lesson 10: Painting Full Moons
Lesson 11: The Lore & Lure of Pussy Willow
Lesson 12: Immortal Flowers
Bonus Online Content
Lesson 13: Watercolor Leaves with Confidence
Lesson 14: How to Paint a Spiral Shell
Lesson 15: Nature Journaling a White Clover
Lesson 16: Nature Journal a Mushroom
Lesson 17: Nature Journaling Prairie Grass
Lesson 18: Paint a Pinecone
Lesson 19: Brush Draw Berries
Lesson 20: Watercolor a Winter Wreath
Lesson 21: Painting a Turnip
Lesson 22: Nature Journal a Rock
Lesson 23: Watercolor Egg Painting
Instructional Videos
Each lesson includes a video tutorial where Richele Baburina shares the project, tutorial, or lesson for that day's study.
What you experience and learn here extends well beyond each lesson. A pussy willow bed invites open-ended play.
Contour drawing becomes a tool for capturing both portraits and botanicals. Foraged pigments make meaningful souvenirs wherever you go. You might even learn to crochet with your own handmade crochet hook.
And the list goes on.
Nature provides endless inspiration and materials for your exploration, so let your imagination run wild in The Beautiful Wild.
Richele Baburina, the author, is an avid naturalist, writer, dreamer, and painter. She resides in the foothills of the Appalachians in NE Tennessee. Though her children have graduated, they continue to go on nature walks together. Her artwork can be found online at Ricochet Rabbit Studio.
Ashley Olander is a South Carolina-based photographer and homeschool mom of three. With a passion for hiking and documenting life, she captures authentic moments and the beauty of nature. Her work reflects a love for adventure and the everyday joys of motherhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for the book to arrive?
The book should arrive at US addresses within 3 weeks, but we'll do our best to get it there sooner. It may take longer for shipments to Canada.
Can you ship internationally?
Note: Due to mailing costs and failure rates, we are no longer able to ship the book to any other country besides the USA and Canada. You can still purchase the course; however, we are unable to ship the book overseas.
What ages is this course geared toward?
We designed it for children elementary-aged and up. But no age is too young or old to enjoy the inspiration, tutorials and adventures. The wonderful benefit of learning together is that everything is adaptable - from skill (art and crafts) to interest (content and conversation).
Do you sell copies of the book separately?
Sorry, not right now. This offer is for the course and the book together.
Do Wild + Free members get discounts?
Yes! Please log-in to your membership account and visit this page before you purchase the course for a $10 discount code. If you're not currently a member, sign-up here first, then visit this page for the discount code.
Do you offer refunds?
Sorry, all purchases are final. If you'd like to know what others think of the course, keep an eye on the Wild + Free Instagram account and comments.
Does the course actually last 12 weeks?
We release the entire contents of the course to you upon purchase, so you can take as long or as little time as you'd like to complete it.
How long do I have access to the course? For as long as you need it.
