So, by now you have probably thought about getting out into nature. It has become pretty common to hear that time spent outside and nature immersion are beneficial for your health. But what is intention without action?
Now is the time to actually do what we have been thinking and talking about. It is not enough to sit inside for the next 15 years reading National Geographic or your favorite travel blog and passing it off as some far off dream you can not achieve. You deserve to give yourself precious time in nature.
Urban, suburban, rural, farm, mountain, desert, prairie; you name it, you can find spots within walking distance from your home to begin your transition into spending time in nature. The plants you each see may be different, the temperature may vary, the common animals may range from anole to armadillo, but we can all still all follow similar general guidelines here. We are all in this together.
Have you ever noticed that abandoned house or vacant lot with the overgrown “weeds”, tall grass, and rickety fences in your neighborhood? The place you were probably told to stay away from as a child or snuck into as a teenager; that is a treasure chest. Before we get started though, for this and examples to come, please check for any no trespassing signs.
Some incredible spots might be on private land, and although the allure of nature may tempt you, now is not the time to get arrested for trespassing. We are trying to be calm and peaceful here, not arguing with a stranger over land rights, remember?
Anyway, this once forbidden lawn and the unruly “hell strip”, the grassy rectangle between the sidewalk and the street, that many community members scoff at, is likely teeming with potential and more life than the average grass lawn or cement patch. “Weeds” love soil that has been disturbed by humans; they thrive in it, and it is likely here that you will find diversity.
At first glance, it may all look like green or brown nonsense, but if you look closer you will begin to see intricate forms take place before your eyes. Grasses, forbs, flowers, seed heads, stems, they will all be there intermingled in an un-orderly fashion. You may be a bit wary, but go ahead, touch them, maybe pick off a few leaves or flowers and crush the plant material between your fingers and give it a sniff(NOT if it is poison ivy!).
Look closely within the flowers or seed heads and take note of small details you would normally look over. When looking closely at a leaf you can start to notice small variations such as if the leaf is smooth, has small hairs or fuzz, or if the edges or margins are entire or have serrations.
Image by Jenna Outwater
If you are not ready to interact with plants in this way, no worries. You can simply find a quiet place to be still and take a few minutes to fully observe what is around you. You can ask your self simple questions such as “How does this look compared to other areas around here?” Do I notice more bird or insect noise?” “How do I feel after a few minutes with my senses engaged?’
I understand at first the differences may seem very subtle. You may be standing in a broken up patch of asphalt at the back of a parking lot, or along a creek that is running through a cow pasture, or near train tracks that run through town. No matter where you stand, we are still in this together, and the land you stand on is valuable in many ways.
In all seriousness, one thing I ask of you is to not expect sparks to fly and lives to change immediately. You aren’t going to step outside and instantly become cured of all that ails you. Instead, you will be changed in subtle, gentle ways, which may not be apparent at first.
You and the land will start to form a slow, patient relationship. This will be different for everyone, and I am sure some people are probably writing this off as “tree-hugging gobbledygook.” I urge you to look past that perception.
Image by Jenna Outwater
Instead of scrolling on social media for an extra 10 minutes, go down the road and see what you can find. Riding a tractor or lawnmower all day? Take a minute to stretch your legs and go see what is along the edges of the fence or water body that is not within the machinery’s grasp. If you are really stuck in an urban area, look up. Birds sometimes make nests in rain gutters or in the letters of big illuminated store names.
Depending on the time of year, those same gutters may also be holding insect larvae. For inspiration on places close by, here are some ideas: roadsides, vacant lots, along fences, along creeks or drainage basins, old wells, under big rocks, on the side of a dock, near the empty plant containers in front of a store, around the edges of a barn, under a broken down car, and so on.
When I was a small child, I remember always checking puddles for any fish swimming around. I do not remember if I ever divulged this to adults, but I had a sneaking suspicion that if the puddles were around long enough they may be able to contain life. While it may be childish to expect to see a fish in a puddle on a suburban street, I was on to something.
“Puddles” that go by names such as ephemeral or vernal pools in many ecosystems, are important to the life cycles of many species. It is exactly this kind of inner curiosity that can bring the beauty, wonder, and sometimes downright harshness, of the natural world to you, from wherever you reside. When we stay curious, we learn, and we immerse ourselves in the now, in reality. From this reality, we can understand and grow, just like the wildlife around you.
Image by Jenna Outwater
Even if you don’t recognize a single plant, animal, or insect by name, that is okay. You do not need to. If you want to, you will in time. For now, it is simple enough to breathe some fresh air outside of four walls and look a little bit more closely at your surroundings. One step, one minute outside at a time.
Be sure to subscribe to Critterfacts and check back here each week to learn how to immerse yourself in nature from anywhere! We are rooting for you, and are thrilled to have you in our community!
