Connection with Nature

Spending time taking care of plants is one of the best ways to reconnect with the natural world. Maintaining a garden at your home and contributing towards the proliferation of community gardens is one of the most fulfilling ways to better understand life and the transfer of energy amongst living things.

When you grow plants you begin to understand how much the environmental conditions influence life and health. You begin to understand the hardships farmers and agriculturists experience in trying to grow products sustainably to provide sustenance for humanity.

When you grow your own crop you learn to trim the pieces that aren't yielding anything. Cut off the parts that are no longer useful and compost them; the composted trimmings provide nutrients that make the plant stronger.

When you grow things, you'll know when they're in season and when they bloom. You'll also come to understand that certain foods, when out of season here, have to be imported from the opposite side of the planet ‒ where the seasons are flipped ‒ increasing the energy and cost of getting them to your doorstep. Food imported from South America, for example, takes a significant amount of energy to reach our household.

Spending time in nature offers profound health benefits, both physical and mental. Immersing yourself in natural environments has been shown to reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure, and improve heart health. The fresh air, physical activity, and exposure to sunlight that come with being outdoors stimulate the release of endorphins and vitamin D production, contributing to better mood regulation and overall well-being. Moreover, time spent in green spaces has been linked to enhanced cognitive function, increased creativity, and even a stronger immune system.

Beyond its direct health benefits, time in nature also has a unique ability to reinforce the principles of minimalism and conscious living. Observing the natural world inspires mindfulness and gratitude for life's simple, essential elements. The rhythms of the earth remind us of the abundance already present, encouraging us to step away from the relentless pursuit of material goods. In nature, there is no clutter ‒ every element has a purpose, functioning in harmony with its surroundings. This natural simplicity serves as a model for our own lives, motivating us to eliminate excess and focus on what truly matters.

Nature also deepens our awareness of the impact of wasteful consumption on the environment. Witnessing firsthand the beauty of untouched landscapes or the effects of human activity, like pollution or deforestation, fosters a greater sense of responsibility to live sustainably. Spending time outdoors cultivates a stronger connection to the planet, making us more mindful of our choices and how they affect ecosystems. This connection can inspire habits like reducing waste, conserving resources, and adopting minimalist lifestyles.

Ultimately, time in nature not only helps us build habits to abstain from wasteful consumption, it heals the body and mind. It also nurtures a philosophy of living that prioritizes simplicity, sustainability, and intentionality. It reminds us of the value of living lightly, respecting the world we inhabit, and finding fulfillment in experiences rather than possessions.

If a life well lived is a function of how much energy you consumed or how much pollution you've produced, then I choose not to participate. I choose not to qualify my life by how much I consumed. Quality life is one of contentment and peace, having complete confidence that you've done what you needed to do and become who you needed to be while living as minimally and sustainably as possible.

Putting It Into Practice

What you can do today:

• Spend a deliberate stretch of time outside today, screen-free.
• Start a small plant or garden, or tend one you already have.
• Take a walk and notice what's in season where you live.

Longer-term shifts:

• Build daily or weekly time in nature into your routine as something non-negotiable.
• Volunteer with local greening, planting, or restoration efforts.
• Advocate for parks, trees, and accessible green space in your community.

By the numbers:

• A single healthy tree pulls roughly 20–25 kg of CO₂ from the air each year once mature ‒ on the order of a tonne over its lifetime (USDA Forest Service).
• The larger lever is collective: protecting mature urban canopy and green space stores and sequesters carbon at a scale no individual seedling can match, which is why advocating for parks and trees often outweighs any single planting.