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Sadie • November 18, 2020

Taking the Forest Home

These days, I doubt I’m alone in feeling like I’m missing the opportunity to get out in the world and appreciate nature with as much ease as I used to. Whether it’s taking a trip to one of Quebec’s million lakes or just going down to Mont-Royal, being cooped up at home has made it significantly more difficult to get my recommended dose of mother nature.

Given the circumstances, I’ve been trying to find ways to bring nature into my life, even if I can’t go to it. So, what are some ways to try to experience the joys of nature, while still respecting quarantine?
  • Of course, if you have a car and can do so safely, taking a trip out of the city in a way that doesn’t put you within 6 feet of other people can be a great way to soak in some majestic sights!


  • Try taking care of some plants – it’s a great way to practice your green thumb, even when the temperature dictates that we can’t have a proper outside garden! And if you’re worried about killing them – don’t worry, we all are – there are tons of little cacti and spider plants that can live through pretty much anything.


  • Pay attention to the plants around your neighborhood. Get to know them! Are there any particularly characterful trees? Some big ferns? Even if it’s just something like a nice rosebush someone down the street has, it can really improve your state of mind to let yourself absorb the details.



  • Does your neighborhood have any nice parks you can visit? If so, mask up and explore some of the urban greenery. You’d be surprised at how much it can still fulfill your body’s inherent need to experience nature, even if you’re not out in the wild woods.
"As I settle (back) into a more intense quarantine due to Montreal’s reentry into the “red zone”, I’ve been trying to draw my focus to the beautiful parts of my now-smaller world. "
A Neighborhood of Trees
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve found myself paying attention to the trees in my neighborhood. As I settle (back) into a more intense quarantine due to Montreal’s reentry into the “red zone”, I’ve been trying to draw my focus to the beautiful parts of my now-smaller world. For someone who’s exposure to the outside world is largely restricted to daily walks through Little Italy’s back alleys, this has meant putting conscious effort towards noticing trees.

There’s one, just behind my building, whose leaves went up in a flash of red as soon as fall started, and stayed like that for weeks before all falling off overnight. There’s one that drapes over an alley I like to walk down, bent over like an old man. There’s a tall, gnarly one whose leaves turned such a deep brown it was almost purple. Noticing them more than I usually would, I’ve come to think of these trees as neighbors, each with their own character.

It’s been surprising, how rewarding it is getting to know each of the trees I pass by every day. I remember back when quarantine first hit, I was overwhelmed by panic – how would I handle being stuck inside for months? It turns out, even when you can’t (or, well, shouldn’t) go exploring the wide world, you can find smaller worlds to explore, by focusing on the little things.
Flora and Fauna, From Home

On the note of little things, like I mentioned earlier, it can really pay off to find ways to bring nature into your own home. Last week, we talked about the idea of making your living space cozy à la Scandinavian (check out "Surviving Cold Season Confinement: The Nordic Way" below) – part of that means making sure that, even if you’re spending a lot of time inside, you have a corner of the outside world in with you. For me, that means houseplants – lots of them. I like to surround my desk with ferns and succulents, to make my workspace feel that much more welcoming.

 

It can also be really nice to make sure you have access to some furry little creature to keep your spirits high. If you have a pet at home, give them the love they deserve! Whether it’s making the cardboard cat palace of your kitty’s dreams, or just getting in some extra couch cuddle time, you can’t go wrong connecting with some of mother nature’s more domesticated children. I don’t have a pet of my own, but to be honest I’ve been offering to walk my friend’s dog for them just so I can get some time in with the little guy. (His name is Muesli, he looks like a mop, and I would die for him.) Turns out just regularly spending some time with an animal who gets a year’s worth of delight from literally just seeing me once a week and getting to smell piles of leaves outside does wonders for the serotonin!


Another trick is to take the opportunity to adopt some more natural lifestyle choices. Whether it’s committing to composting, trying to reduce waste, or treating yourself to some all-natural snacks or beauty products, bringing a dash of green into your daily habits can help you root yourself in a connection to the natural world.

Keep It Green

Well, I hope that this gives you ideas about how to keep a connection with nature going for you! It’s so important to do, especially these days. Our bodies need to keep that connection thriving, and doing so can help replenish all of our needs! Have you been struggling with reconnecting to nature during quarantine? What have you been doing to cultivate an oasis of greenery in your life? Here’s hoping you can keep your natural connection flourishing!

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