Dear Friends,
Do you get outside as much as you’d like to?
Last week I learned that, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends 93% of their life indoors. Concerning, sad and not surprising. Most people work indoors, and work takes up a lot of our waking hours. As much as I’d like to deny it, I fit into this category as well.
We grow a lot of food at our home, thanks to my husband, Colin. He is not an “average American” and spends many hours a day outside—working on our gardens, building, fixing and creating. Thanks to him we have homegrown organic food in our life—kale, spinach, zucchini, peppers, beans, tomatoes, squash, carrots, onions, garlic, strawberries, blackberries, grapes and more. He is also an orchardist, and has nurtured a prolific amount of fruit trees, including, apples of every variety, lemons, plums, cherries, figs, kiwi, guava, olives, almonds, pluot, apriums (cross between apricots and plums), pears and persimmons.
Harvest from today
When harvest comes, it is abundant, and we’re often caught unprepared with what to do with all the food, besides using what we can and giving it away to others. Last year I vowed that I would take time to make jams, butters, sauces and other yummy treats that I can give away to friends and use throughout the year.
That effort started last week. On Thursday my husband and I harvested a big basket of plums, apples, greens, zucchini and blackberries. In preparation for a “pie party” yesterday, my daughter, her friend and I made two pies—blackberry and apple. I also made my first plum butter to put in small glass jars and share.
Plum butter, blackberry pie and apple crumble pie
It is so satisfying to use the fruit we grow on our own property to create food to share. And, thanks to our food forest and gardens, I have a reason to get outside more than I might have otherwise.
On Thursday night, two friends and I joined a large group of women for a full moon hike. The weather was perfect as we climbed to the top of a mountain in Wilder Ranch State Park. The sun was setting as we started the hike, and the moon was visible in all its glory by the time we reached the top.
After a snack of strawberries, cherries and chocolate, we howled at the moon together. An owl flew across the full moon right at that moment. It was magical. We walked down the mountain by the light of the full moon.
We know being outside, especially in nature, is good for us, so how do we do more of it?
- Sign up for a hike or outdoor excursion that someone else has organized. You’re more likely to do it if you’ve made a commitment. On Thursday night before the full moon hike I was tired but went anyway because I had friends going and I had already paid a small fee.
- Take a walk before or after work. One small strategy that helps me (when I do it!) is to get into my “outdoor” clothes first thing in the morning and after work, so I’m ready to go.
- Identify the one or two outdoor activities that you love, and schedule at least one in the next couple of weeks—swimming, gardening, hiking, kayaking, golfing, etc.
- If you’re a parent, go outside with your kids. If you live near your own parents, siblings or friends, share the love and get them outside too.
- Plant something in dirt, in your yard or in a pot.
In support of this last strategy, getting your hands in dirt is not just calming, it’s also good for your body. A strain of bacterium in soil, Mycobacterium vaccae, has been found to trigger the release of serotonin, which in turn elevates mood and decreases anxiety. And on top of that, this little bacterium has been found to improve cognitive function and possibly even treat cancer and other diseases.
Enjoy your time outside!
Barbara Fagan-Smith
CEO, ROI Communication
Chief Catalyst, Living ROI
I created Living ROI as a passion, to share what I’ve learned and support others who want to live more authentic, joyful and fulfilling lives. Please visit our website.
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