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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 2017)
Wednesday, March 22, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 17 Of a certain age… By Sue Stafford Columnist I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by nature. Our house sat on an acre-plus lot, containing numerous mature apple and pear trees tended by my father and overflow- ing flowerbeds that were my mother’s domain. Every summer the back third of our property burst into a plenti- ful vegetable garden. There were multitudes of forts and secret hiding places both in the yard and in the many-acre wood behind our property. Forested trails, a lazy stream, and an abundant hillside of blackberries were all mine for exploring and pretending. Throughout my child- hood I had four-legged com- panionship — dogs, cats, and even a pet raccoon. Borrowed and rented horses filled my longing for the equine experience. Now, all these many years later, I am again sur- rounded by towering ever- green trees, a meandering creek, two feline compan- ions, local deer, and spec- tacular mountains that never fail to take my breath away. In the intervening years, I developed a passion for gar- dening, eventually sharing my love of nature as a hor- ticultural therapist, working with people facing serious mental-health challenges. It was during that time of life that I witnessed proof- positive the value of nature for healing our human ills — physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Author Richard Louv wrote a book about the importance of children hav- ing the opportunity to be immersed in the outdoors. Pediatricians have begun prescribing vitamin N (nature) for their patients. Outdoor school is again gaining popularity for fifth- and sixth-graders to experi- ence learning in an outdoor setting. Here in Sisters, where we are surrounded by nature’s bounty, students have multiple opportunities through IEE and other pro- grams to experience Mother Nature’s gifts and to appre- ciate the need for steward- ship of those gifts. While they are learning, there are other more subtle benefits accruing. Studies have shown that time spent in nature posi- tively impacts self-esteem, mood, and social interaction. Stress levels are reduced, people feel happier, and creativity increases. Other studies suggest a lessening of depression and/or anxiety occur in nature. In Japan, forest bathing is encouraged, based on the belief that spending time walking in the woods has therapeutic effects. Forest schools in Finland and Scotland are kindergartens for children up to age seven who spend most of their day outdoors, regardless of the weather, interacting with nature. Sisters’ own Brett Miller, a veteran of the Iraq war, is providing experiences for our wounded veterans to heal in nature through his Warfighter Outfitters. Being outdoors, hunting and fish- ing, in communion with nature and each other, helps to heal the scars of war. Perhaps the reason so many people love Sisters is because of the effect our surroundings have on us. Scientific studies point to increased creativity, increased feelings of gener- osity, and a stronger sense of community coming from experiencing the great out- doors on a regular basis. What if you can’t get out and hike the trails or kayak the lakes? A pleasing view out a hospital window has shown to improve healing time for a patient. Planting a few seeds in a pot on a windowsill is a belief in the future. When you plant that seed and wait for it to sprout, you believe you will see a time when that seed becomes a plant. Sitting quietly outside, listening to the birds sing- ing, feeling the breeze in my hair, and the warmth of the sun on my face, or smell- ing the new-mown grass helps quiet my chattering mind, soothes my soul, and reminds me of my place in the universe. As the daylight lengthens and the temperatures warm, make time to get outdoors. Immerse yourself in nature. OF TH E IS O N E H T E CITY ffends you, o y it c e th f If the noise o e birds and th h it w y, a en you m go afield wh ubles not; o tr t a th fe li the wild, free placid sky e th d n a in gra are The growing though you d n a , e . ic o v f o e is with you rs e iv have a kind n u e th s of t; oundlessnes b e th , e n lo a m and forge a re d d n a ld Go afie ge d when n a h c re a u o see that y of the city and you will ts h g li e th d n you return a twilight . gleam in the ann ~ ~ Max Ehrm Metolius Lawn Maintenance Your friends in the spring-cleaning to weekly lawn- care and everything-in-between business. 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