Community Voices ⎸ Saying yes to strange and difficult things
Emily Ford writes about the experiences that shaped her relationship with nature and the outdoors.
nature
32 posts
Community Voices ⎸ Forest bathing in St. Cloud stirs up everyday magic of parks, people
"Go outside and be your own guide – walk, contemplate, or daydream on your own. And next time you get the chance to share that experience with other people, with space to open your mind and senses in new ways, take that opportunity," writes Nora Hertel.
'We can't ignore the reality': Minnesota community works together to prepare for wildfire
Residents of Eagles Nest Township, a small community southwest of Ely, Minn., have spent more than a decade preparing for wildfires. Here's a look at their efforts:
'The Connection Cure' dives into biophilia, forest bathing
"To stop the mental loop of stress about stress, science says our best bet is to get out of our heads and get outside," writes Julia Hotz in her book 'The Connection Cure.'
Not every plant takes root, but prairie interventions help with biodiversity
A St. Cloud church with a 15-acre prairie planted seedlings in 2022 that didn’t take off. Other plantings have worked. Here’s what we learned.
Community Voices ⎸ How nature invites us home
"I didn’t know why, but I felt alive in wild places," writes Alex Blondeau.
Drawn by Nature: Merlin app identifies unseen birds
Technology boosts appreciation for unseen singers, writes Lisa Meyers McClintick.
Community Voices ⎸ What happens when we make art with found materials
Project Optimist staff and readers are inspired by Mary Jo Hoffman to create art using found natural materials.
'This fire is not over for us': 3 years after the Greenwood Fire
The remote village of Isabella endured the brunt of the 2021 Greenwood Fire, leaving behind a burned landscape, piles of waste, and lots of questions.