bodymindy meets natural world

"The Pullitizer Prize, Harvard biologist, Edward O. Wilson, observes that "Only in the last moment of human history has the delusion arisen that people can flourish apart from the rest of the living world. Preliterate peoples were in intimate contact with a bewildering array of life forms." By contrast, as citizens of Western civilization we spend, according to Cohen, "an average of over 95 percent of our lives indoors, cloistered from nature. We live over 99 percent of our adult lives knowing nature through detached words, stories and pictures." This detachment of our psyche from its biological and psychological origins stressfully and hurtfully estranges us from creation, from nature's supportive, non-verbal wisdom, spirit and love within and about us." This loss creates the insatiable wants and greed that underlie our disorders. We become psychologically addicted to rewarding technologies and relationships that often have destructive side effects. The consequences of our alienation from nature manifest as the myriad of lasting personal, social and environmental problems which beset the modern world." Common Futures Magazine

Depressed? Go Play in the Dirt-
http://www.livescience.com/health/070411_happy_bacteria.html

"Sun exposure is perhaps the most important source of vitamin D because exposure to sunlight provides most humans with their vitamin D requirement. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun trigger vitamin D synthesis in skin. The seasons, geographic latitude, time of day, cloud cover, smog, and sunscreen affect UV ray exposure and vitamin D synthesis... Industrial pollution, which increases shade, also decreases sun exposure and may contribute to the development of rickets in children with insufficient dietary intake of vitamin D. It is important for individuals with limited sun exposure to include good sources of vitamin D in their diet."

More on urban gardening
http://www.wiretapmag.org/rights/43579/

Go Barefoot! Barefoot parks-
http://www.terraplana.com/news/go-barefoot-trentham-gardens-and-adventure-play-barfuss-park-barefoot-walk/

Learn how to make a bee garden- help the threatened honey bee and yourself! Did you know insect pollinators are responsible for 1/3 of our food crops' success?
http://nature.berkeley.edu/urbanbeegardens/