fish, trees, rocks, structures, springs, rivers the list goes on and there are subsets within the list items as well….nature truly gives us endless possibilities to be de- lighted, enlightened, wowed, mentally challenged, emotionally nurtured, and perhaps most importantly in our society, unplugged to recharge. 3. Outdoor guide, natural navigator, naturalist, forager, mushroom expert Eric Juday from High Point: “The techniques for foraging specifically that I use when I head out into nature are switching back and forth from horizon to the forest floor, horizon, to forest floor". He says he is navigating and foraging at the same time. He will look at a topo map before heading out to see the “guard rails”, making men- tal notes of the major land features, making a mental blueprint of the area and he also uses wind, sun reference, trees, landscape and natural features to navigate (disclaim- er, please utilize a map/compass/gps un- less you are learning with a mentor or at least have them stowed away for reference to get back). Eric mentions having a men- tor when foraging is crucial because nature makes “doubles” of plants or mushrooms to fool you, many have a look alike that one is poisonous but to the well trained, one is not. Start by studying books, pictures and have a mentor along to show you specific plants. If natural navigation in- trigues you, I suggest “The Natural Naviga- tor” by Tristan Gooley.
All of the outdoor observation experts spoken with stress the importance of slow- ing down. Tom Brown in his book previ-
ously mentioned says SIT DOWN. Don’t move. Become the forest, as the alpha predator (humans), animals can sense us as a danger so it is imperative that we become very quiet and very still. This skill is so important for our deep need to re- charge. We cannot expect to actually get the full benefits of nature if we rush through or blast into the forest with all of our stresses, our expectations, our fervor, our over active minds, our over active eyes, twitchy limbs, cell phones dinging, and numbed senses. Slow down, sit down, close your eyes, breathe deeply. What do you hear, what do you smell, what do you see? Try to move your eyeballs (without moving your head) slowly, ever so slowly to scan the forest floor, then middle way up the trees, then all the way to the tree tops. Stop and stare…what do you see? If you see something with your peripheral vision, don’t make a quick movement with your head or eyes…resist a quick intake of breath. The wild animals are not spend- ing more than 11 hours per day looking at screens and flashing lights, they are still sensitive to every sound, every movement and anything that is out of place in their world because for them it is still essential for their survival. No, most of you do not hunt for your
food much these days, or hunt for wild edibles, but could it be said that our sur- vival still relies on nature and our connec- tion to nature? Besides the basic needs from nature that we have to have that is so removed from us (food from grocery store, water pumped from somewhere, shelter with thick walls and closed windows
Elizabeth Bozeman, MD
www.RobinhoodIntegrativeHealth.com Elizabeth Bozeman, MD
Dr. Elizabeth Bozeman is a Board Certified Family Physician. She is also board Certified in Preventive, Holistic and Integrative Health. She trained at the Mayo Clinic and has been practicing for 15 years. She has a passion for helping people get better using a more natural and holistic approach. She helps patients with balancing hormones, thyroid function, fatigue and offers prolotherapy for musculoskeletal injuries.
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separating us from the outdoors), could it be that the immersion, the observation, the connection with us and nature is the an- swer or one of them to the increases in depression, exploding suicides amongst our youth, higher than ever drug use, health crisis’s and that list goes on as well.
4. Stesha and Jeremy Warren of Eliana’s Garden in Stoneville, NC are avid forag- ers, trackers, educators and forest farm- ers. They say our connection to nature is absolutely vital for the future health and well-being for us and for our children and our children’s children. If you don’t know where to start and wild edibles interests you, they have a Spring Forage Foray on May 4th you can sign up for as well as other interactive activities to get you started.
All the experts stress that having a mentor can make a huge difference in becoming more of a nature observer, not just a passerby. Stesha suggests a great way to head out in a mindful way is to jot down all your “to do list” items before you go into nature, to empty and free your mind and the constant chatter so you can expe- rience nature in a deeper way. Stesha and Jeremy’s favorite books include: Stalking the Wild Asparagus by Euell Gibbons and Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and not so wild) Places by Wildman Steve Brill. You can find them on Facebook, Instagram or their website: www.elianasgardens.wordpress. com
Nature observation. It is very possible
that Tom Brown was exactly right: “aware- ness of nature is the ‘voice of the spirit- that-moves-in-all-things’, and sings of our ancient heritage, and for those who listen, it awakens memories of what it is to be truly alive.”
JoAndra (Jo) Proia is the Outdoor Writ- er for Natural Triad. She published her f irst guidebook, “Piedmont Lakes” in the spring of 2017 and is an ACA Certified Kayak In- structor and Guide with GET:OUTDOORS WOMEN ON THE WATER, a kayak shop in Greensboro. She can be reached at
jo.proia@
naturaltriad.com or LIKE her page at
www.facebook.com/getoutdoorswom- enonthewater. See ad on page 20.
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