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Many traditions are carried out throughout the year – holiday traditions, unique family traditions, community traditions. Many of those traditions have been altered this past year and will continue to be. While this might bring about feelings of sadness or loneliness, it also can be an opportunity to create some new traditions.

A growing body of science supports what we have known anecdotally for some time: time spent in nature makes us feel better. I’ll take more doses of that any time. How about you? Here are some ideas to consider if you’d like to incorporate some nature traditions into your life:

Go for walk after a holiday meal (or any meal, really). Generally, once holiday meals have been eaten, family and friends sit and socialize. For many, this will not be a possibility this year and it may be helpful to find a replacement activity. No matter the temperature, going for a walk after a large meal not only helps with digesting all that food, the fresh air and vitamin D will help boost your mood and energy. Being mindful of noticing the nature around you and appreciating the beauty you see will heighten your experience even more.

Make decorations from found nature. Wreaths, garlands, ornaments, center pieces… there are so many decorations that can be incorporated into annual celebrations. They don’t have to be just for holidays or special traditions. Give every day a little sprinkle of sparkle by adding special seasonal touches throughout your home. Crafting with found nature is budget-friendly, encourages us to get outside and notice nature, and is environmentally friendly. Studies also show that crafting has some health benefits including relieving stress, reducing anxiety, and boosting self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment.

• Nature Crafts for Kids
• Everlasting Harvest
• Foraged Art (if you’d like to create some ephemeral art outside)
• The Stick Book

Press leaves. Did you do this as a kid? I remember rounding up our heaviest books, putting newspapers between pages and anxiously awaiting the final, flattened results. Ah… fond memories! What do you do with those pressed leaves? Well, you may find some ideas in the resources listed above and can certainly find some ideas online but perhaps it’s enough to leave it as a seasonal tradition that gives rise to fond nostalgia.

Snail mail photos of nearby nature to loved ones. Bring your camera along for one some of your walks or when you head out to collect found nature and snap some photos of your favorite sights. Whenever you mail a card to a loved one in celebration of a special tradition, tuck one of your photos inside or print some as postcards and brighten some people’s day. What a nice surprise it is to find happy mail in your box!

Start a nature journal. A nature journal can be as simple as jotting notes in a blank notebook or writing a quick observation on a calendar (this is a wonderful option and the author lives nearby). You could add sketches/paintings, photos, poetry, and whatever else strikes your fancy. Perhaps you could start a collective journal with your household members. Another option is to keep a digital journal to share with friends and family all over who could also contribute their observations.

Keeping a nature journal helps deepen your connection with nature and learn seasonal rhythms. It also makes a wonderful keepsake to pass down to family.

• Nature journaling : learning to observe and connect with the world around you
• Keeping a nature journal : discover a whole new way of seeing the world around you
• The Laws guide to nature drawing and journaling

Decorate a tree or bush for the birds. Food supplies for our feathered friends are dwindling this time of year and setting up feeders helps them out. Turn it in to a fun tradition by choosing a tree or bush to decorate with popcorn and dried berry or fruit garland, pinecone feeders, and whatever else you can think of. This makes a lovely winter solstice activity.

Go on full moon walks (yes, even in the colder months). Some of our senses become more heightened and others won’t be as strong. You’ll see sights you don’t often get to and possibly hear unique sounds (or even a wonderful silence). It’s an experience you’ve got to try.

Whether it’s in your neighborhood or in a park, on pavement or on a trail, make sure you are prepared:

• Bring a flashlight or headlamp. It’s so much more fun to use it only when necessary but if you’d prefer to leave it on, try covering the lens with red cellophane to help your sight stay adjusted to the dark.
• If you walk a trail, know where it goes and tell someone where you’re headed. Take extra precaution or avoid wooded trails altogether during hunting season.
• Wear reflective gear.
• Be aware of traffic.

Bring nature inside. One tradition that can be very enjoyable is creating a nature display and changing it out with the shift in seasons. The first day of each season is the perfect time for a refresh. Preparing your collected nature provides and opportunity for reflection on experiences and personal connections to nature. There are also some health benefits to brining a bit of outdoors inside. For children, collecting and displaying nature finds is an affirmation of their interests and provides opportunity for further inquiry and connection.

If you incorporate nature into your traditions or will be trying some of these ideas, please do share by leaving us a comment.

Until next time,

Stay safe, be well and get outside & be curious.

Here are seven splendid things to enjoy outside during the latter half of October:

O – Obviously, the foliage! Peak hits our area around the first and second week of the month so it has just passed but there is still plenty of color to notice. Take a moment to pause and appreciate the foliage found around the library next time you visit. As leaves start to fall, take notice of which trees hold on to their leaves (this is called marcescence).

Although leaves of deciduous trees tend to steal the show, grasses are worth noticing. Many change colors as well, from shades of rich copper to dark red and even purple.

C – Creature watching: Squirrels and chipmunks are beginning to stock up on food (and can be quite entertaining to watch!); skunks and racoons are searching for shelters; beavers are repairing and building up their lodges. If you catch a glimpse of any of these creatures, pause for a few moments and watch their activities. You may learn something new about these common critters.

T – Trail walking. We are fortunate enough to have quite a few trails nearby (a short one right behind the library) and fall is a fabulous time to take advantage. The days are cool, birds are still singing, leaves rustle overhead and crunch under foot and the scent in the air has shifted – it’s a full sensory experience!

O – Observing the full moon. This month are we are treated to two! The October 1st full moon is called the Harvest Moon, the second (a Blue Moon), is called the Full Hunter’s Moon. The Old Farmer’s Almanac states that “Some folks believe that this full Moon was called the Full Hunter’s Moon because it signaled the time to go hunting in preparation for winter. Since the harvesters had recently reaped the fields under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily see the fattened deer and other animals that had come out to glean (and the foxes and wolves that had come out to prey on them).”

B – Bird watching. Birds are still migrating so you may catch a glimpse of a lesser seen species or two. There are also birds you’ll see in some seasons but not others. For example, while some American Robins stay, many migrate. You may notice that they have gone from your yard but can be found in other spots close by (like here at the library). Juncos and Carolina Wrens tend to be birds spotted in backyards during the fall and winter in our area but not typically throughout the summer. Are you noticing a change of feathered friends you see or a change in their behavior?

E – Embracing clear nights. It’s getting darker earlier and it’s not too cold to hang outside for a bit in the evenings to star gaze. Did you know that this month and next, Mars is at its closest point to Earth and at its brightest? NASA explains here. It’s also a great month to look for the galaxy of Andromeda – a spiral galaxy similar in appearance to our own Milky Way. Whatever you see, the night sky is a wondrous thing.

R – Reaping the harvest. It is possible to garden year round in Maine but this is typically the time to enjoy final big harvests of fresh produce. Whether you garden yourself or take advantage of local farm offerings, there is much to enjoy this time of year.

Until next time, be well, stay curious and get outside to notice nature!