Introduction
Nature can seem far away—especially in the city. I grew up in the suburbs and have lived in apartments my whole adult life, so I understand the temptation to think that a wilder world lies beyond the city limits. The natural and the human-made can be at odds here in our urban and suburban spaces: trees are cleared for new construction, traffic noise drowns out birdsong, and streetlights blot out all but the brightest stars.
But nature can also seem far away because of the limited way we define it. In the collective imagination, nature is a vacation destination, not the fluttering, blooming, unkempt reality that sprouts through pavement and wings its way through superstore parking lots. We revere national parks while overlooking and undervaluing everyday nature—the wild plants, creatures, and worlds thriving in the urban and suburban places where so many of us live.
Yet it’s here. Nature’s wonders are nearer than most city dwellers realize. A vacant lot can have as much biodiversity as a patch of forest. Some animal species—such as coyotes and gray squirrels—thrive in urban environments. Every backyard garden, street tree, and wildflower-sprouting median counts as nature, and each is one more way we can experience the natural world if we’re willing.
This is a guided journal for people who want to find peace and joy in the natural wonders that await in ordinary places. The process is simple and moves at the pace of the seasons: the journal is divided into spring, summer, autumn, and winter, with a chapter for each month. It’s best to start the journal at the beginning of a season, but you can also start with the current month. Don’t forget to refer to the Resources section on page 207 for books and apps that will help you identify plants, animals, and celestial phenomena.
No matter when you begin using it, I hope that as you explore nature in the year ahead, this guided journal will sharpen your senses so that you can find nature right where you are and see the magic in the ordinary.
Copyright © 2024 by Andrea Debbink. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
