How to Get Your Family Closer to Nature
The big cities of Canada, from Vancouver to Montreal, are hubs of activities, amenities, and attractions to keep households within enthralled. However, the concrete jungle eventually weighs heavy on the mind, body, and soul. You feel it, and your kids feel it, which is why you’ve pledged to spend more time outdoors. But how are you to do so when your house or condo is tucked into a heavily densified urban sprawl? Read ahead to find out how to get closer to nature amidst the ever-growing metropolis.
How to Connect to Nature More Often When Your Family Lives in the Big City
Look Up!
We know that your eye level shows little more than rows of buildings, but have you looked up? As the Inspiring Minds, Inspiring Finds video above indicates, there are a surprising number of rooftop gardens and food forests in each big city throughout Canada. Most are accessible to the public, and can be found on commercial office buildings, large hotels and resorts, libraries, museums, art galleries, and more. It seems as if a new crop pops up with each passing year, as developers are incentivized to add rooftop green-spaces to help their properties get LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.
Don’t know where they are? Perform a Google search for “rooftop gardens near me” and you’ll be delivered a list of results from your local municipal government in addition to Reddit discussions and even Yelp that let you know where to go.
Bring Nature to Your Home
In addition to exploring the rooftops of your city, you can get closer to nature by inviting it into your home. This is easy enough if you have a house or duplex with a yard, but most households seeking advice on this topic reside in condominiums. All that you need is a balcony/patio which can be used to create a garden space. With some simple supplies you can convert the concrete rectangle into a quaint outdoor oasis. where your kids and spend time digging, planting, watering, tending, and harvesting through most of the four seasons. What if your condo doesn’t have a balcony/patio? Create a cozy space by the largest window that gets the most exposure to sunshine, find some cute planters, and research simple food-bearing plants that your kids can grow indoors.
Discover Community Gardens and Public Greenhouses / Botanical Gardens
Every city has community gardens in addition to publicly accessible greenhouses and botanical gardens. Your household can get into the habit of visiting (or volunteering at) these natural spaces on a weekly basis. Haven’t seen or heard of any? Simply perform an online search for each of the following:
Seek Out and Shop at Nearby Farmers Markets
While farmer’s markets in the city may be set up in asphalt parking lots, your kids will be exposed to lush displays of seasonal fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices that will connect them to nature. In addition, the delightful conversations that you get into with local farmers and growers selling their harvest will be a breath of fresh air. They will be happy to talk to your kids about their food growing processes that may inspire their own at-home garden. Further, these knowledgeable individuals may provide you with helpful tips on where to find hidden gardens and farms around your urban area. They may even invite your family to check out their garden/farm on the outskirts of the city. Invaluable connections are made with people and nature alike at farmer’s markets near you.
Skip Cities When Taking Family Vacations
Does your family take a vacation every spring, summer, and/or winter? From now on only book trips to destinations without a skyscraper in sight! Swap hotels for cabins and resorts for tents, or at least look into short term rentals that offer unique outdoor vacation opportunities. For instance, did you know that there are a number of Airbnb treehouses across the country and continent for your family to enjoy? Your kids will love that idea! A number of travel platforms also off ecotourism options for families who want to support responsible travel and environmental sustainability. Changing your normal vacation plans will not only get you closer to nature, it will promote outdoor education and prevent learning loss for your kids.
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