Faith and Aaron Running by hoyasmeg

Fall has arrived in the northern hemisphere; it’s time to throw open the windows, then run outside.

Throw Off Summer

Do you remember the joy of discovery you experienced as a child? Fall is the perfect time to recreate this with some simple ways to enjoy your garden.

5 Fall Ways to Play

#1 take what you are doing outside – I’m outside as I write this under the shade of my linden tree.

Can you take what you are doing outside? Lunch, reading, writing, thinking, even folding laundry – these can all be taken outside to your garden.

Turn your work into play as you deeply breathe the fresh air.

#2 lie under an oak tree and watch the leaves fall – have you listened to the sound of leaves falling? Right now, while I write, there is a busy squirrel building his nest in my oak tree. He’s very excited about the whole thing. His joy is rubbing off on me! How marvelous to be fresh and new, building a first nest – you don’t see a squirrel worrying. He enjoys the garden!

#3 collect nuts and leaves – any acorns you collect will save you work later (trust me, I have spent hours and hours this year digging up the oak trees the squirrels planted last year). While you are at it, if you must achieve something, share the seeds to renew our forests. It’s also fun to see how much variety there is in leaves from the same tree. Very educational.

#4 take stock of your garden – what is your favorite spot? Where do your kids gravitate? Take a mental note of what you love and hate about your garden. And if you just aren’t feeling the urge to even go out and enjoy your garden, that is telling you something. It could be time for a change. Don’t take any notes though, just soak up how you feel.

#5 share your favorite way – I’d love to hear your favorite simple way to enjoy your garden this fall.

You’re still here? Visit 40 Ways to Experience Nature for more inspiration.

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“There has never been a more important time for our children to understand their connection with nature and to learn how to protect the Earth. Indeed their very survival, along with that of every other creature around us, depends on it.” Alison Kerr, 2010

Do you remember wild outdoor adventures you played as a kid? Children today spend more time playing indoors than at any time in the whole of human history. And it is not good for them. What you do in your garden is really important to the next generation.

America’s Great Outdoors

On April 16th, 2010 President Barack Obama signed a memorandum establishing the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. It was a landmark move in the quest to reconnect kids to nature.

But President Obama’s initiative could be said to be of little consequence to Marghanita Hughes, one of the active adult players in the #playoutdoors movement. Not only does Marghanita live in Canada, but she has been publishing  books which connect kids to nature since 2007.

The Little Humbugs

I first met Marghanita online during 2009 under her @littlehumbugs Twitter name. I was new to nature blogging and seeking out connections with others who believe in the power and joy which comes from everyday interaction with wild things in our gardens and communities.

I have to admit that at first I thought the name Little Humbugs was a bit quirky – aren’t humbugs a type of striped hard candy? And, being new to Twitter, I was very wary of being pitched at by marketers. But Marghanita immediately distinguished herself as a generous and supportive mom and artist who really cares. Indeed, I’d say she is an exemplary person.

Many of us grew up believing in the importance of nature and our place in the world. Marghanita Hughes is one of these people. But Marghanita goes far beyond simply admiring nature.

Protectors of Mother Nature

Marghanita blends her love of nature and children, her knowledge of the forest, and her considerable artistic abilities to create her Little Humbugs books, her environmentally conscious soft toys, and her inspiring website and blog.

“We’re the little humbugs, protectors of Mother Nature.” Jasmine and her friends Chloe, Chou, Lucy and Nika are Little Humbugs. They are magical creatures:  like you, but with just a little extra. They are Butterfly Girls and Dragonfly Boys and they talk to the animals and birds of the forest; they are the protectors of nature. Through the words and illustrations of Marghanita Hughes they share their stories.

Bringing Out the Best

Often it is the little things that count. Marghanita takes this principle into the production of her products. Little Humbugs chapter books and picture books are printed in Canada on 100% post consumer waste paper (chlorine free and old growth free). They are printed using vegetable based inks. They are bright, engaging, and attractive to kids.

Little Humbugs Dolls come with minimal packaging and are stuffed with 100% recycled content, made from recycled plastic bottles. And Kati, the Canadian Doll, gives back to Monarch conservation in Mexico through Global Releaf.

And Marghanita brings out the best in the people she touches through her own writing and her connections with both kids and adults. Marghanita’s blog is an absolute inspiration, full of gorgeous, but manageable, nature craft ideas, beautiful stories of wild things in Canada, gardening tips, tales of her own family, and well-crafted guest posts from experts in nature, gardening and the outdoors. She is an artist through-and-through.

So, don’t wait, go and visit Marghanita and her Little Humbugs and get inspired to strengthen your connection with nature. You might even rediscover your inner child!

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“One of the great changes in American life – and one barely noticed at the time – took place early in this century (20th century). There was a radical revision in the concept of boyhood.” “Before about 1915, boyhood was seen by most grown-ups as a state of natural savagery.” ” Boys were little savages, yes… but like Rousseau’s savages, they were also noble.” “And best of all they were free…”

“‘Savage’… derives from Latin silvaticus, ‘pertaining to the woods.” “…all day long, if they could manage it, they were paddling on the river or up tree houses, living happily at the food-gatherer level, as savages do.”

Foreword to The American Boys Handy Book, Centennial Edition, David R Godine, Publisher, Inc, 1983

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New Tent by Paul Carroll

Today’s post is by guest Roy Scribner, otherwise known as Camping Blogger.

This weekend, Saturday June 26th, marks the annual Great American Backyard Campout, sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation®.

Back yard camping is the perfect way to be in the moment in your nature garden and to learn more about the birds and bugs.

Why Back Yard Camping?

Camping in your own backyard? Surprising, but true, camping in your backyard is one of the best ways to familiarize your family with sleeping and eating in the great outdoors. Best of all, if you forget the hamburger buns, or that special pillow, they’re only a few steps away!

Better Than Hawaii?

Family camping is enjoying a huge resurgence in popularity, after several decades of playing second fiddle to high-end destinations like theme parks and Hawaii. Blame it on the economy, or nostalgic baby boomers, but you are more likely to hear school children bragging about s’mores and sleeping bags this fall than roller coasters and sandy beaches.

You Don’t Need the Kitchen Sink!

Fortunately, taking family camping for a spin does not require a large investment in outdoor gear. While it might not be a good idea to tempt fate in the wild, without a proper tent, camping stove and other associated gear, you can take a lot more liberty in your own backyard. Most of us made tents out of blankets and sheets, when we were children – so why not now? I guarantee that the kids will think it’s a real hoot!

Back Yard Campers are Creative

Putting together a fun camping night in your backyard is all about being creative. A new camping stove might cost you $40 to $60, but there is no reason that you cannot use your existing barbeque grill.

Air mattresses are an essential backcountry luxury for all but the hardcore backpacker, but at $50 to $120 they are too expensive for a backyard campout. Luckily, your lawn is a lot more comfortable than a rocky campsite in the mountains!

Sleeping bags are another essential item that could set you back anywhere from $40 to $90, each. For one night in your backyard, though, blankets and pillows will be just fine.

For the Serious Back Yard Camper

If you are really serious about the camping experience, though, and think that this might be something your family will do on a regular basis, then you might consider renting camping gear for the weekend. Most specialty outdoor stores rent camping gear and this is a great way to try out different kinds of gear, before making a big purchase.

Few people would purchase a pair of shoes without trying them on and a sleeping bag is no different. It is also very difficult to determine, inside a store, whether a particular tent will actually be large enough for your family. So why not rent and try it out in your own backyard? You might go through several, before finding just the right one.

Family Equals Fun

Camping is a great way to get the family together, away from the distractions of our hectic lives. Taking that first step, with a backyard campout, is a fabulous way to test the waters and get the kids used to sleeping outdoors.

You just might discover, even after your family becomes seasoned outdoor adventurers, that an occasional backyard family campout is still one of the best camping trips, of all.

Roy Scribner encourages parents to experience the great outdoors with their children at CampingBlogger.net. Visit Roy for great family camping tips.

What was your first ever camping experience? Have you ever slept in your very own nature garden?

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

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Kids Planting Seeds by Debi Huang

Today’s guest post is by Debi Huang of Go Explore Nature.

If you had told me eight months ago that I’d have a garden this spring, I’d have thought you were crazy. I’ve never successfully grown anything out of the ground – except those radishes back in junior high, but I had help with that.

And yet here I am, writing a post about my first experience with the garden my kids and I have started together.

I owe Alison here at Loving Nature’s Garden thanks. It was her Step-by-Step Gardening Club that gave me the confidence I needed to finally go for it. I feel now that we’re friends. Before that I was bogged down by gardening information overload, unsure of which way to go and too afraid of failing to try anything.

Kids Watering Garden by Debi Huang

Getting Started Gardening

Along with help from my 5-½ year old son (aka the Big Explorer), I chose kid-friendly plant seeds – sunflowers, carrots, radishes and tomatoes. The thought was that these were easy to grow and should make an appearance quick enough to keep the kids interested.

Planting itself was of course half, if not more, of the fun. Both my Big Explorer and the little one (2 years old) accompanied me to the nursery. We picked seed packets for the sunflowers, carrots and radishes and two different types of tomato plants.

We opted to plant in containers, not for lack of space but for lack of experience. This was a key decision because we’re watching and learning which items do best in which parts of the backyard. I’ve already moved some of the containers around to adjust for sunlight, so I’m thankful to have had the flexibility.

The kids were almost too eager to help me fill each of the containers with the organic potting soil we purchased. What kid doesn’t love playing in dirt? All but the carrot seeds were simple enough to plant. Carrot seeds are so small that I’m convinced we planted a dozen in each spot reserved for only one!

Kids Growing Sunflowers by Debi Huang

Garden Progress Report

It’s been about a month since we planted and so far, so good. The sunflowers are looking great. All four we planted are now making their way out of the soil. What excitement and pride we all felt to see our first sprout! There are a few carrot and radish greens poking out of the dirt, too, giving us hope that the others we planted will soon appear.

Best of all, our tomato plants are producing buds! When we first spotted them, Big Explorer explained the tomato’s lifecycle to me so I would understand how long it might be before we see tomatoes. Too cute!

Tomato on Plant by Debi Huang

Gardening Lessons Learned

It’ll come as no surprise to those of you with more seasoned green thumbs that I’ve learned a ton about gardening already. Like just how much water a garden needs! This explains why so many past attempts at growing flowers have failed; I’ve planted and forgotten them; somehow I thought they’d just care for themselves.

I’ve also realized that a garden needs nurturing. Big Explorer has this one covered. He excitedly looks in on the progress of the garden daily. He checks to see if it needs watering and is eager to pass on his observations of new growth, bug-eaten leaves, ladybugs and the like. His enthusiasm is contagious, making it that much easier for me to care for the space, too.

I’ll be honest, folks. I’m hooked on gardening. I’m already dreaming of next year’s adventures and we haven’t even enjoyed the bounty from this one! There will be new things to plant, seedlings to start in the winter, so we’ll have a jump on things come spring, and learning a way to make regular watering a little easier.

I know there are all kinds of things left to learn. But instead of being overwhelmed by all I don’t know, I’m digging in and learning as we go. The kids are my reminder that there’s no such thing as failure. We’re just trying new things to see what works. And that’s much more fun! Thanks Alison for getting me started.

Debi Huang is a Los Angeles-based wife, mom and adventure guide for two young boys. Her blog at Go Explore Nature is all about getting kids and families outdoors and connected to nature. You can follow her on Twitter @goexplorenature and Go Explore Nature on Facebook.

Get Started on Your Own Garden

Step by Step Gardening Club will open again soon. Sign up for Loving Nature’s Garden in a reader, or subscribe to Loving Nature’s Garden by Email. You will receive gardening inspiration and tips twice weekly and you’ll be first to hear when Step by Step Gardening reopens.

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There’s something both primitive and comforting about knowing how to build an emergency shelter out of sticks and leaves. It’s kind of like a squirrel, bird, or possum building a nest, except yours is on the ground.

What could be more fun for outdoor kids to learn in the woods? My kids used to try to build shelters when they were younger. I wish I’d shown them this video so they knew how – it’s not hard. You did keep some of those fall leaves didn’t you? Stay in there quietly and you’re bound to have squirrels scampering over you and birds totally ignoring you as they hop about their business.

After searching around the web, I selected the following video which shows how. I like this one for it’s simple explanation without a bunch of discussion of when and why you might want to survive in the woods. For a real emergency pay a good deal of attention to the part on keeping warm and attracting attention; for a fun shelter still make sure you don’t build on top of ant nests, snake holes, etc.

Wilderness Survival – Building a Shelter – More amazing video clips are a click away

I’m not ready to camp out in one of these yet, but the kid in me thinks it would be really fun to build and play in. What do you say?

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binoculars by plindberg

Winter is a great time to bird watch with kids in your nature garden and beyond. In winter, with the leaves off the trees, birds are more visible. Also, some birds may be winter visitors to your area – winter will be the only time to see them.

Watch Birds from Indoors or Outdoors, with Kids

#1 – Watch Through a Window – probably the first idea that springs to mind for winter bird watching. Use black sunflower seeds and suet blocks to attract the biggest variety of birds. Place the feeders where you can see them through a kitchen window or some other place where kids will be spending time.

#2 – Walk Your Neighborhood – you can learn a lot about which birds live near you simply by exploring your neighborhood. A regular walk to school, store, or just for exercise will help you keep an eye and ear out for birds. Watch for flocks of American robins and listen for woodpeckers. You may well find some birds you’ve not seen in your own garden.

#3 – Hike a Wild Wood – in cold winter weather it’s best to be moving, but once you’ve warmed up you can stop for a quiet rest and find birds in the woods. Be sure to listen – birds searching in leaves make a fair amount of noise. It seems to me that birds get more active toward dusk – just put your detective ears on, or learn to call curious birds closer. You might be surprised at what you find.

#4 – Stop off at Wide Water – lakes and shores are great places to see birds in winter as well as summer. Flocks of larger birds such as gulls and swans are easy to spot. Bald eagles travel south along the Missouri river and can be seen in the hundreds if you know when and where to look. Try to go on a sunny day when there is more light contrast for a better view through scopes and binoculars. If you are driving for the holidays check your route for birding spots and take a break there, stop and get some much-needed outdoor time.

#5 – Wait in a Hide, if you have the patience to sit still. I admit I’m not much good at sitting and waiting, and most kids aren’t either, but if you have a kid who can sit still a hide is a great way to get among birds. Set up your own camouflaged hide, or visit one on a bird reserve.

What’s your favorite way to watch birds in winter?

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Mudkid1 by Peekature Studios

Much has been written about the reasons kids need to get outdoors to play, to get involved in nature, and away from the couch and big, bad, evils of TV and video screens. But what actually gets kids playing outdoors? Do kids need to go to nature camp, or plant an elaborate garden to be nature kids? Or is there something simpler for getting kids outside in nature, running, walking, climbing, learning and exploring?

Here are 10 tricks which got me playing outdoors when I was a kid, and maybe even still do. Shhhh… don’t tell. I’m a nature kid at heart.

#10 – Let’s Eat Outside

I simply can’t resist a picnic, even if it’s just a hunk of unsliced bread and a bottle of water. Mmmm… it just tastes better outside. Grab some food, ask me to come, I’m there!

#9 – There’s Treasure There

What could be more fun than finding something? I don’t care if it’s a new flower in bloom, a worm on the sidewalk, a sparkly rock, or a yellow or red, fall leaf. Let’s go find it!

#8 – Let’s Chuck It

Carrying and throwing suitably weighty items seems like fun to me. Invite me to toss rocks into a pond and watch the ripples, chuck logs around, or throw leaves in a stream/creek and watch them float away. Snowballs and a tree target are good too. My arm is ready!

#7 – Cooking in the Dirt

I have my matches and I’m ready to strike. As an adult I prefer a campfire to a mud pie, barbecue to leaf stew, but all were good when I was a kid. Nothing beats real, live flames. Show me how to build a campfire which starts first time, or let me mess around and learn for myself (with you nearby). We could build a rocket stove. Fire is so primitive, satisfying, and even safe (if proper precautions are taken). I have the matchbox here!

#6 – Something to Climb On

Here’s your shoes, let’s climb that rock. How do I get up there? How do I balance? I don’t want smooth plastic or metal. Give me something from nature, with nooks and crannies, texture, lichen even. I love rock walls, stream banks, tree trunks, grassy hills. I’m behind you.

#5 – I’ll Hide Behind

Critters like shelter, wood piles, bushy shrubs, giant prairie grasses, secret places. I do to. Hide and Seek is a favorite game. Clearings between shrubs make a den, or hide-out – much nicer than a custom-built playhouse. You might hear me, but I won’t see you.

#4 – See Water Sparkle

Sunshine and water are a winning combination. A watering can, a hose, a bucket, a bowl, an old basin or pan, cups, ladles, feet, hands, creeks, rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, boats, floats, fountains, waterfalls, I touch and watch them all.

#3 – Watch that Critter

What kind of critter is that? What does he eat? Where does he live? How fast can he climb, walk, crawl or run?

#2 – You Can’t Catch Me

Maybe I can run like the wind through that park, field or prairie, fly a kite, watch a bird soaring, find shapes in the clouds and wish I could touch them.

#1 – I Want to Be With You

Open the door and go outside. I want to be with you – I’ll follow. Who’s that special person I want to be with? Or am I the person others want to be with? Give me a choice – chores or outdoors. Suddenly I found my shoes!

What gets you outdoors? Do you potter in your garden, walk to school, watch the birds, hike, swim, forage, take care of the chickens, rake the leaves, or sit out on the deck for lunch? What got you outdoors when you were a kid?

Photo – Mudkid1 by Peekature Studios – reproduced under Creative Commons License.

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Giraffes Worn Voluntarily (for now) by woodleywonderworks

Do you have what it takes to walk to school and keep walking now that Walk to School Day is past?

Here are 10 things you need to keep you walking to (and from) school.

#10 – Rain Boots
It’s bound to rain sometime and rain boots are so much fun! Who can resist jumping in a puddle or putting their foot in a stream of water and watching what happens? And adults can have fun with rain boots too

#9 – Curiosity
Which trees are changing color? What birds live between home and school? What kind of flowers are blooming now? Curiosity makes the walk short.

#8 – A Good Alarm Clock
Most people need extra time to walk to school. Unless you’re up with the larks, or your kids are, a good alarm clock will be essential.

#7 – Resolve
There’s no escaping it. Driving to school is the easy option. Getting up and out on time to walk to school needs some resolve. The next item also helps.

#6 – A Plan
To stick to a plan requires having one. Are you going to walk to school every day? Are you going to walk home ever day? What about when it rains? And if you have after school activities or a sick kid who isn’t going to school will you still walk another child? Think it through and you have a plan.

#5 – Weather-proofing for Walkers
You’ll need jackets, hats, gloves and a weather-proof stroller for younger siblings who can’t be relied on to keep up the pace. Fair weather walkers can skip some of this, but you’ll still need to dress for the seasons.

#4 – A Place to Hang Your Hat
Wet jackets need a place to hang at both home and school. Does your school provide what is needed? Do you have the storage space you’ll need for boots, gloves, hats, jackets etc?

#3 – Good Neighbors
A safe neighborhood is one where people know each other and engage. Walkers meet neighbors and get to know their neighborhoods, but they also depend on neighbors. Safe Routes to School depend on communities.

#2 – Safe Backpacks
Backpack and contents should weigh no more than 10-15% of a child’s body weight. For walking in wet weather you need a waterproof pack. For walking on dim or dark days choose a pack with reflective strips.

#1 – Good Friends/Good Fun
Everything goes better with a friend – jumping in leaves along the way, laughing over your day – there is no substitute for a good friend and a sense of fun.

What do you say? Do you get out and walk every day? Did you walk to school when you were a kid? Do kids in your neighborhood walk to school? Do you have any additional tips?

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buttefly on hand by apium

The top nature spots from a child’s point of view are the ones closest to where they spend their time. They are places they can visit through the seasons, spots they can hunt for bugs, flowers, rocks and seeds, and places they can truly feel connected to. What is your top nature spot? How close is nature to you? What is your answer?

I see it every day through my window without even going outside!
It’s a hop-skip-and-jump from my door.
I can get there within a few minutes walk.
It’s an expedition, outing, or a drive, away.
Nature? I saw that when I was on vacation – or maybe once when I was a kid.

In order to understand and connect with nature kids need to see it. So, if your answer is that it’s a few minutes walk away, bring it even closer. If you have to go on an outing or drive to get your kids in nature how can they have the chance to truly explore it and feel that it is part of their daily life? And if you only ever see nature during vacations or on TV you’re truly divorced from it and so are your kids.

Think about this, awareness comes before action. To care for the Earth we have to first love it. When we love it, we want to understand it. When we understand it, we know how to care for it.

Use community nature spots to inspire you, but don’t let them be nature for you. Find top nature spots at Green Hour Nature Finder

What is your top nature spot? Do you want to bring nature closer? What’s holding you back?

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

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