Staying Green During COVID-19

Sure, we’re all inside more often than usual, but this doesn’t mean that our connection with nature needs to diminish. There’s still a beautiful, green world out there that we can connect with.

“Biophilia” is the idea that there’s an instinctive bond between humans and nature. We may have lost some of this bond as a society, but regaining this connection can lead to several benefits. For instance, researchers have pinpointed a microbe called M. vaccae, nicknamed “outdoorphins,” which is found in soil and works as a natural antidepressant. These microbes boost your mood by releasing cytokines, which then leads your brain to produce more serotonin. So, simply by digging in the soil and spending time outside, these outdoorphins flood your body and boost your mood! Free therapy – pretty cool.

Here are a few tips to help you regain that connection with nature:

Get at least 15 minutes of fresh air per day: Hike, walk around, or simply sit in the sun. Even 5 minutes outside has been shown to boost mood. Given that we’re driving and flying less, our air is currently quite clean, so be sure to capitalize on that nature therapy. If it’s too cold outside, try sitting in your car to get some direct sunlight, or sit in front of a south-facing window in your living space.
Get some houseplant friends: I could go on and on about the benefits of houseplants, but coming from someone who has nearly 20 in my home, that’s no surprise. Studies have shown that because plants increase the amount of oxygen in your home and remove toxins, they improve concentration, memory, reaction time, and creativity. Certain plants continue to emit oxygen throughout the night, such as a snake plant, making them perfect for your bedroom. Another research study demonstrated that geraniums helped individuals recover faster and more completely from high stress situations.
Subscribe to a local CSA: Right now it’s especially important for us to support local business and to eat nutritious food, and subscribing to a local CSA does both! CSA stands for Community-Supported Agriculture, and it works by consumers (you and me) paying for a weekly or monthly box of locally grown food, and many will even deliver right to your door! You are helping famers stay in business, and you’re getting seasonal food that’s as fresh as it gets. A win-win. Here is a list of Columbus-local CSAs.
Start an herb garden: This can range from an indoor window garden, to a container patio garden, to a large garden in the ground. You’ll want to wait until around May 1 to plant outside, but until then, you can start seeds on a south-facing window sill. You can even use the cardboard centers of TP to start the seeds in, and then plant the whole thing directly in the ground once they’ve sprouted a few inches. The cardboard will decompose without harming the soil. You can also plant the seeds in egg cartons. Your outdoor garden will not only provide you with fresh herbs, but will also attract pollinators like butterflies and bees, which are keystone species that our entire ecosystem depends on to function properly.