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Nurture through Nature

A blog by Amy Wagenfeld

Amy Wagenfeld, PhD, OTR/L, SCEM, FAOTA, Affil.ASLA is Principal of Amy Wagenfeld | Design, whose mission is to enhance life experiences through collaborative design, programming, and evidence-based research of universally designed environments and Lecturer in the Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program at Boston University. Her work focuses on collaborative design, programming, and research of outdoor environments for underserved groups. A Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association, and the Center for Health Systems and Design at Texas A&M University, Amy presents and publishes widely on topics relating access to nature. She is co-author of the award-winning book, Therapeutic Gardens: Design for Healing Spaces published by Timber Press.

WORK: Amy Wagenfeld Nurture through Nature

Nurture through Nature: Welcome

Welcome to Nurture through Nature, a blog focused on the benefits of connecting with nature, be they inside or outside. My name is Amy Wagenfeld, an avowed nature lover. I know that I am at my best when I am able to connect with the green world and look forward to sharing my thoughts with you. 

 

 

Nurture through Nature: Concert for Plants

Nurture through Nature: Plants Attend the Barcelona Opera

Hello and welcome back to Nurture through NatureIn my previous blog post, I introduced the concept of biophilia, the idea that humans are hard wired to connect with and affiliate with nature. This month I would like to take a few moments to share a fascinating biophilic and profoundly humanitarian story with you. First off, thanks to my dear friend and colleague, landscape architect David Kamp, for alerting me to this beautiful story.

 

 

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Nurture through Nature: My Home in Nature

It begins at my childhood home. I grew up in a very busy Midwestern household, the oldest of four children with two transplanted Brooklyn, New York academics for parents.

 

WORK Nurture through Nature Amy Wagenfeld

Nurture through Nature: Losing My Garden

Having recently written about my first garden and a brief introduction to the concept of place attachment, it seems as if this is the right time to share my thoughts about losing my backyard garden.

 

WORK Nurture through Nature Amy Wagenfeld

Nurture through Nature: The Caldwell Lily Pool - A Place I Love

“Step through the Prairie-style Fullerton gate and enter a hidden garden of unmatched beauty. Only bird songs and the sound of a gentle waterfall break the restful silence. Follow the stone walk encircling the lily pool and discover a pavilion, council ring, and diverse native plantings. This is the vision of landscape architect Alfred Caldwell: a hidden garden for the people of Chicago…” https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/lincoln-park-alfre…

 

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Nurture through Nature: Going to Nature

Connections with nature are powerful, bring forth feeling of happiness and joy, and for many are the ‘go to’ place where, simply conjuring up thoughts about them is restorative, calming, and meaningful.

 

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Nurture through Nature: Going to Nature Part Two

In the second of this three part series about place attachments, we learn about how water and also walking in nature along that most special trail can be profoundly meaningful.

 

Nurture through Nature: How Attention Restoration Found Its Way into My Life

Nurture through Nature: How Attention Restoration Found Its Way into My Life

Attention Restoration Theory ‘found me’ and thankfully, there has been no turning back since.

 

Nurture through Nature: Attention Restoration Theory- A Natural Antidote to Stress

Nurture through Nature: Attention Restoration Theory- A Natural Antidote to Stress

There is much (good) ado about Attention Restoration Theory.

 

Lions at a waterhole

Nurture through Nature: A Virtual Infusion of Nature Infusion in the Online Classroom

A substantial body of evidence-based research demonstrates that viewing nature reduces stress and improves mood. Learning environments, whether virtual or in-seat can be stress inducing.
 

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Nurture through Nature: Growing Generations of Healthy Gardeners

An important take home message about gardening and garden related activities is that as Charles Lewis suggested in 1985, in a world of constant judgment, plants are non-threatening and non-discriminating.