Why Nature?
Our past
Homo Sapiens have existed as nomadic hunter-gatherers for nearly 200,000 years which is a time period that equates to over 99% of human history. A very long line of our ancestors were deeply aware of and inherently connected to the natural environment. The onset of the agricultural age 10,000 years ago meant that society became increasingly industrialized, producing a shift towards urbanization, and resulting in the vast majority of us becoming deeply disconnected from the natural world today.
Our present
This has affected our species in a multitude of ways not least of which when it comes to overall wellbeing. There is an abundance of research that illustrates how disconnection from nature is linked to mental and physical illness. People in modern industrial societies spend 90% of their time indoors in manufactured, temperature-controlled environments which are devoid of natural cycles, birdsong, bubbling streams and fresh air. This way of life that we have been leading in modern times is profoundly incongruent with what we need not only on a cellular level but also for spiritual fulfillment.
our future
The mental‑health landscape in Canada looks very different today than it did for past generations. Rates of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress overall have risen steadily over the last few decades. This clear upward trend is especially concerning for youth and young adults. These shifts mirror broader social, cultural, and environmental changes. Younger generations are growing up in a world characterized by digital overload, climate anxiety, economic uncertainty, reduced community connection, and diminishing daily contact with the natural world. The result is a population increasingly overwhelmed, overstimulated, and under‑nourished emotionally. Now more than ever before, it is imperative to get back to our roots.
