As we've come in and out of quarantine and the season of hibernation, getting outside and reconnecting with nature has started to feel more and more like a luxury. When I recently set the goal of achieving ten thousand steps a day (with my pup, Koda, in tow), I was only thinking about the benefits of moving my body (and tiring out said pup). But the benefits of getting outside and breathing fresh air are aplenty, which is why Bethlehem-based counseling center Reset Outdoors strives to reconnect clients with nature through its daily work. Learn about their practice as well as some of the benefits of “Earthing” on pg. 27.
And if your idea of connecting with nature only goes as far as a backyard oasis or a styled picnic experience, we get it. On pg. 48, Leigh Ehrlich takes readers inside, or rather outside, her “E Retreat,” located right in the backyard of her Lower Macungie home. The project was 16 years in the making—and it does not disappoint. Then, on pg. 36, Cindy Rizzolino of Penn Picnics shares her tips for curating an Instagram-worthy picnic. After a similar experience in Lake Tahoe, California, Nazareth-based Rizzolino knew she had to bring this concept to the Lehigh Valley. And we're so glad she did!
Don't miss The Nurture Nature Center's tips for composting on pg. 23, because while nature is nurturing us, we have to make sure we return the favor. Tour the new Mosaic Home & Garden center, discover five salads to order locally, get to know Pam Anderson of Copper House Events and so much more in this month's pages.
