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Outdoor Living
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OUTDOOR LIVING Gett ing outs while soc ial distanc
ide ing
Life changed very quickly for many of us as we headed indoors for social distancing. However, that doesn’t mean we have to give up nature. There are many ways to keep space while still getting outside in a responsible way.
Start a garden! Now is a perfect time to start plants and seeds outside and will give you fresh produce in your own backyard. •
Learn about wild edibles. Nature grows many food items if we’re willing to look for them. Check out “Eat Wild” on Facebook for regional suggestions and edibles. • •
Try weaving with natural
items. Make a cardboard or stick frame with yarn. Add a warp with yarn and then use natural items to weave your creation. •
Check out a spring activity
on 52thingsoutside.org. Find 10 spring specific activities like smelling the earth, dancing in the rain, or discovering a tadpole. •
Ride bikes on the Pumpkin
vine Nature Trail. Cycle, jog, or use inline skates along the Pumpkinvine. Check out the wildlife and plants as you travel.
Hike at Bonneyville Mill. Look for signs of beaver activity, explore the pond, or run the trails.
Take up bird watching. Warblers and other migrating birds are passing through right now. Grab an app like “Merlin Bird ID” and get to know our feathered friends.
Learn about native wildflow
ers. Flowers are blooming in the woods! Do you know their names?
Explore Riverbend Park. Go fishing or hiking at Riverbend Park.
D uring this time, trails are most likely open, but amenities such as playgrounds, bathrooms, and some courts may be closed. Try to stay at least six feet away from other groups and avoid crowded areas. While our lives have changed wildly in a short amount of time, we can use this time of cleared schedules to connect to our natural surroundings. Perhaps some of our outdoor activities will stick beyond social distancing.
Top right –Bonneyville Mill is beautiful in May Middle Right – Trillium often blooms in May.Bottom right – Birds are hopping this month!
6 inMiddlebury Magazine | Ma y 2020 Dr. Carla Gull blogs at www.insideoutsidemichiana.com and podcasts as “Loose Parts Nature Play”. She is often seen with her four tag-along explorers in the greater Michiana area.
