Rambles About Nature: Nature as Your Neighbor

On a recent camping trip with my family, my kids and I were walking around the campground “taking in the neighborhood”. We checked out the different ways people set up their campsites. Some in tents and some in campers. Some with big families, some just a couple, and occasionally a solo camper. These were our neighbors for the week; however, they weren’t our only neighbors. Nature was now our closest neighbor. Trees, rocks, squirrels, deer, wild turkeys, and many other plants and animals surrounded us. As we walked around taking in the sites, we began to talk about what it means to be nature’s neighbor and what it takes to be a good neighbor to nature.

We certainly do not need to be camping in the woods for nature to be our neighbor. Nature surrounds us in many places. We often think of places like national parks, preserves, and wilderness areas as where we can find nature, but nature can be in our neighborhood and at the park just up the street. Nature isn’t always a place you need to go to; it is all around us and we are a part of nature. We share the community. We share the neighborhood and can be good neighbors in the same way we are good neighbors to our human neighbors.

Neighbors get to know each other
We try to make it easy to “get to know” The Nature Reserve. For many of us who work on The Nature Reserve, one of our favorite things to do is connect in person with visitors and share the natural and cultural history of the land. Whether it is a student on a field trip, an explorer on a wildflower walk, or a visiting stargazer during Astronomy Night, the many interpretive programs we offer allow us to share who we are and what makes the habitat reserve so special. So special that we share a sense of stewardship and care for the land.

Neighbors respect each other
Simple things like sticking to legal trails and obeying posted signs are easy ways to be a respectful neighbor to nature. In habitat reserves, like The Nature Reserve, it is important to remember that these areas are set aside primarily for the preservation of wildlife and by observing these rules, you also help preserve sensitive species in the area. When we visit these areas, we can be good neighbors by practicing “Leave no Trace” and minimizing the impact we have on the area.

Neighbors support one another
One of the greatest ways my neighbors support one another is by the gifting of fruits, flowers, and vegetables. Throughout the year, you find small boxes of seasonal offerings left at the end of driveways and lawns. The seasons will change and with them the neighborhood gifts change. Fresh cut flowers and citrus appear throughout the summer. In the fall, our neighbors will share fresh guava, we’ll share eggplant. And so on, until winter bring gifts of persimmons from the neighbors on either side of us, and we reciprocate with fresh persimmon bread.

Just like freshly baked goods, nature gives us many gifts that make our lives happier and healthier. There are many ways to reciprocate our support for natural areas like preserves, parks and wilderness areas. Volunteer opportunities allow people to support in an in-person, hands-on manner. Much like The Nature Reserve, many natural conservation areas are supported by non-profits. By supporting these places through financial giving, you contribute to the continuing care of the land, as well as helping provide public access and programming.

Whether these areas set aside for conservation are public spaces, like our national or state parks, or whether they are private spaces, like The Nature Reserve, they still hold value for the communities around them. And not just because they are beautiful and awe-inspiring, but because they contribute to cleaner air and water, and offer spaces for recreation and connectivity with our natural neighbors.

Won’t you be our Neighbor? Become part of our natural neighborhood by connecting, exploring, and preserving The Nature Reserve with us.

Connect: Make sure you are on our mailing list and follow us on social media to stay connected on how you can connect with the land.

Explore: Join us for a hike, walk or ramble on The Nature Reserve. Explore oak woodlands, native grasslands, and coastal sage scrublands while on our many interpretive and recreational hikes.

Preserve: Become a steward of the land by joining our amazing volunteer team or supporting us financially.

Learn more by exploring our website www.thenaturereserve.org