Went to a handfastening in the forest today... my father in law married the man of his dreams. I am so thankful to be able to be here for this beautiful day, the energy was amazing.

Congratulations to them, and it was a perfect ceremony to commemorate their love for one another.

Unless you live in an environment close to nature, you may not have immediate opportunities to enjoy the health benefits of walking in a forest or along the shore of a rural lake. Living in a city may mean, at the very least, a walk in the park. Whichever touch of nature is available, getting away from the world of modern conveniences and gadgets is time well spent for the body, mind and spirit.…

What do an afforestation area and diabetes have to do with each other?  Yoshinari Ohtsuka et al, published a scientific paper on the lowering of blood glucose levels of diabetic patients by the simple act of “Shinrin-yoku” translated as forest air-bathing and forest walking.

Parents and Child in Nature

The actual environment of walking in the forest, caused changes in the hormone levels of the forest walkers.  The improvements monitored improved insulin sensitivity in the study which took place over 6 years.

“What we’ve come to realize in the last decade is that environmental factors are really important in the risk of type 2 diabetes,” reported Dr. Jan Hux with Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA.

“Yesterday was the happiest day of my life. Every new day that follows the previous day is happier and what better than this I can wish for my friend. “I wish you health and strength of an oak, the long life of a redwood.” Richard St. Barbe Baker

For more information: Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′ Addresses: Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063 Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map Facebook: StBarbeBaker Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Facebook: South West OLRA Contact the Meewasin Valley Authority at 402 Third Avenue South Saskatoon, SK S7K 3G5 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The MVA has begun a Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund. If you wish to support the afforestation area with your donation, write a cheque to the “Meewasin Valley Authority Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund (MVA RSBBAA trust fund)”. Please and thank you! Twitter: StBarbeBaker Please contemplate joining the SOS Elms coalition or make a donation to SOS Elms ~ leave a message to support the afforestation area  😉

“Healing the broken bond between children and nature may seem to be an overwhelming, even impossible task. But we must hold the conviction that the direction of this trend can be changed, or at least slowed. The alternative to holding and acting on that belief is unthinkable for human health and for the natural environment. The environmental attachment theory is a good guiding principle: attachment to land is good for child and land.”  Richard Louv