What is Nature and what does Nature writing do for you?

I was recently put in a position where I had to decide if making “The history of US Nature Writing” one of my doctorial exam fields was worth it. From the perspective of one of the professors: would it help me obtain a job? Make me more marketable? Or what I secretly thought was the main factor: Why? Nobody cares.

In a day and age where technological advances and busy lifestyles limit the time we spend in natural places, nature writing should be an integral way for people to enjoy someone’s experience of such relations. It seems that “nature” is becoming more of a retreat or a weekend getaway for most people, but for me it has become a lifestyle. One of my goals is to open awareness of our natural environment and to help start a dialogue on the advantages of time spent in nature (whether it’s personal advantages or environmental advantages such as trail maintenance). There are many reasons why people do not get out and enjoy the “wilderness”. They range from lack of interest – to lack of means. By writing about it, I feel that at least I can bring a piece of the experience to their home among other reasons.

I was left to define nature and decide whether it was “worth” it. Well of course the answer to the latter was Yes! But the former was much more difficult to answer. What, in my definition, would help me justify studying/researching such a topic? For starters, most topics within nature writing are very closely related to the historical significance of the time. We can look at various periods of US history and see distinctions in writing that are a result of such events. (Check one for Value of the topic). Secondly, nature writing is used as a documentation of environmental changes (Barry Lopez, for example, Check two for Value). Thirdly, it’s a form of artistic expression (Thoreau, Muir et al) And think about how involved Muir was in the formation of national parks! (Check three!)

But what else? What else is out there that helps to justify the importance of such a topic. I welcome any comments/suggestions/thoughts/advice that you may have. And please, pass this short blog on to anyone you think could help! Nature and the idea of wilderness is such an important/integral part of our lives, whether we enjoy it, whether we love it, whether it is simply just a part of life. Thank you for your time!

What is Wilderness?

Can "wilderness" be defined? To what degree? Is something wild if it doesn't have any attachment to civilization? How much of it does there need to be to be considered wild? A cat that has never had a home? A small patch of land that has never been cultivated? Defining "wilderness" tends to pose a problem - one of interpretation. For example, yesterday I went camping at a state park. It was a dismal day, misting, foggy, chilly, and it was in the middle of the week. These conditions virtually made the park empty. I was the only person in the two primitive camp grounds (meaning you had to hike your belongings into the campsite, and some campsites are almost 1/2 a mile from the parking lot) and only 3 RV sites that were occupied. My interpretation therefore, was that yes, I was in the wilderness. I was sharing a couple hundred acres with only a few people. And I was the only one in a tent. I was able to hear the crickets, birds, coyotes, and other critters running around day and night. But is it really wild? Any given weekend, especially during the summer, there are hundreds of not thousands of people in this state park. How wild is it when I can hear the jet planes approaching a nearby airport every five minutes? How wild is it when I can hear the cars off in the distance going over the dam of the lake? It's all in interpretation. For me, my experience was wild. I had the shelter of my tent and I was sharing it and the surrounding area with nothing else but the natural environment. I was vulnerable. But does vulnerability make something wild? Perhaps not. But for me, this experience was different than if I would have stayed during the summer months or weekends when it was more populated. The presence of others would have made it a less wild experience even though it was the same campsite and the same tent. Civilization removes wilderness. At least that's how I see it now....

The beginning of Nature... as hope...

There are many aspects of our world that intrigue me. Not as someone who belongs to a community, a culture, a religion... but someone who belongs to something more basic: Nature. For me, this is the beginning... face it, without nature, we would not be here. Some may disagree with what I just said bringing in religious or philosophical questions, but what I want to understand is the most basic natural elements that are necessary for our survival. This the essence of this blog, for me, and hopefully for you, as a reader, is to discuss and contemplate the natural world around us. How do we positively (and more often) negatively influence, or interact with nature. How does nature over come us? How do we try to overcome Nature? These are the real and sometimes philosophical questions that plague my mind day in and day out. For me, this blog is a release, but also a way to discuss these issues. Feedback is always appreciated, discussion is always welcome. Dialogue is extremely important. I hope for nature, but nature hopes as well.