Wild Diversity

Over the past decade, grocery stores have been popping up in neighborhoods traditionally known as food deserts where residents had a lack of access to fresh produce.  The common perception was, if grocery stores were added to these areas, it will help provide healthier dietary habits as opposed to having access only to fast food or processed food.  However, research shows that only by adding grocery stores does not change people’s grocery shopping habits or dietary habits. Why is that?  Food deserts are more common in low income and minority neighborhoods where families are often working multiple jobs, living paycheck to paycheck while having to take care of their kids on their own. Because of this, just by having access to a grocery store with fresh produce is not going to solve the economic inequalities. Communities need fresh healthy food they can actually afford, being paid a livable wage instead of working multiple jobs and the education necessary to put tog...

by Sofia Baum Going into nature can be a complicated and multifaceted experience, pushing us out of our element. For our communities, we get to decide how we further engage with the natural world. As uncomfortable as it can be there is a stronger sense of connection, peace, and purpose that keeps us coming back for more. Curious about other folx's experiences with the outdoors, I inquired about stories of reclamation, philosophies, and guiding principles with Wild Diversity's Adventure Leaders and Youth Ecology Coordinators: Loren (they/ them), Felicia (she/her), Viv (they/them), and myself, Sofia (she/her). Loren and Felicia are Adventure Leaders for Wild Diversity. Loren enjoys leisurely backpacking and Felicia enjoys hiking. The role of Adventure Leaders, as described by Loren, is to facilitate, "...teamwork and expand knowledge to participants so that they can feel empowered and confident to embark on outdoor activities with self-sufficiency." Viv and ...

Natural Remedies & Supporting Your Health during Covid-19 by Lexi Goldby Recently, I had the chance to interview an herbal specialist and owner of Seed and Thistle Apothecary, Lara Pacheco. Seed and Thistle Apothecary is an educational resource that centers the voices of the Black and Indigenous communities to reclaim and support the reconnection to their ancestral traditions around plant medicine and healing. Lara gave some amazing insight about herbal support and how to boost your natural defense system. There are many processes, herbs and teas that can help the body get back to its strength for healing. With COVID-19 persisting with no end in sight it is a perfect opportunity to gain knowledge on what we can do to prepare our bodies to help combat stress on our immune system. The Coronavirus puts strain on the respiratory system. What are some natural or herbal remedies do you recommend to support respiratory health? Before we jump into herbal remedies, because often I fe...

by Endria Richardson Last Spring, I became certified as a Wilderness First Responder through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). The premise of WFR training is that it teaches lay-people systems for responding to a medical crisis when, *emphasis*, there is no other access to medical care. In the context of WFR training, that’s generally when you are in the backcountry (that is, far enough into the woods, or mountains, or other nature that cell service, roads, or hospitals aren't readily accessible). But WFR training can be relevant in any crisis where professional medical help is not available. This might occur during large-scale natural disasters like earthquakes or hurricanes. And it is occurring to some extent right now, due to the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, or Covid-19. I am not a doctor, nurse, paramedic, or EMT. I am only a certified Wilderness First Responder. That means I’ve taken a 10 day course in wilderness medicine and have a laminated piece of ...

By Mercy M'fon Shammah One thing that I want most for our community is to be prepared. This year we have faced massive continent fires, 10 earthquakes in Puerto Rico in a handful of days, a volcano eruption followed by ash lightning, fifteen-foot snow drifts in Newfoundland, the coronavirus outbreak, a threat of WWIII… and the decade just started. Ready for anything As BIPOC, queer, and TGNC folks, we already feel like we are in survival mode. Our personal safety and well-being — particularly for systematically targeted Black, brown, and transgender bodies — isn’t assured. Existence is resilience. Being so used to overcoming adversities, it might seem as though we're naturally equipped for any situation. It might also seem like “prepping” is just a wacky hobby for a privileged population of people with not much to prepare for in their actual day-to-day. But unexpected events happen all the time, and though we may not be able to plan for or predict them all, we ca...

By Michelle Lin I’m from the deep south where snow felt like a special treat. But after living in cities where blizzards and -40°F temps were too extreme for my liking, I escaped to the Pacific Northwest. I fell in love with summer sunsets, glorious wildflowers, and endless trails to explore. I thought I was through with the snow, but I was surprised to discover that I love hiking in the winter. Here's why! 1. Frozen waterfalls Last winter I encountered my first frozen waterfalls and I fell in love with these magical ice sculptures that only a waterfall can create. Stepping behind a waterfall surrounded by giant columns of aqua-colored ice is a wondrous experience that can only happen in the depths of winter. I’m lucky to live in an area with so many waterfalls and love seeing how they transform as the cold lingers, snow accumulates and sprays of water turn to ice. 2. Ice is magic Okay, so this is kind of like my first reason, but I wa...