In the growing age of urbanization it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life in a jungle of concrete. As we create lives in these spaces designed to distance us from natural spaces, how can we reconnect with the natural world and the resources that form the foundation of our existence and supply the raw materials taken for our consumption? City parks and green spaces are a way to overcome this separation. Not only are green spaces integral to mental health, they also serve an often overlooked and under-appreciated purpose: water filtration and sequestration. A large asphalt block cannot absorb any water, thus this water is sent into storm drains and sent into the local water ecosystems without its contaminants removed. I digress…

Ashley Lieber is an ecoartist that uses various species of moss and lichen to produce pieces that replicate wild, vast, green outdoor spaces. In an interview with Visionary Photography, Lieber highlights the importance of bringing green space into people’s lives: “The over-arching idea emerging from [ecopsychology] is that if we are to be physically and mentally healthy – so must the planet, and we must be consciously connected to the natural world. Though the human mind is shaped by the social world, it is adapted to the natural world in which it evolved, which is why it is important we find ways to incorporate elements of nature and living plants in our modern cities and interior spaces.” This point is incredibly important when discussing ways for people to incorporate sustainable practices into their lives. A deeper appreciation of the natural world will not only get more people on the “sustainability bandwagon”, but it may also reduce the perceptions of trade-offs that are often associated with such things as sustainable products, actions, and lifestyles.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/515099276103458083/

Title image: http://grandcanyon.free.fr/images/ny/thumb.html