First I have to say it’s been 3.5 years since anything has been published here. Can you expect us to be glued to the computer? No. But these days we’re staying put, indoors and heavily advised to remain in place. So that’s the plan, and hey, it’s brought me back to the keyboard on our Green Papers blog.

A lot has happened since I last wrote - namely, we have been brought out to Asheville, NC and it is a tremendous place to be. We’re still providing our services to Chicago and the Midwest at large so don’t sweat it, all my urban dwellers with your delicious pizza and late night Mexican and thorough public transit that I miss so much.

Anyway, I write in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and boy-howdy you know the story.

But today I just want to bring it back to make sure you know that connecting to nature is still an option.

For the last few weeks I’ve been putting out poorly done videos on YouTube encouraging folks to get outdoors, though as the days go on our access to trails is limited for public health and safety. That’s ok.

What needs to be said that wherever you are, you can observe the world as it hasn’t been seen in some time. The traffic, the noise, the hustle-bustle hootenanny has subsided and it has subsided just in time for spring to dazzle us all.

This is the chance to get up early and open your ears. Open your eyes. Open your MIND, man.

Watch the trees, bushes and other plants as they change before us every day.

Listen to the birds. Every day more and more birds arrive from their winter homes

Pick up a pocket manual and learn the wildflowers in your neighborhood.

Get up early and experience stillness.

Wildlife is loving this - why can’t we blend into the environment with them?

Before the chaos of the daily grind resumes please take some time to understand the peacefulness of less human interference. And for cryin’ out loud, practice social-distancing, wear a mask in public and be kind to each other.