How To Spend More Time LIVING Outdoors

With Paige Payne, Master Gardner and
Landscape Design Instructor

 

Did you know that one of the best ways to support our physical and mental health is to spend more time outdoors? It’s true! The benefits of being outdoors and breathing in the fresh air could strengthen our immune system, help us sleep better at night, and reduce stress. After all, what could be more relaxing than sitting in the sunshine, surrounded by beautiful foliage?

 

As we spend more time relaxing in our yards, one of the biggest design trends over the past few years has been the expansion of our outside home living areas. According to a recently published study, creating an outdoor oasis for entertaining or relaxing has become one of the most desirable priorities among more than 62% of homeowners. Building outdoor kitchens along with living and dining areas allows us to bring traditionally indoor activities into our yard and expand our living space significantly. Instead of relying solely on a single barbecue grill, these days many outdoor gourmet kitchens include pizza ovens, pellet smoke grills, as well as small refrigerators and counters with built-in sinks for washing and prepping food.

 

Dining areas can include plenty of outdoor seating as well as firepit tables and bars. Outdoor living rooms designed with comfortable conversation pit sofas, outdoor TVs, and gas fireplaces offer a heavenly refuge for relaxing, studying, or even working outdoors. Best of all, these outdoor spaces can be used year-round when enclosed in a pavilion or other structure that includes heating lamps and retractable Screens. In addition to expanding your outdoor living area, imagine yourself surrounded by a beautifully landscaped garden. Picture someplace that’s restful, peaceful, and tranquil where you can go to meditate or simply enjoy nature. In July of 2021, Florine interviewed Master Gardner and Landscape Design Instructor, Paige Payne. If you want to learn more about the benefits of having a tranquility or meditation garden, please listen to Florine’s interview with Paige.

 

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

How did Paige get involved in horticulture?

What did Paige study in school for a career in horticulture?

Paige’s mother was a huge gardener, and her dad also grew a big vegetable garden.

What is anthropology, and why was Paige initially interested in it?

What are the three types of anthropology, and what is permaculture design?

How can you get started in your own backyard using the resources you already have?

How does permaculture affect our health positively and help us feel more tranquil and connected?

Paige shares some tips for a beginning gardener on how to get started.

What is a tranquility or meditation garden, and how can you create one?

Tips for adding some great vegetables to grow, flowers to bloom, and meditation elements to create a space that’s right for you.

How to create a space that is intentionally designed for your environment.

 

Today’s Takeaway:

There is a reason why meditation and tranquility gardens have recently become so popular. Finding that personal “me time” away from the demands of the day really helps to improve our mood and our mental well-being.

 

Sometimes it’s exhausting and mentally taxing to be “on call” throughout the day in response to the needs of others. But just taking five or 10 minutes to breathe, relax, and re-center ourselves mentally and emotionally can make all the difference. If you already practice meditation, you already know just how beneficial that time can be. But do you sometimes find it challenging to quiet your mind and begin your meditation practice? How much easier would it be to immediately achieve that meditative state if you had that perfect tranquil spot to get away from it all? Surrounding ourselves with beautiful greenery might not only help us to forget our problems, but it can also help us “reboot” after a stressful moment and transform the rest of our day.

 

Connecting with nature is one of the healthiest ways I know to sustain ourselves mentally and lift our spirits. So, remember to give yourself the gift of time and serenity by creating an outdoor space that’s all your own. I’m Florine Mark and that’s “Today’s Takeaway.”

 

Quotes:

“I knew I wanted to be outside, as nature has always been my happy place.” — Paige [4:22]

“I really got the opportunity to learn from the ground up by observing and interacting with landscapes.” — Paige [6:04]

“I did see how much joy gardening brought to [my parents]. So yes, it’s in my blood.” — Paige [7:36]

“I do think that there is a definite impact on people based on their natural environment and their connection to it.” — Paige [8:49]

“In permaculture, we’d like to mimic nature in that way by creating a system where each component is connected to and supports the next component in the design.” — Paige [9:48]

“We look to go a step further by making the homestead zero waste using the available resources, turning waste into energy, and working with the environment that's already there, rather than trying to recreate a system that is maybe not suited for that environment.” — Paige [11:21]

“Each and every little eco ecosystem encourages us to connect with our natural environment, which creates a feeling of peace, calm, connection, and realizing that you’re part of a larger whole.” — Paige [12:13]

“The ultimate goal of permaculture is that it all becomes less work, more beauty.” — Paige [13:22]

“It’s tuning in to what brings you joy.” — Paige [16:12]

 

Brought to You By:

Gardner White Furniture

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Paige Payne

Online Landscape Designs