Excited by my new find, I quizzed my husband: “Jim, guess how many new blooms are on Gerry.” I’ve named my geraniums. Gerry is the larger one, Geralina is the smaller plant. I like to start my mornings with a patio visit to check on my plants and breathe the fresh air. Last year things looked dire for both plants. They made it through winter looking a little scraggly. Since I’ve been rehabilitating the color of my thumb from black to green, their prognosis is looking up.

Visiting my growing collection of plants has become my new habit, it is very relaxing to deadhead flowers, check the soil and feel the leaves. So, when I feel the need to decompress, I take a nature break. In our feature article, The Microbiome Connection: How Soil and Human Health Are Related [page 14], Kathleen DiChiara, a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner, shares that exposure to soil microbes can positively impact our physical and mental health.

In Green Exercise: Reconnecting With Nature [page 26], we learn that the U.S. Department of Agriculture found a positive correlation between green space and health. People that spend time in nature often experience a reduction in stress, cortisol levels, muscle tension and heart rate. I agree, my mini-nature bath is de-stressing and relaxing for me. 

In this issue we examine Regenerative Agriculture and how our microbiome and nutrition is impacted by the soil in which our food is grown. Anne Biklé, biologist and environmental planner, explains the tangled relationships between people and their environment in the Advantages of Regenerative Farming [page 28]. Explore how parents can support the microbiome of their little ones In Gut Health for Kids: Clever Strategies for Picky Eaters [page 24]. Discover natural solutions to an excessive allergic response in Too Much Histamine [page 18]. Learn how eating colorful plant-based foods provides an array of health benefits in Hues of Health: Benefits of a Colorful Diet [page 20]. Then at my-NA.com find prevention and symptom management tips in Protecting Pets From Lyme Disease.

In case you’re wondering how many new blooms I’ve cultivated, Geralina has 10 and Gerry has 20!

Here’s to the wonders of nature!

Kris Urquhart, Publisher