My Friend the Forest

Hello and welcome. My name is Brad and I am a Forest Therapy Guide in training through the Global Institute of Forest Therapy (GIFT). GIFT is a Canadian based, non-profit organization offering Forest Therapy Guide training and certification. Forest Therapy and Forest Bathing are interchangeable terms. Both describe the same evidence-based therapeutic practice that connects people to natural environments through gentle sensory based invitations. As Forest Therapy becomes eve...r more popular, preliminary research is showing many benefits including reduced stress and anxiety, mood stabilization, reduced blood pressure, boosted immunity, reduced impacts of ADD and more. In Forest Therapy, the therapist is the Forest. I am and have been on my own Nature Connection journey for many years and I have been drawn to work as a guide through my deep love for wild places. My dream is to work with nature to help others and I am so excited to be embarking on this new journey!

Stay tuned for upcoming forest therapy walk dates in June!

Still waiting for this lockdown/wave to be over so I can finally offer my Forest Therapy walks ... Hang in there everyone

This is an amazing short interview with Carolynne Crawley, an FT Guide, that aired on CBC this morning. Check it out, and reach out to me if you think this is something you'd like to try!

Welcome to Spring! With this nice weather upon us, I will be finalizing my training to become a certified Forest Therapy Guide. If you are in the Owen Sound area and are interested in a FREE forest bathing session to help me out, please Pm me or comment below as I will be hosting some walks in the next few weeks!

Check out this great film series organized by Eat Local Grey Bruce!

Check out this amazing documentary on Netflix! It’s so refreshing to hear about possible solutions to our environmental crisis. Kiss the Ground explores Regenerative Agriculture as a solution by turning conventionally farmed dirt back into beautiful life sustaining soil and helping to draw carbon back into the ground where it belongs. Even if you live in a suburb or city, a simple lawn could be turned into a beautiful meadow, improving soil health and helping to build wildl...ife and pollinator habitats. What does your dream yard look like? https://www.netflix.com/title/81321999?s=i&trkid=13747225

My boys received this beautiful children’s book for Christmas. It is a tribute to the protests against the pipeline projects that have been happening across North America . Highly recommend. Books like this are a great way to start the discussion with young ones. https://www.facebook.com/Carole-Lindstrom-194830010553259/

Wishing you all a beautiful holiday season, in whatever way you choose to celebrate. I have so much gratitude for Mother Earth and all she has afforded me. Even though things are different this season, just remember that we are all connected, and part of the bigger picture. Much love, and thank you for your continued support in my journey.

Very much worth the read. There is a much bigger system that is suffering beyond the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and we can work together to heal. If the Earth is as alive as both climate scientists and Indigenous peoples say, and like a body, kept well by a diversity of cells, deeply connected, then the medical diagnosis that fits most neatly our modern sickness is not an infection, but a malignancy. https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-the-real-cure-fo/

This is one of the most beautiful films we have seen in a long time. Check out the trailer on their cover page! It provides a whole new perspective on our connection to Earth and all it has to offer. #fantasticfungi #forestbathingtherapy #shinrinyoku https://www.facebook.com/FungiFilm

What a great idea! If you are feeling overwhelmed from the pandemic stress (or any stress), consider adding forest bathing to your self care regime. https://vancouversun.com//c431947e-5d31-4ee4-a80c-11a/amp/

Everything plays a role