Traumatized soldiers find solace grooming horses in the Black Forest
In a remote corner of Germany's Black Forest, the echoes of war linger in the minds of Bundeswehr soldiers, grappling with trauma years after their withdrawal from Afghanistan. Mike, a military captain and specialist in imaging reconnaissance, is among those affected. He provided crucial coordinates in mid-July 2013 that led a US Air Force B-1 bomber to drop a bomb on a Taliban position, resulting in 12 deaths. The event left him with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). On a farm in Aichhalden, a village in the Black Forest, a study for the Defence Ministry is under way until the end of 2025. It...
W.G. Jones State Forest Celebrates 100 Years
The W.G. Jones State Forest in Conroe recently celebrated 100 years of Texas state forests. Attendees explored emergency vehicles, received tree seedlings, and enjoyed fishing. Al Davis, Director of Texas A&M Forest Service, highlighted the importance of state forests, while visitors learned about Red-cockaded woodpecker conservation and enjoyed performances by Chikawa Aztec Dance and Traditions.
Forest Bathing is the practice of immersing yourself in nature for health benefits
Sharon Lohse loves plants, flowers and all things horticultural. She even took home a Garden Distinction Award while transforming her garden at home."The forest is a place where I find peace," Sharon says. "One of the philosophies we teach on the walk is wabi-sabi, an Eastern philosophy that says nothing lasts, nothing is perfect, and nothing is ever finished."The retired psychiatric nurse from Princeton discovered how tending to that garden made her feel better and she began experiencing amazing health benefits. So, she became a certified forest therapy guide and began telling others how the practice of spending time in...
Northfielders experience the healing power of the forest
Feeling stressed, anxious or angry? Why not try a walk in the woods? Recent research shows that a walk in the woods or forest bathing has been proven to improve a person’s overall health and mental well-being. Some doctors are prescribing forest bathing as a non-medical intervention shown to reduce the burden of healthcare concerns. In the hard-charging Japan in the 1980s, shinrin-yoku — which literally translates to forest bath...