Enjoying nature: Environmental stewardship and MANA
The environmental movement often frames itself in terms of crisis: species extinction, climate change, deforestation and biodiversity loss. While these threats are real and urgent, MANA seeks to shift the narrative from loss and struggle to appreciation and connection. This perspective echoes the views of Wendell Berry, a writer, farmer and environmental activist, who argued that to protect nature truly we must love and enjoy it. Edward Abbey, a park ranger, writer, and environmental advocate, informed Berry's philosophy, which inspired generations of conservationists, including himself.
MANA's evolving approach integrates the thinking of both Berry and Abbey with ecology, mindfulness and regenerative environmental approaches to inspire sustainable action. In this issue of MANA News, we explore how their philosophies and our insights support a holistic approach to environmental stewardship that values personal joy and connection with nature as a catalyst for conservation.
Edward Abbey and the call of nature
Edward Abbey, the author of Desert Solitaire, loved wild places and was critical of industrial expansion. His writings, activism and personal philosophy profoundly influenced Wendell Berry and others in the environmental movement. Abbey's core belief was that it is not enough to fight for nature—we must also enjoy it.
His time as a park ranger shaped Abbey's perspective, allowing him to experience the beauty and fragility of wild spaces. His famous call to action: "Ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness" captures his belief that direct engagement with nature fosters a deep sense of belonging and responsibility.
His statement aligns closely with our vision. Rather than focusing solely on combating environmental destruction, MANA encourages people to develop a deep appreciation for nature through forest bathing, meditation and other immersive experiences in the natural world. We believe these activities can nurture joy, presence and connection and encourage long-term environmental commitment.
Wendell Berry and the power of place
Wendell Berry's influence on environmental thought is profound. His work emphasises the need to develop an "attachment to place," arguing that people will only fight for the environments they love and understand. In his writings, particularly The Unsettling of America (1977) and What Are People For? (1990), Berry critiques industrial agriculture, mass consumerism and the loss of rural communities, framing these issues as part of a significant disconnect between humans and the land.
For Berry, nature is not an abstract concept or a resource to be managed—it is home. His advocacy for small-scale, sustainable farming and community-based environmental stewardship aligns with MANA's belief that engaging people with nature personally directly fosters a sense of responsibility and care. Just as Berry urges people to work within the rhythms of nature rather than against them, we encourage individuals to reconnect with local ecosystems, whether through forest bathing, permaculture or being present in nature.
MANA's strategy: Nature as an entry point
MANA recognises that while essential, the traditional approach to environmentalism— focussing on urgency, political activism and scientific warnings—often fails to motivate individuals who feel disconnected from nature. Many people don't enter the environmental movement because of fear or guilt; they just haven't experienced the joy of interacting in the natural world. As Mitchell Thomashow (1995) explains in his work on ecological identity, personal experience with nature often catalyses environmental concern.
Therefore, our position is to meet people where they are. Instead of focusing solely on the need to "fight" for the environment, MANA encourages individuals to develop a sense of belonging in nature. We believe small actions such as planting a native garden, reducing food waste or walking in a forest can ripple out to create larger systemic changes. This "softly, softly" approach that we embrace is about gradual engagement through joy rather than fear.
The role of mindfulness in ecological awareness
Mindfulness, one of our core practices, serves as a bridge between personal well-being and environmental stewardship. This concept is reinforced by Barrett et al.'s (2024) Mindful Eco-Wellness study, in 2024 which showed that meditation practices improve individual health and promote sustainable behaviours. By fostering a sense of presence and appreciation for nature, mindfulness encourages individuals to value and protect their local environments.
Wendell Berry's writing reflects a similar philosophy which values attentiveness, gratitude and
respect for the rhythms of the land. Edward Abbey also championed mindful engagement
with the land, choosing to be fully present in wild places and not just fighting against their destruction. MANA applies this principle by incorporating mindfulness in every environmental program, from guided nature meditations to hands-on ecological restoration projects. These activities are designed to educate and cultivate a sense of wonder and connection.
Accessing environmentalism through food
One of the most practical ways MANA integrates Berry's ideas is by focusing on
sustainable and regenerative food systems. He championed small-scale, regenerative farming as an alternative to industrial agriculture, which he saw as exploitative and destructive. Berry highlighted the importance of knowing where food comes from, cultivating a relationship with the land, and recognising the deep connections between soil health, human health and ecological resilience.
In today's world, much of our food is grown in industrial agricultural systems, either for ourselves or for meat animals that we use. These systems use a wide range of chemicals often added to make ultra-processed foods. It may be that it is not any specific chemical that causes a particular person to become ill but an extensive range of additives that intermix, creating harmful effects in parts of the systems that make up our bodies. However, until the peer-reviewed science is clear, caution is needed. Hence, MANA supports people eating food that is as close to an organic, regenerative state as possible.
MANA's focus on food aligns with this vision. Our background paper shows how food choices influence environmental health, especially biodiversity loss and climate impact (Read Tim Spector if you are keen on this). Promoting plant-based diets, permaculture, and community gardening reduces ecological harm and is an accessible entry point into environmental consciousness. Just as Berry believed that engaging with food production fosters ecological responsibility, we believe food helps people reconnect with the land and take practical action to protect it.
Conclusion: A joyful and sustainable approach to environmentalism
MANA's philosophy, informed by Wendell Berry and Edward Abbey, is a call to embrace nature not just as something to defend but as something to love and enjoy. By focusing on joy, mindfulness and personal connection to the land, we focus on the positive to bring about collective change instead of emphasising the negative, reducing environmental overwhelm.
Abbey's insistence on experiencing nature first-hand, coupled with Berry's call for
attachment to place finds practical expression in many of our programs.
By encouraging native planting in our own gardens, developing knowledge about insect and plant interactions, sustainable food initiatives, mindfulness practices, and a compassionate approach to activism, MANA encourages both environmental appreciation and action. The environmental movement does not have to be defined solely by crisis—it can also be about cultivating beauty, connection, and a sense of belonging. By integrating enjoyment into environmental stewardship, MANA offers a pathway toward a more engaged, resilient and hopeful future for both people and the planet.
John Julian
Mindfulness and Nature Association (Inc.)
