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Halton, Ontario doctors can prescribe "Nature Pass"

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Elektrishun

Active Member
Every once in awhile I watch the CTV news channel to see what's going on beyond the shop walls. There was a news item this morning described as "Halton, Ontario doctors can prescribe 'Nature Pass'".

It is prescription for people with various health issues, including mental health, to spend about 20 minutes a day in nature.

Around here a lot of the homeless sleep in treed areas in parks and along the riverbank. I assume many of the Halton homeless likely do the same.

Could be embarrassing for the Halton doctors if they have a patient who lives in a park and then they write that person a prescription for a daily nature walk. Maybe they'll come up with an ingenious idea and prescribe that homeless people spend 20 minutes indoors each day.

This story makes me think about my mom and how far ahead of the medical professionals she was when it comes to prescribing "getting outdoors" for health benefits. When I was a kid my mom often prescribed that I "go outside". Only difference is I am pretty sure it was more for her mental health than mine.

So fresh air (sorry Montreal) and exercise is good for you. Amazing.
 
Give me some green space.

When I see a big city like New York. Walking in the shadows of the buildings, surrounded by consumerism and millions of people my gut reaction is run!

I just don't understand the appeal for so many people. Might be interesting to visit but I sure wouldn't want to live there.
 
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Elektrishun said:
Every once in awhile I watch the CTV news channel to see what's going on beyond the shop walls. There was a news item this morning described as "Halton, Ontario doctors can prescribe 'Nature Pass'".

It is prescription for people with various health issues, including mental health, to spend about 20 minutes a day in nature.

Around here a lot of the homeless sleep in treed areas in parks and along the riverbank. I assume many of the Halton homeless likely do the same.

Could be embarrassing for the Halton doctors if they have a patient who lives in a park and then they write that person a prescription for a daily nature walk. Maybe they'll come up with an ingenious idea and prescribe that homeless people spend 20 minutes indoors each day.

This story makes me think about my mom and how far ahead of the medical professionals she was when it comes to prescribing "getting outdoors" for health benefits. When I was a kid my mom often prescribed that I "go outside". Only difference is I am pretty sure it was more for her mental health than mine.

So fresh air (sorry Montreal) and exercise is good for you. Amazing.
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Halton has homeless?

I thought it was solely filled with the monied horsy set, who are so healthy from riding in the woods all day.

In all seriousness though, there is no debate scientifically or medically that there are mental and physical health benefits from taking breaks outdoors. I know this, but damn I dont get outdoors any more unless there is a compelling reason. Time to address this in the coming year, and I wont need a script to do it.
 
TorontoBuilder said:
Halton has homeless?

I thought it was solely filled with the monied horsy set, who are so healthy from riding in the woods all day.

In all seriousness though, there is no debate scientifically or medically that there are mental and physical health benefits from taking breaks outdoors. I know this, but damn I dont get outdoors any more unless there is a compelling reason. Time to address this in the coming year, and I wont need a script to do it.
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I was making light of this story, too. Like what's next, "studies show breathing air is considered part of a healthy lifestyle"...?

Then the more I thought about it I tried to find a possible hidden motivation. Maybe I'm not seeing the big picture. One theory I have is too many people go to the doctor with a problem and say, "give me a pill". Maybe these doctors are using this "get outdoors" prescription as a way of saying, "I know you, and you live an unhealthy lifestyle. Let's try changing that first."
Just a theory.
 
Elektrishun said:
I was making light of this story, too. Like what's next, "studies show breathing air is considered part of a healthy lifestyle"...?

Then the more I thought about it I tried to find a possible hidden motivation. Maybe I'm not seeing the big picture. One theory I have is too many people go to the doctor with a problem and say, "give me a pill". Maybe these doctors are using this "get outdoors" prescription as a way of saying, "I know you, and you live an unhealthy lifestyle. Let's try changing that first."
Just a theory.
Click to expand...
They should be saying that... If that is their secret plan I'm 100% down for it. ;)

One of the requisites for my retirement property is minimum 50 acres with trails through the woods for walking and x-country skiing. A pond for attracting wildlife to watch... and a patch for a garden and a greenhouse
 
TorontoBuilder said:
They should be saying that... If that is their secret plan I'm 100% down for it. ;)

One of the requisites for my retirement property is minimum 50 acres with trails through the woods for walking and x-country skiing. A pond for attracting wildlife to watch... and a patch for a garden and a greenhouse
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My in-laws have a version of what you are talking about. After almost 40 years it's just about coming to an end. Fairly relaxing place to visit with all kinds of wildlife dropping by. On the other hand there was (and still is) a lot of up-keep. Probably more than they should've tried to take on. That's where I got to experience riding a square bale stooker while harvesting alfalfa grown to feed their horses. Every time I hit the foot pedal to release the stook it was a roll of the dice as to whether it would stay standing or not. After helping with that work and other jobs I was GOLD to my wife's parents.:)

I often thought that it would've been a real paradise if they didn't have so many irons in the fire all the time.
 
TorontoBuilder said:
One of the requisites for my retirement property is minimum 50 acres with trails through the woods for walking and x-country skiing. A pond for attracting wildlife to watch... and a patch for a garden and a greenhouse
Click to expand...

Now I know you loved my place. But I don't remember taking you for a walk in the forest. Next time.

FWIW, I don't think it's too much upkeep at all.

Best of all, it's a wildlife paradise.
 
slow-poke said:
Give me some green space.

When I see a big city like New York. Walking in the shadows of the buildings, surrounded by consumerism and millions of people my gut reaction is run!

I just don't understand the appeal for so many people. Might be interesting to visit but I sure wouldn't want to live there.
Click to expand...
Amen......
 
Back to the original topic, we live in a very odd society. People who pay a couple hundred a month to go to a gym and work out, but get all wound up and pissy if the escalator at the Bay isn’t working. Or circle the Costco parking lot for ten minutes to avoid walking a block.

Or buy godawful scented candles to assist while they sit indoors to meditate, instead of putting on a jacket and walking down to the nearest river, pond, forest, or field.
 
whydontu said:
Back to the original topic, we live in a very odd society. People who pay a couple hundred a month to go to a gym and work out, but get all wound up and pissy if the escalator at the Bay isn’t working. Or circle the Costco parking lot for ten minutes to avoid walking a block.

Or buy godawful scented candles to assist while they sit indoors to meditate, instead of putting on a jacket and walking down to the nearest river, pond, forest, or field.
Click to expand...
......if you aren't spending, you aren't trending.....
After all I have seen in recent years of one of our little jewels of a park, Joffrey lake has become a jungle of thoughtless, self centered, and entitled garbage tossing idiots. I'd rather see some prescribed a straight jacket for everyones safety and betterment. Thousands of people a day pounding the paths and all the foliage along them leaves very little in a "pristine" natural condition. Funny how far a Tim Hortons cup can wander in before getting lost along the trail.
Sorry for the rant, just not a fan of people going where they don't fit in (belong).
 
Susquatch said:
Now I know you loved my place. But I don't remember taking you for a walk in the forest. Next time.

FWIW, I don't think it's too much upkeep at all.

Best of all, it's a wildlife paradise.
Click to expand...
I've been too rushed to take a walk in the woods, but yeah I love your place, it checks all the boxes
 
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