The Nature Principle – „Vitamin N”

After talking so much about the positive impacts of Vitamin C, B, and more in the previous module about self-care, it’s really time to look at a new „vitamin”, what Richard Louv is proposing us: Vitamin N, as Vitamin Nature, from his new book: The Nature Principle.

Louv builds this new book  on his previous work about “nature-deficit disorder” by focusing on how adults can restore their connection with the natural world. Louv’s main points can be summed up in a few key ideas, which he often calls “principles” or “precepts.”

The “Nature Principle” and “Vitamin N”

The “Nature Principle” is the idea that reconnecting with nature is essential for human health, well-being, and even survival. It’s a response to a world that is becoming increasingly high-tech and disconnected from the natural environment. Louv champions the concept of “Vitamin N,” or “Vitamin Nature,” as a metaphor for the restorative powers of the outdoors. He argues that just as we need vitamins for our physical health, we need regular doses of nature for our mental and physical well-being.

The Hybrid Mind and Human Restoration

Louv isn’t anti-technology. In fact, he argues for a “hybrid mind”—a state where we use technology to enhance our connection with nature, rather than replace it. We don’t have to choose between a high-tech life and a nature-rich one. We can use technology to organize family nature clubs, research local ecosystems, or share our outdoor experiences. This leads to the idea of human restoration, which is the ultimate goal of the “New Nature Movement.” It’s about restoring not just the environment, but ourselves in the process.

The “New Nature Movement” and Community

Louv also emphasizes that reconnecting with nature is a collective effort, not just an individual one. He proposes a “New Nature Movement” that goes beyond traditional environmentalism. It’s about actively creating nature where we live, work, and play, even in urban settings. This includes things like biophilic design in our homes and offices (incorporating natural elements), creating pocket parks, and encouraging urban agriculture. This movement, Louv argues, will help build “human/nature social capital”, enriching communities by redefining them to include all living things.

The ideas of Louv about creating nature, where we live, has inspired our next video about gardening and the stress-relieving power of contact with plants. That is the last video, and at the same time the last step in our module about Connecting to Nature. Enjoy.

Source:

Richard Louv (2011). The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder. Algonquin Books.