What is this project?
This project is my contribution to the Access to Nature goal outlined in Vancouver's Greenest City 2020 Action Plan. One of the main targets in the plan is that all Vancouver residents will be within a five minute walk of a natural space by 2020.

Who am I?
I am Becky Till, a CityStudio student working in collaboration with the City of Vancouver on Greenest City projects. I am also a person wondering what it really means to have access to nature.

What will all the participants and myself be doing?
Each participant of this challenge is going to "take a moment" in a "natural space" everyday for the next ten days (March 24th - April 2nd). We will all be posting reflections both written and visual to share what impact this commitment is having on us.

Why am I doing this?
Well, because I used eat blackberries on a forest path during my commute and now I try not to get hit by cars. I want to see if there is a bridge between my busy city life and my need to feel connected to nature. What does it mean to connect with nature in a city? Does it have the same impact as "wilder" nature? Will having more contact make a noticeable difference in my life? To broaden my conclusions I asked fourteen other people living in Vancouver if they could commit to "Accessing Nature" for 10 days straight too. They said yes.
It's on!

Sunday 25 March 2012

Becky Till - Day 1

Ok, so here is the truth: I, the creator of the challenge, didn't really "take a moment" on the first day of the challenge.  I mean I looked at some mountains really quickly while imaging a landscape plan, but I was so busy getting everything ready for this challenge, and running around having meetings for my group project, and putting up posters for the big event my class is hosting (Under One Roof @ the Salt building March 31st 11-4 open house -- be there) that all the sudden it was dark and the day was over... so what does that mean? An epic fail or a lesson? I'm choosing a lesson. It's kind of like hosting a dinner party and worrying so much about getting everything ready that you forget to have fun with the friends you invited over. The whole reason I invented this project was to give myself license to slow down, take a moment, and really... to be grateful for my existence. Thank goodness tomorrow is a new day.
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