Reclaiming Vitamin N: Building a Family Culture Rooted in Nature

Years ago, I came across the work of Richard Louv and was struck by his idea of “Vitamin N”—nature—and the growing deficit of it in modern life, especially in children’s lives. Louv argues that humans have an innate need to connect with the natural world. This “nature deficit disorder” isn’t a medical diagnosis, but a cultural condition—one with real consequences for our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

So how can we bring nature back into our daily lives, especially within the home and family?

1. Start With the Home Garden

You don’t need a green thumb or a backyard farm to enjoy the benefits of gardening. Simply tending a few herbs in pots or planting a small flower bed can foster mindfulness and presence. Gardening invites us to slow down, care for living things, and engage with the seasons. It’s also a great way to involve children, teaching them patience, responsibility, and the wonder of growth.

2. Explore Local Natural Spaces

Even if you’re not into gardening, you can still prioritize nature by seeking out local parks, trails, and green spaces. Ideally, find spots close enough to walk or drive to regularly. Research increasingly shows that proximity to nature boosts happiness, reduces stress, and even extends lifespan. Communities that value native landscapes and accessible natural areas are investing in public health—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

3. Engage the Senses and Soothe the Nervous System

Nature immerses us in a rich sensory experience. The feel of soil, the colors of leaves and flowers, the scent of pine or fresh-cut grass—these simple things help regulate our nervous systems. In an age of digital overload and high-stress living, nature offers balance. Studies even show that children with ADHD benefit significantly from time outdoors. This is because nature helps develop proprioception (awareness of the body in space), which supports better focus, coordination, and calm.

4. Experience Wholeness: Body, Soul, and Creation

Engaging with nature grounds us in our full humanity. As Aristotle described, the soul manifests at three levels: the vegetative (growth and reproduction), the sensate (sensation and movement), and the rational (reason and thought). We share the first two with plants and animals—and being in nature helps us reconnect with that shared experience. This harmonizes our body and soul, reminding us that we are part of creation, not separate from it.

5. Develop Healthy Hobbies and Habits

Time in nature often leads to lifelong hobbies—gardening, birdwatching, rock collecting, hiking, or trail running. These activities promote physical fitness, curiosity, and even family bonding. Gardeners, for instance, are among the healthiest and most content people—not just because of the food they grow, but because of the rhythm and movement the work requires. Nature-based hobbies enrich our lives without screens, subscriptions, or artificial stimulation.

6. Practice Stewardship Through Knowledge

In Genesis, Adam’s first task was to name the animals. Naming implies knowing, and knowing cultivates care. Think about how different a walk through the forest feels when you can identify a tree, bird, or wildflower. Sadly, many of us know more about celebrities than the species living in our own backyards. Learning the names of plants and animals teaches our children (and us) to be stewards of the natural world—curious, attentive, and responsible.

7. Reconnect with Rhythms of Time and Season

Finally, nature recalibrates our experience of time. Anyone who has camped under the stars knows how sunrise and sunset, heat and cold, light and dark begin to shape our days differently. Seasons invite us into a natural cycle of activity and rest. They remind us that growth includes periods of stillness—and that our human limits are part of our design, not flaws to overcome with technology.

These are just a few ways to begin cultivating a nature-rich family culture. The benefits reach across emotional health, intellectual curiosity, physical vitality, and spiritual grounding. As we reconnect with the world God created, we also reconnect with ourselves and with one another.

So go outside. Dig in the dirt. Learn the name of a tree. Watch a bird. Let nature teach you something today.

Want more ways to improve your family life? Check out these blogs about essential items in the home: