When Black Ice, my latest novel, entered the world at the end of July, life became all about the book. Book launches, book readings, book signings, book reviews, book sales, book events, book publicity and marketing…of the book. You get the picture. No longer a spring chicken, after 10 personal appearances in six weeks, I was exhausted. Thankfully, September brought an opportunity to take a break and immerse myself in something completely different.
I left the Lake Erie shore on a Friday morning and headed through central New York State’s rolling farmlands, to Ithaca, NY. Several hours later, I finally found a bumpy dirt road with signs for Cornell University’s Arnot Forest, a 4,200 acre woodland that serves as both outdoor classroom and experimental laboratory. It is also the place where those interested in becoming a New York State Master Naturalist begin their training and field work.
Earlier this year, I was excited to learn I was accepted into the course. Having already been through the Master Naturalist course in West Virginia, I came to class equipped with a notebook, pens, pencils, and a comfortable cushion, expecting to sit for quite a while. However, after a brief introduction, we left the chairs behind and were on our way outdoors and into the woods.
It was a big change from focusing on putting words on paper, to closely observing the verdant world around me. The first task was learning to identify tree varieties by examining their branches and leaves. Like most, I know the difference between a coniferous and deciduous tree, but being able to tell a red maple from a sugar maple is a bit more challenging.
Tree identification was followed by a night hike to listen to, and look for, creatures active in the dark. The next morning, we got on our hands and knees to search for land snails. We waded through a stream to look for macro invertebrates, stood in a meadow in the pitch dark listening for owls, tramped through the rain to identify different varieties of ferns, and as a grand finale, were treated to a “show and tell” of local amphibians and reptiles by an expert herpetologist.
We did get to spend some time indoors, listening to Cornell’s experts talk about everything from species monitoring to preventing tick bites. It was information overload, but in the space of a weekend, I learned a tremendous amount about both the flora and fauna unique to New York State, and the need for conservation, preservation, restoration and protection of the state’s wildlife and wild places.
The purpose of the Master Naturalist program in each state[1] is to teach adults about the local ecosystem and the challenges to it so they can share their knowledge with others. In New York, 30 hours of volunteer work along with 30 hours of training are required to become a Master Naturalist. With more than half of the coursework now behind me, I am eager to get started on my volunteer projects.
You might ask, how will spending so much time in nature these coming months, help me write my next novel? The Japanese have a term, shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing.” They believe it has a powerful effect on the mind and soul. I intend to “forest bathe” whenever I have the opportunity, not only to reduce the stress that inevitably comes with writing and publishing a book, but also to be both inspired by, and to give back to, the natural world that surrounds me. [2]
One can witness all of life’s struggles at the elemental level while immersed in nature, if one knows how to look, and listen. And aren’t an author’s powers of observation really at the heart of every good novel? Let me know if you enjoy a good bath in the forest, or enjoy nature in some other way, in the comments below.
Moxie Gardiner is a writer, gardener, and traveler who grew up on the West Side of Buffalo, NY. In a previous life she was a journalist, magazine editor, speech writer, and policy wonk. Back in the day she made three solo parachute jumps, flew in an F-15 fighter jet, and crawled through mud pits at the Jungle Operations Training Course in Panama. She now meditates, grows vegetables, and enjoys a good online Zumba routine at home on winter evenings. Virgin Snow, her first novel, was published in 2023, and Black Ice, Book Two in the Buffalo trilogy, was published in July 2026. Stay tuned for updates on Book Three!
[1] At least 30 US states currently run Master Naturalist programs.
[2] For more thoughts on the Healing Power of Nature, see https://moxiegardiner.com/?s=nature
Forest bathing! I had a chance to bathe this summer at the Museum of Natural History in Brewster, MA on Cape Cod. It was lovely & moving. Interspersed with poetry & gentle movement, our leader silently guided us through the bayside marsh to a forested island-ish area. We concentrated on our senses, what we were noticing, and how we were experiencing nature. The leader brought the philosophy of “Braiding Sweetgrass” to the scene then. Being surrounded & embraced by the woods around us, strongly enhanced the indigenous belief that humans are the young brothers and sisters of the natural world. That world was here long here before us and sustains us. We need to show our gratitude and act with reciprocity.
So yes, I was moved to select a particular tree, study it closely, and thank it.
Ok, I actually gave it a hug…