BOOK 2: POST 1

Losing Eden by Lucy Jones

Wake Up and Taste the Soil?

Lucy Jones teaches us how nature can heal our body and soul

 

For my second book I have chosen to read Losing Eden by Lucy Jones. I chose this book because I myself have had a difficult year in my personal life. I wanted to learn how I could potentially use nature in my life to overcome obstacles. After all... we are living in California-- perhaps one of the most prettiest places we can be in our country (in my opinion). 

When I first started reading this book, I did not expect it to start how it did. Lucy begins explaining how nature helped her out of a life-threatening addiction to drugs. Nature was a crucial component in her recovery. She would walk daily down the marshes near her rehab center. Once she was able to live on her own, she had to rely on a pear tree visible out of her apartment window to stop herself from relapsing.

  • I have a succulent that I really love in my room. Although I don't necessarily rely on it, I could relate to Lucy having a special plant that gives her comfort.

 


 Lucy then goes on to explain how she has introduced her daughter to nature-- beginning with soil in her garden. Her baby would eat the soil! I really loved this chapter because Lucy spoke about scientific experiments. Essentially, a soil in bacteria, M. vaccae, actually increases happiness by helping to release hormones such as dopamine.  In my neurobiology class I am learning about our gut microbiome and all of the bacteria needed to help us survive. Lucy also spoke about our microbiome and this bacteria living inside of us. She stated that smelling soil can help us experience this elevated happiness. I can't see myself relating to her in a way that I would ever taste or smell soil, but from a biologic/ scientific standpoint, everything she said made sense!

I am only just beginning part II of Losing Eden, but I cannot wait to continue reading and see how nature influenced Lucy and can influence me.

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