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Living Near Trees, Not Just Green Space, Improves Wellbeing

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Re: Living Near Trees, Not Just Green Space, Improves Wellbeing

#31

Post by sokoloff »

driverdan wrote: post #24
evancox100 wrote: post #3

"Exposure to grass was, surprisingly, associated with higher odds of psychological distress." Anyone who has had to maintain a lawn will likely find this unsurprising.

Not if you just mow it and let whatever grows grow.

I am a borderline lawn nut. After spending a lot of time getting the lawn well established, healthy, and vibrant, the on-going maintenance to keep it looking very nice is not particularly onerous. I doubt it's even 25 hours of total labor across the year, all told (for a 6500 ft^2 of lawn city lot).

Re: Living Near Trees, Not Just Green Space, Improves Wellbeing

#33

Post by zaphod4prez »

Pxtl wrote: post #17
Causality1 wrote: post #6

Not surprising. As someone who grew up in rural and suburban environments, big cities feel intensely depressing. I go there and nothing I look at makes me feel happy. I'm sure people who grew up there feel differently and see things I don't see, but for me Manhattan feels as dead as the surface of Mars.

Manhattan has Central Park, which is a forest. Compare vs the suburban sprawl of modern design where it's an ocean of tract housing with stunted little fresh-planted trees and I'd say the reverse is generally true. I can see the argument for rural living, but not for modern suburbia.

This is going to seem pedantic but like just sharing my perspective. Central Park sooo doesn't feel like a forest to me. It's like walking around a crowded lawn (ok maybe thats a bit dramatic). But Central park really doesn't do it for me; when I'm in NYC I need to spend time in Prospect Park (which is closerrr to a forest) or else I go crazy

Re: Living Near Trees, Not Just Green Space, Improves Wellbeing

#34

Post by _fq4v »

Causality1 wrote: post #6

Not surprising. As someone who grew up in rural and suburban environments, big cities feel intensely depressing. I go there and nothing I look at makes me feel happy. I'm sure people who grew up there feel differently and see things I don't see, but for me Manhattan feels as dead as the surface of Mars.

I grew up in the burbs and am the exact opposite. After six months in London, I felt incredibly isolated when I returned to the burbs.

Re: Living Near Trees, Not Just Green Space, Improves Wellbeing

#35

Post by moron4hire »

In 2008, I was living in Central Pennsylvania, taking many a weekend hike along a short section of the Appalachian trail that ran within a short drive from my home. Then I got assigned to a project in Bloomington, Illinois. I spent a month out there, this strange land completely devoid of trees. I never thought of myself as an "outdoors" person before that, I just liked hanging out with some friends and getting a little exercise. After Bloomington, I realized just how important trees were to my mental health.

Re: Living Near Trees, Not Just Green Space, Improves Wellbeing

#36

Post by alfromspace »

Pxtl wrote: post #17
Causality1 wrote: post #6

Not surprising. As someone who grew up in rural and suburban environments, big cities feel intensely depressing. I go there and nothing I look at makes me feel happy. I'm sure people who grew up there feel differently and see things I don't see, but for me Manhattan feels as dead as the surface of Mars.

Manhattan has Central Park, which is a forest. Compare vs the suburban sprawl of modern design where it's an ocean of tract housing with stunted little fresh-planted trees and I'd say the reverse is generally true. I can see the argument for rural living, but not for modern suburbia.

Rural and small town living is the way to go for me. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone here defending the aesthetics of cookie-cutter suburbs.

Re: Living Near Trees, Not Just Green Space, Improves Wellbeing

#37

Post by cookingrobot »

6gvONxR4sf7o wrote: post #32

Can we get a title change from "Improves" to "Associated With?" The causal affect is mentioned nowhere but the (incorrect) title. All of the content and quotes from the authors use "associated with."

Interesting.. it doesn't seem likely that wellbeing causes trees. So what are the other possible arrows of causation? Maybe healthy people choose to live near trees?

Re: Living Near Trees, Not Just Green Space, Improves Wellbeing

#38

Post by tunesmith »

cookingrobot wrote: post #37
6gvONxR4sf7o wrote: post #32

Can we get a title change from "Improves" to "Associated With?" The causal affect is mentioned nowhere but the (incorrect) title. All of the content and quotes from the authors use "associated with."

Interesting.. it doesn't seem likely that wellbeing causes trees. So what are the other possible arrows of causation? Maybe healthy people choose to live near trees?

Or something else causes both healthy people and living near trees.

Re: Living Near Trees, Not Just Green Space, Improves Wellbeing

#39

Post by tdb7893 »

outworlder wrote: post #7

Unsurprising result. I was so sad (figuratively speaking) when we moved from an older office - but one which had trees all around and even running water - to a very modern, but boring open floor glass paned antfarm-like building. After some time I got literally depressed. Walking around the concreted block did nothing for me anymore. No trees, no water, no birds, no squirrels. Just cars and a lot of heat in the summe…

I once worked at a place that had a mile of walking paths through an adjacent prairie. I walked it every day that the weather was nice and it was amazing. I was so sad when I changed jobs and the office was in the city.
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