Now that winter is upon us, getting to class alone overexposes us to the elements. Since winter break is a mere two weeks after Thanksgiving break, planting anything sounds like a fruitless waste of time for anyone not living in Oxford. Still, being exposed to nature is a very important thing, even for stressed college students, because it often can help relieve tension and remind us there is more to life than finals. Here are a few ways to connect with the flora and fauna in the dead of winter.
- Take a break in the kitchen, using fresh veggies and fruits for a great way to channel your inner crazy chef.
- Bundle up and take a walk…
- Look out for the differences in different evergreen pinecones on campus.
- …Or go skiing
- Good places within walking distance include Pfeiffer Park on days when there is no construction, behind the Miami Art Museum, and by the WRA cabin on Western Campus.
- Connect with animals
- Look up pictures of dream destinations
- When it’s this cold outside, even looking at pictures of sandy beaches and misty forests counts as exposing yourself to nature.
- Visit the farmer’s market in uptown Oxford
- The market runs from 9 until noon, November 22nd and from then on every third Saturday of the month. Grab delicious baked goods for breakfast with a cup of high quality coffee, and enjoy fresh veggies, fruits, and the artisan crafts for sale.
- Stop by a flower shop to browse around
- In between a cup of coffee and window shopping uptown, go to Oxford Flower Shop and take a look at all the pretty plants while staying warm indoors.
- Visit the Belk Greenhouse on campus
- For an amped-up version of the flower shop visit, take a look at all the exotic flora living on Western campus.
- Visit the largest herbarium in Ohio, right on campus
- The herbarium is filled with dried specimens. Stop by and look at all of the varieties of plants collected.