About the Innisfree Project's values

The story of the Innisfree Project is highly personal. It originates with my passion for nature and outdoor experiences, which goes back as far as my childhood memories of wading through streams and strolling beside cow pastures during the summers. When I began interviewing people about their relationships with nature and about humanity’s increasing disconnection from the natural world, I found a common theme running throughout, one deeply related to the concepts of psychogeography and biophilia. While I certainly don’t claim to be an expert on either, I have been exploring them extensively over the past year—it was exhilarating to first discover that words actually existed that captured the range of feelings and thoughts I had been experiencing as someone who regularly moves between urban and rural settings. I define both terms below, as each permeates my interactions and the experiences shared on this website:

Psychogeography:

Psychogeograhy explores the relationship between an individual’s emotions and their geographical location, namely the effect one has on the other. The term originated in 1955 with Marxist theorist Guy Debord, who was inspired by French writer Charles Baudelaire’s concept of the urban wanderer or “flâneur.”

Biophilia:

Translated from Greek, the word biophilia literally means “love of life.” The concept of biophilia itself was introduced by Pulitzer Prize-winning naturalist E.O. Wilson, who suggested that humans have an innate drive to connect with and explore nature and other aspects of life (as we take our own place in the environment).

Skiing, hiking, working with animals, and engaging with ecology all resonate deeply with the concepts of psychogeography and biophilia, illustrating how the physical environment profoundly shapes our mental and emotional states—a phenomenon well-supported by scientific studies. Research in environmental psychology highlights that natural settings, particularly those that evoke awe, can induce a state of "soft fascination," wherein our attention is effortlessly captured by the surroundings, leading to restorative experiences and a reduction in mental fatigue. This concept aligns with Attention Restoration Theory (ART), a term I've recently encountered. ART proposes that natural environments help replenish depleted cognitive resources by offering a break from the sustained and often-overwhelming attention required in everyday urban life.

Additionally, numerous studies on the effects of nature on well-being indicate that exposure to natural landscapes can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, while simultaneously improving mood and enhancing overall mental health.

The individuals I’ve met and interviewed over the past six months have provided particularly compelling insights into this exploration. Each has found their own unique way of connecting with nature while contributing to the broader community. I hope their lessons will help readers gain a deeper understanding of their own relationship with the natural world and inspire steps that benefit both personal well-being and the planet.

Join me in discovering how these remarkable individuals and the literature I’ve explored can guide us toward comfort and healing through our interactions with nature.