Palmer's Picks

Back to blog feed

Read, Relax, Restore

Dear Friends,

While the developing COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our daily lives, it can't touch our love of nature and one another - all things we cherish at Palmer Land Trust. During this unprecedented time, we are thinking about you - our loyal supporters - and your friends, families, and loved ones.
 
Here at Palmer, we’re continually supporting one another with ideas to stay rested, nourished and restored, and we want to share some of them with you! Below are some of our favorite books, podcasts, and other online resources for individual and family enjoyment. As you potentially spend more time at home with family and loved ones, we hope that these recommendations bring you joy. 

Books

Ed Recommends - Endurance by Alfred Lansing. Shackleton and his crew were stuck in ice near the South Pole for 2 years and made it out without anyone dying.  First of all, this makes the idea of hanging around the house for a month seem easy, and secondly, there are some great lessons about the importance of routine and positive attitude (and the complete rejection of any negativity).  Worth a read!

Ashlee Recommends - An Owl on Every Post by Sanora Babb. Written from first-hand experience of life in eastern Colorado during the Dust Bowl, this riveting tale will leave you grateful for the stalwart tenacity of our forefathers. 

Candice Recommends - The Abundance by Annie Dillard. Fans of Dillard’s “fierce and muscular prose” will be pleased to find this re-worked collection of previous essays. Her descriptions of everyday occurrences render them poetic, artful, and thoughtful. 

Music

Stephanie Recommends - To relax and unwind, try  smooth Jazz, including the effortless cool of Brian Culbertson, Kenny G, and Paul Taylor.

Jeanine Recommends - Elevate your mood and broaden your musical geography by tuning in to "Celtic Twilight" on Sirius Radio.

Podcasts

Mountain & Prairie - As always, Ed’s latest interview is both informative and enlightening. Listen in as Dianiela Ibarra-Howell, CEO of the Savory Institute, discusses restoring and protecting grasslands. 

Seth Godin - The Moment with Brian Koppleman - Especially in times of emotional turmoil, Seth’s solid advice for ways to approach (among other topics) working remotely in these difficult times will bring a new perspective to any routine. 

Apps

CoTREX - Adhering to social distancing means that we must limit our interactions with others, but it doesn’t mean we can’t get outside for a hike or walk. If you need some help finding trails in the area, consider downloading this FREE app, which helps you identify trails and also tracks you as you move.
Cost: FREE

Headspace - Check out their "weathering the storm" app which includes free meditations, sleep, and movement exercises to help you out, however, you’re feeling. 
Cost: FREE

Resources

Scholastic Kids - Schools may be closed, but there are plenty of great resources for parents and guardians looking to keep kids learning. Check out Scholastic’s online learning tools, which they’ve made available for FREE. 

Virtual National Park Tours - Whether you’re facilitating some child-led learning explorations or dreaming about your next trip, check out these great virtual tours.

Virtual Opera - The Met will offer nightly opera streams, beginning with La Boheme. They recommend that you stream the Met Opera on Demand apps through Apple, Amazon, and Roku devices and Samsung Smart TV. Performances are available from 7:30 p.m. EDT. 

Live Animal Cams - Check out some real wildlife on the move with the virtual animal cams being offered by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, EXPLORE.org, and Bear Watching Transylvania.