Thrive Where You’re Planted by Andrea Debbink

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Thrive Where You’re Planted
by Andrea Debbink
February 6, 2024 · Quirk Books Nonfiction















I started working at a local nature center about a year ago, and since then I’ve delighted in being more aware of the nature that inhabits my yard, fills apartment window boxes, and struggles through sidewalk cracks. Thrive Where You’re Planted: A Guided Journal to Help You Connect with the Natural Wonders in Your Neighborhood  is a lovely exercise book for those of us who want to become more aware of the natural world around whether we live in the city, the suburbs, or a yurt in the woods.
The journal is divided into months. Each month starts with a short essay by the author, and also includes a poem. There’s a cool weather chart that allows you to track the weather daily using color-coded dots (you pick the colors). There are journaling prompts and places where you can chart sightings of flora and fauna throughout the month, and other activities.

I’m using this journal to become more familiar this year with the urban forest in which I live. My city, Sacramento, has more trees per capita than any other city in the world, at least it did as of 2017. So in addition to the immense privilege of working in a nature center, I can enjoy nature by consciously paying attention to its presence all around the city. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn to be more observant of the world around them, wherever they live.