FOLLOW THE glowing videos that teach

viewers how to responsibly

himself as your friendly
neighborhood beekeeper,
LEADERS and safely forage for wild but he’s transformed a hob-
foods. Nelson’s eccentric by nurturing Earth’s buzzing,
These local naturalists have lectures and creative recipes flying insects into a business
taken to social media to share have catapulted her into the that strives to restore their
their knowledge with a wider spotlight, with appearances livability in urbanized areas.
audience. — K . B . in national publications and B the Keeper is Reynolds’s
even a stint on Jimmy Kim- Cincinnati-based startup
mel Live! But it’s her love for that consults with local
the natural world and her businesses, residents, and
Black Forager Alexis Nikole Nelson—also message of symbiotic living municipalities to develop
The opportunities for deli- known as Black Forager—is that make this hometown pollinator gardens, bringing
cious, nutritious, affordable, a foraging educator and girl a must-follow. life to neighborhoods with
and sustainable food don’t environmental enthusiast @blackforager plants that beautify spaces
just come from shelves and whose Instagram account, and encourage pollinator
pantries—they dwell on which boasts more than 1.2 B the Keeper populations to flourish.
our lands. Cincinnati-born million followers, teems with Brandon Reynolds describes @b_thekeeper

Off the trail outlet was nowhere near

the starting point, we walked
are compact enough to feel
at home while your imagina-
LEAVE NO
TRACE
Beaten Path the park road back, enrap-
tured that’s still so much left
tion—and feet—run wild. 2726
Cypress Way, Norwood, (513)
Humans have caused an
to see in this little corner of 731-6455
Exploring Cincinnati’s our world. 5083 Colerain Ave., awful lot of disruption to
parks, one nature trail (513) 357-2604 Buttercup Valley wildlife. Follow the Leave No
Nature Preserve Trace principles to mitigate
at a time. — K I L L I A N B A A R L A E R Lindner Park Nature Lolling inconspicuously at damage to surviving ecosys-
Preserve at the the end of a quiet residential tems and responsibly enjoy
McCullough Estate street in Northside is the nature. — K . B .
California Woods Brookline Ave., Clifton, (513) Beyond a quaint white Buttercup Valley Nature Pre-
Nature Preserve 357-2604 house with black shutters serve, a network of trails that
Off the windy path of Kellogg on Cypress Way in Norwood meanders over rolling slopes, 1. Plan ahead before embarking on your
Avenue down a discreet, nar- Mt. Airy Forest is a 14-acre nature preserve cutting through the hillsides journey. Know what to expect and what you’re
row driveway lies California Mt. Airy Forest is 1,459 acres of rolling hills laden with ex- and over creeks. Fallen trees capable of. You’ll throw consideration out the
Woods Nature Preserve. of wooded serenity that could panses of ground-sprawling and snags along the trail’s window if you get yourself in a pinch.
Being so close to the river, be explored for days. We wild ginger and bald cypress opening stretch provide beds
the terrain seems to roll and started our journey on the trees, which the street for fluffy mosses, cave-like 2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
rear everywhere you look. We Red Oak trail and ended up… derives its name from. The underbellies for insects, This means follow the designated trails, and
explored the Junction Trail, well, elsewhere. When pre- McCulloughs once lived here and perches for birds. It’s a if you need to deviate to select a campsite or
which, at just over a mile, is sented with a fork in the path, in harmony with nature. It’s truly breathtaking landscape use the bathroom, do so on a surface that has
the longest trail at the pre- curiosity in this expansive easy to find yourself playing functioning mightily amid a already been disturbed or won’t be scarred by
serve. On a brisk early spring landscape got the better of pretend amid the beauty and bustling urban neighborhood. your presence.
day, you could catch anything us—there might be a little too nuggets of the past on the 1558 Stanford Dr., Northside,
from wildflowers blooming much to see. And although the estate, but the boundaries (513) 357-2604 3. Dispose of waste properly. This is pretty
out of a blanket of dead leaves simple—don’t litter! And for the inevitable
to shrubs sprouting leaves bathroom break, latrines and cat holes are your
of effervescent green. 5400 best options.
Kellogg Ave., California, (513)
231-8678 4. Leave what you find. This allows nature to
persist in its cycle and other human visitors to
Burnet Woods enjoy the rightful experience.
Burnet Woods, a respite from
the crowded and chaotic 5. Minimize campfire impacts. Portable
urban junction of Clifton camp stoves are the most efficient and innocu-
and The Heights, is an easily ous method to cook in the wilderness, but if fire
navigated network of trails is essential, try finding preexisting fire rings.
through a hilly forest that Also, be absolutely sure to fully extinguish it.
we made our way through in
about 45 minutes. The park is 6. Respect wildlife. You’re in their home. How
girdled by busy city streets, would you like it if some bozo walked in your
and you can easily hear house gawking and causing you to overthink
wailing sirens and zooming your daily routines?
cars through the trees, but
despite the blacktop and 7. Be considerate of others. No one owns this
rocky paths, the park is planet. Relish the beauty of what we have with
an invaluable oasis. 3251 kindness and compassion.

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P H OTO G R A P H C O U R T E SY K AT E G I L L E O F T H E C I N C I N N AT I PA R K S F O U N DAT I O N I L LU S T R AT I O N BY J E N L E E M - B R U G G E N