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Nichole | Nature • Wildlife • Low Tox Living

@thisnourishedplanet

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creating backyard sanctuary🌿
native plants•wildlife•slow living
daily reminders to coexist🌍
low-tox•low-waste♻️
plant-based living: @purely__planted

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It started with just one plant two years ago. 🪴

You can do the same, building your own native plants wildlife sanctuary doesn’t have to be elaborate or overwhelming.

One flowering plant for the pollinators.

One shrubby bush for wildlife habitat.

A watering hole with rocks for wildlife hydration.

Getting started doesn’t need to take a lot of effort or resources.

Just start with whatever makes most sense for you.

And watch things slowly flourish right before your very eyes. ☺️

What are you watching come to life in your own yard or community? 🌳 🐝 🦋🐛 🌼

#nativeplants #nativegarden #trees #flowers #bees #butterflies #birds #garden #atlanta #ecosystem #habitat #wildlife #wildlifesanctuary #sanctuary #wildlifeconservation #conservation #nature by @thisnourishedplanet

Seed saver or seed stealer? 😬

I thought I was doing something good — collecting Joe Pye Weed seeds for a swap.

Turns out, I was raiding the wildlife buffet. 🐦💔

Promise I’ll return them to their rightful owners and never steal their food again.

Lesson learned: sometimes nature’s best work happens after the bloom.

What about you — share the seeds or save them for the birds? 🌾

#birdlover #nativegarden #plantnative #gardennovice #beginner #learning #learnfromyourmistakes #oops #nature #naturelover #nativeplants #birds #wildlife #garden #atlanta #firsttimer by @thisnourishedplanet

The autumn season brings so much to celebrate: beautiful fall leaves, scary pumpkin carvings, invigorating temperatures … and LOTS of candy wrappers.

The aftermath of Halloween was everywhere this morning. Candy wrappers found in between leaves on the ground, scattered in the street, and collecting near storm drains.

I said to my husband “keep your eyes peeled for wrappers, I have a bag to collect them.”

Suddenly he had a job and finding wrappers became an entertainment for the walk … until 15 minutes in when he said ‘Okay, I’m done. I’m bored.”😂

Here’s what’s less entertaining…

When rain washes litter into storm drains, it can travel into nearby creeks, rivers, and other waterways.

And most of those tiny candy wrappers are made from mixed materials that don’t break down easily or belong in curbside recycling.

So, we collected what we could and plan to send the candy wrappers to @terracycle , which offers specialized recycling options for candy packaging.

71 wrappers — actually 75 once I unpacked the filled candy! That is just in one small neighborhood during a 30 minute walk down just a few streets.

Imagine multiple neighborhoods and cities across the country🤯

Of course, recycling is only part of the solution. Reducing unnecessary single-use packaging in the first place is even better!

In the meantime, one extra bag, one dog walk, and a few minutes of picking up litter might make a little difference.

Do you pick up litter on your walks, too?

#atlanta #naturelovers #earthlove #reducewaste #plasticpollution by @thisnourishedplanet

Nature’s been doing Halloween way before we invented decorations. 🕸️🎃

And she’s pretty good at it. 🍂 🕷️ 🥀

Happy Halloween from Mother Nature! 👻 🎃

#halloween #naturelovers #noplastic #gonatural by @thisnourishedplanet

At this point, our trash can is mostly there for emotional support. 😅

But seriously… I had NO idea how much of what we were throwing away could actually be composted.

And once we started composting, I started feeling SO MUCH better about all of it.

(especially those rogue recipes that I used to make myself eat just not to waste them 😂)

Other compostables:
Coffee grounds.
Banana peels.
Paper towels and napkins.
Natural wine corks.
And more!

So much can not only avoid the landfill where it would sit in a trash pile taking up space and emitting greenhouse gases, but it can actually be turned into something that GIVES BACK to the earth, creating healthy soil, happy plants, and a thriving ecosystem.

It’s literally a win for everyone.

@compostnow makes turning scraps into soil so easy.

Just leave your bin outside your door for them to collect and replace with a new bin. The frequency depends on how often you’d like them to visit. They swap ours out every week, but maybe you only need every other week.

And I just learned they serve apartment complexes and condo buildings too!😃

This is one of those lifestyle shifts I made that makes me realize, I’ll never go back because it feels so good to create life out of waste.

Curious about composting but don’t know where to start?

If CompostNow serves your area, you can use my code nicholecomposts to get your first month free! Find the link in my bio. 🌎 https://compostnow.org/sign-up/?promo=nicholecomposts

Tell me, do you compost? Or is it something you’ve been curious about trying?

#CompostNowPartner #Composting #ReduceFoodWaste #HealthySoil #ThisNourishedPlanet by @thisnourishedplanet

If you made it all the way to the end, congrats, you completed almost a full minute of meditation 🐦🤍

Feeling a little more zen?🧘 🧘🏽‍♀️ 🧘‍♂️

#birdlovers #naturelovers #meditation #presence #breathe by @thisnourishedplanet

What if the creatures we’ve spent our lives fearing are simply misunderstood? 🥹🐝🕷️

Something has shifted in me over the past few years.

The more time I spend in my garden, the more I find myself falling in love with the tiniest beings I used to overlook, avoid, or fear.

And it’s not because I’ve suddenly become fearless. 😂

It’s because I’ve become curious.

I’ve watched wasps eat and pollinate (had no idea they played a role in pollination!)

Hornets that were extremely thirsty in the extreme summertime heat. They would actually wait as I filled my bird baths. 🥹

Caterpillars munch on milkweed.

And curious jumping spiders watch me work with their googly eyes. 👀

And somewhere along the way, fear turned into fascination. And fascination turned into compassion.

These little beings are part of our world, too. They have their own lives to live, and many play important roles in the ecosystems we all depend on.

Yet so many face threats from habitat loss, pesticides, and a changing climate.

We don’t have to love every bug. We don’t even have to get close to them.

But maybe we can give them a little more space, a little more understanding, and a little more kindness.

Because the more we get to know nature, the more we want to protect her. 💚

This Halloween, here’s to seeing the not-so-scary side of our tiny neighbors. 👻

What’s one creature you’ve learned to appreciate a little more?

#insectlovers #naturelovers #spiders #caterpillars #bugslife by @thisnourishedplanet

Share with someone who hasn’t received the memo 📝 about the leaves in their yard 🍂 🐝 🐦 🦋 🍁

#leavetheleaves #nature #wildlife #beelover #naturelovers by @thisnourishedplanet

A little farm with a lot of magic. 🌿✨

Just outside Atlanta, there’s a family-owned farm where nourishment goes way beyond what’s on your plate.

Although what’s on your plate is pretty spectacular, too. 😍

At Kaluna Farm Retreat, food is grown with care, prepared with love, and served with stories that connect you to the land and the people who nurture it.

There are fresh herbs in your mocktails, homemade tea waiting in your cabin, four-legged friends to greet you, and a beautiful yurt where you can move, breathe, read, or simply be. ✨

We even harvested comfrey and made our own herbal salve😍🌿

I was lucky enough to experience this special place through @jess.pfeff ’s SETTLE retreat, which brought together an incredible group of ✨ humans ✨ for a weekend of movement, breathwork, meaningful conversations, laughter, and connection.

One of the biggest takeaways? This was a reminder that when we slow down enough to connect with the natural world, we often connect more deeply with ourselves too. 💛

Thank you, Meg @kalunafarmretreat and the Kaluna Farm family 💛for creating such a special place, and Jess, for bringing us together to experience it. ✨

And huge thanks to @reidybrown and @shelbyadina for bringing your intuitive guidance and bowl magic to the weekend. 💛

Biggest appreciation for bestie @stacepro1 for flying into the ATL and making this journey together (and in a hurricane!).😂 Love and cherish you and our friendship💛✨💛

🌱 Save this for your next nature-filled getaway, and share it with someone who could use a little space to SETTLE.

#Organic #Retreat #Nature #SelfCare #Connection by @thisnourishedplanet

🍂 Before you bag those leaves, consider who’s living beneath them. 🐝

What looks like yard waste to us may actually be a winter home for some of our tiniest neighbors.

Here’s the dirt on why leaving the leaves matters:

🐝 Native bees: Some native bees overwinter in or near leaf litter, hollow stems, and the soil beneath our feet. Leaving these spaces undisturbed helps protect their habitat.

✨ Fireflies: Many fireflies spend much of their lives as larvae in moist soil and leaf litter. Removing leaves can disturb the habitat they depend on (which means we won’t see fireflies in the spring and summer!).

🦋 Butterflies & moths: Some species overwinter as eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises, or cocoons among fallen leaves.

🐦 Birds: Leaf litter provides habitat for insects and other small creatures that birds forage for, especially when food is scarce in the winter.

🌱 Soil & plants: As leaves break down, they return nutrients to the soil, help retain moisture, moderate soil temperatures, and support the organisms that keep soil healthy.

So, how can we leave the leaves AND keep a tidy yard?

🍁 Rake leaves off sidewalks and pathways and move them into garden beds or beneath trees.

🍁 Leave a loose layer of leaves around plants, keeping them away from trunks and crowns.

🍁 Create a quiet leaf-filled corner of your yard where wildlife can shelter undisturbed.

🍁 Let leaves remain through winter and into spring, giving overwintering creatures time to emerge.

Another benefit?

Less raking. Less bagging. Less work for us.

Nature has been recycling leaves and nourishing the earth long before we started putting them into bags.

Let’s let her do her thing. 💚

Will you leave some leaves this fall?

#LeaveTheLeaves #WildlifeLover #Bees #Fireflies #NatureLover by @thisnourishedplanet

Thinking about raising monarch caterpillars? Know this first! 🐛💩

This is a classic case of be careful what you wish for. 😅

I planted milkweed last year and kind of begged the universe to send me monarchs.

Well, one sweet female finally visited and decided our milkweed was the perfect place to lay her eggs.

Was I honored? Sure was.

Did I have ANY idea what I was getting myself into? Nope.😂

I thought they’d just munch on some leaves, form a chrysalis, and emerge as beautiful butterflies.

Easy peasy!

Not the case.

What I’ve learned is that monarch caterpillars spend about 10–14 days eating and growing before forming their chrysalis. And during that time, they’re vulnerable to predators like birds and wasps, along with other environmental challenges.

After asking my local native plant community for advice, I decided to temporarily house them in a mesh enclosure.

Luckily, a nearby friend had one and helped me safely move them in!

The next morning…
POOP. EVERYWHERE. 💩😂

Who knew such tiny creatures could produce SO MUCH?!

Turns out it’s called frass, and when caterpillars are kept in an enclosure, regular cleaning is important to help prevent disease.

So I did what any first-time caterpillar foster mom would do.

I Googled. I YouTubed. And I added daily poop removal to my routine. 😂

And here we are.🙋🏻‍♀️

Stay tuned…chrysalis stage is next, and thankfully, no more frass cleanup will be required! 🦋🌿

Anyone else ever get more than they bargained for when trying to help nature? 😂

#MonarchButterflies #MonarchCaterpillars #Milkweed #NativePlants #NatureLover by @thisnourishedplanet

We’re talking about protein ALL the time. But what about the planet? 🌱🌎

How much protein do we actually need?

Can plants provide enough? 🤔

And does it matter where our protein comes from—not just for our bodies, but for the health of the planet?

I’m excited to bring these questions together for a FREE virtual event as part of Atlanta Climate Week!

🌱 PROTEIN + PLANTS + PLANET
How Much Protein Do You Really Need—and What Does It Mean for the Planet?

Thursday, October 15
6:30–8 PM ET
Virtual + FREE!

As a dietitian, I’ve spent over 30 years helping people understand how food supports their health. And as someone who deeply loves and cares for the natural world, I believe it’s just as important to understand how our food choices affect the planet.

During this conversation, we’ll explore protein needs, plant versus animal protein, the environmental impact of our food choices, and simple ways to make more room for plants on our plates.

No perfection required. Just curiosity, connection, and practical steps toward nourishing ourselves and the planet. 💚

I’d love for you to join me!

🔗 Register through the link in my bio: https://bit.ly/ProteinPlantsPlanet

#AtlantaClimateWeek #Protein #PlantBasedNutrition #Sustainabikity #PlantBasedProtein by @thisnourishedplanet