Sometimes books aren't born at a desk, but outdoors – on forest paths, along stream banks, in the early morning hours when mist still hovers over the meadows.
And sometimes you need a detour to find the right path.
A few years ago, an illness knocked me off course. I could no longer practice my profession, and suddenly I found myself facing a void that felt threatening at first. But in this time of pause, I discovered something precious: nature as a place of healing and rediscovery.
I began to hike – not with a destination, but simply to be present. Camera in hand, I captured what I saw: the delicate moments of transition between seasons, light filtering through canopies, the quiet beauties along the wayside that we so often overlook.
But while photographing, I realized: the images alone don't tell the whole story. They don't show how fresh wild garlic tastes in spring when made into pesto. They don't reveal what research now confirms – that forest air with its terpenes measurably strengthens our immune system, that the sight of green demonstrably reduces stress hormones, that the silence among trees regenerates our psyche. And they cannot convey how people have used this knowledge for centuries – from herb gathering to living in rhythm with the seasons to the old traditions of wild plant cuisine.
So I began to research and write, linking current scientific findings with practical nature knowledge, sharing recipes from my kitchen – simple, seasonal dishes with what our native forests offer – and I wove in historical stories and traditional wisdom. The result is more than a collection of beautiful images: it's a well-founded, practical companion through the year.
This book connects science with sensuality, tradition with the present. It aims to inspire people to rediscover their own region, to build on solid knowledge, and to reclaim a piece of ancient wisdom.
If you're searching for deceleration, for a counterpoint to digital frenzy, for inspiration or simply for beauty – then this book is for you.
Perhaps you too need a detour right now to find your path.
My book invites you to pause – beneath the open sky that connects us all.
Beneath the Open Sky" is available as an e-book on Amazon:
Comments