Ten years ago today, I watched from my office window as cold, crisp autumn air swept into central Missouri behind a potent storm system. Having kept nature journals in the past, I decided to start an online nature blog and After the Storm became its first entry.
Nature's Blog now harbors more than 3000 posts, covering topics from wildlife, landscape and geology to natural history and human nature. As I implied in The Nature of Blogs and The Nature of Writers, the experience has been educational, rewarding and absolutely vital to my personal welfare. Honored by the interest of readers from across the globe, many of whom have provided kind comments and valuable feedback, nature blogging has become a cherished part of my life.
While the opportunity to document my experiences and to share my passion with others was the initial motivation for this blog, I have come to realize that its potential influence on teens and young adults has been the most rewarding aspect of Nature's Blog. In particular, I hope that this collection of posts is an inspiration for my children, grandchildren and young persons across the planet long after I'm gone. After all, the future welfare of Earth's natural ecosystems will depend on their commitment to conservation and naturalist philosophy.
