How well do you know the outdoor areas near your home? I don’t just mean the obvious spots, I mean all of the spaces. And what would happen if you took the time to truly and deeply explore them? That’s something British adventurer and author Alastair Humphreys set out to discover as part of a personal project that turned into his new book, Local. Dividing the region into one-kilometer grid squares, Alastair systematically experienced all of the outdoor spaces near his urban home, and in the process became not only more familiar with where he lived, but also grew a deep appreciation for the nature around him found in some of the most unlikely places. In this episode you’ll hear all about Alastair's truly local adventure, plus some of the simple benefits of taking time to enjoy everything -- the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful -- that nature has for you close to home. Listen now! Connect with this episode: Follow Alastair Humphreys on Facebook Follow Alastair on Instagram Visit Alastair’s website Buy Alastair Humphrey’s new book, Local (affiliate link) Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Some of the good stuff: [3:08] Alastair Humphrey’s favorite outdoor space [4:02] Alastair’s outdoor story [5:46] What “Local” is about -- project and book [8:37] What is “nearby nature?” [10:35] For the record, I don’t have this outside my window [11:38] What did Alastair find during his project that surprised him? [15:21] Embracing technology to make outside time better [17:59] The inspiration to fix problems [21:55] A mind shift to gratitude and curiosity [26:12] Taking the time for adventures big and small [28:36] How anyone can get started on a project like Local [34:03] Alistair’s favorite outdoor moment