Finding normalcy in an abnormal time
Swannanoa Valley residents turn to the outdoors for comfort
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
David Carter Florence works in the Dr. John Wilson Community Garden on March 18. Fred McCormick
Breaking up soil in a fallow bed in the Dr. John Wilson Community Garden on March 18, David Carter Florence felt a peace that has been harder to find for many since the COVID-19 pandemic forced communities around the world to drastically alter their daily lives.
“It feels refreshing and rejuvenating,” said the associate pastor of Black Mountain Presbyterian Church as he prepared a new space and tended his current crop. “Any time I’m in nature I’m going to appreciate the birds singing. There’s a lot of life out here.”
Carter Florence was one of many local residents adjusting to daily life after N.C. joined a growing number of states across the country to enforce measures to combat the spread of the virus. An emphasis on “social distancing” has led to closures of schools, businesses and even churches, but many in the Swannanoa Valley are finding respite in the outdoors.
“I’m not much of an indoor person to begin with,” Carter Florence said. “Sunday, I hiked seven miles up in Craggy and there was a good number of people up there.”
On this particular morning, he was one of a couple people tending their beds in the garden. While the rapid spread of the respiratory illness had forced his church to find alternative ways to reach the congregation, the pastor sees an opportunity in the challenges ahead.
“We’re missing things in our normal lives and this is a chance to find those spots that are deeper. The ones that draw out faith, meaning, purpose and love,” he said. “This situation is making us think outside of the box.”
For some area residents, like Black Mountain native Debbie Bailey, spending time outdoors has played a key role in maintaining a sense of normalcy during an unprecedented time.
“Going on a walk is part of our routine,” she said, while walking her dog Myles around Lake Tomahawk. “We’re outside quite a bit, we go hiking and do things like that. I’m not nervous about what’s going on; I still make sure to get out.”
Debbie Bailey and Myles go on a walk around Lake Tomahawk on Wednesday, a routine they have maintained while taking precautions against COVID-19. Fred McCormick
A heightened sense of awareness is important, Bailey added, but spending time outdoors can help ease anxiety.
“It’s not good to live in fear,” she said. “Being fearful takes your joy.”
Getting her family out of the house for recreation has also been a priority for Lindsay Blackstone, whose children — both students at Black Mountain Primary — have been participating in the Buncombe County Schools Virtual Learning program since campuses statewide were closed last weekend.
Creating a daily schedule, which includes time for fresh air, has already proven helpful.
“We’re really grateful to have woods in our backyard, so we’re able to get out everyday and feel like we’re not cooped up,” Blackstone said. “We recognize how important how important it is to spend time outside, just in day-to-day life, just so the kids can get moving and we can all get out and walk and run.”
That outlet has helped ease the transition to home-based learning, she added.
“Kudos to the teachers, for their flexibility and for helping the kids stay connected,” Blackstone said. “The kids really love school and they’re missing their friends and teachers, but the teachers have done a great job of posting videos each day.”
While the family continues adapting to its new way of life, Blackstone anticipates plenty of challenges ahead for the entire community.
“We’re trying to reach out and help in other ways, so we’ve been checking in on our senior neighbors,” she said. “We also have tenants, and four of six of them are in food service, and we’re trying to think about how to work with them. I feel like we’re at the cusp of where things could snowball, so we’re trying to get the normalcy down before things get worse.”