Barefoot Dialogue Centering Land in Human Relating

Abstract

This article explores a perspective in Barefoot Dialogue that identifies the potential benefits to both human and non-humans when centering land in human discourse. Utilizing the definition first proposed by Aldo Leopold in his “Land Ethic,” Land is interpreted as all non-human species. Here, the author contends that both species benefit in human and land relating where each are seen as interwoven, intrinsically tied. Now in its twelfth year, Barefoot Dialogue is an experiment in sustained human and land relating where data confirms that centering land increases human curiosity, fosters stronger mental health, and positively affects human behavior with nature. In addition to bi-weekly peer-to-peer facilitator training sessions, bi-annual orientation retreats, weekly hosts' observations, and participant end-of-semester anonymous surveys, Barefoot Dialogue staff members gather and interpret both quantitative and qualitative data annually and findings are shared with program users and overseers.