Homecamp’ is about adventurous everyday people – photographers, architects, chefs, writers, builders, seekers, thinkers, risk-takers – who are reuniting with nature in diverse ways, and with transformative results. Their stories all start with a desire to connect with the world around them, to step out of the daily grind and find a different, wilder, less trodden path. Their stories prove that getting back to nature isn’t as hard as you might think.
There are enormous health and wellbeing benefits from getting out into nature. The problem is that as we become more urbanised we create more barriers to getting out there.
We wanted to inspire people to embark on their outdoor lifestyle by camping and exploring one of many amazing parks that surround us in Australia. We feel that investing in some decent, well designed gear (that won’t end up in landfill!) can encourage people to get outside, whether that’s camping, creating and cooking on a fire, or just sharing a brew with some friends in nature.
Through our Homecamp blog we have met many like-minded people and made some great friends, and the book is really an extension of this – a mixture of adventure tales, reflective pieces, profiles of people doing interesting things in the outdoors, and a ‘how to’ section. We also wanted to fill the pages of our book with a wide range of stories, to show our readers that anyone can connect with nature and the outdoors in their own way. It was also important that our book would be an interesting and inspiring read – not just something you flick through. We think that there’s something for everyone within the book.
For us, camping is a fun and easy gateway to nature. Almost anyone can camp. It’s inexpensive, and a realm in which learning a few simple skills opens up a broad range of adventures. Finding and chopping wood, making a fire and cooking a meal on its hot coals are activities almost as ancient as humanity itself, and hugely satisfying. Our how-to guide will get you started on developing these simple skills and planning your own adventures, whether they be in your backyard or off in the bush!