New Year’s Resolutions: We’re Here to Help!

By Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

The start of a new year is a time of reflection and self-improvement. You have resolutions and we have resources! Read on to discover how Phipps can help you achieve your goals in 2020.

Resolution: Eat More Nutritious Food
Resources: What We're Cooking with Now and Culinary Arts classes

Eating nourishing food makes you feel strong, healthy and ready to take on whatever the new year throws at you. Cooking recipes that fuel your body with the nutrients you need can be easy, delicious and a fun activity to do with the whole family. Let's Move Pittsburgh's blog shares monthly posts called What We're Cooking with Now that highlight one seasonal food and provide a simple and tasty recipe for you to try at home. Need even more inspiration? Check out one of our many Culinary Arts classes offered in Botany Hall Kitchen! From a vegetarian Indian series to making pasta from scratch, and from a fermentation series to making homemade cheese, there are plenty of classes that will get you excited to get back in the kitchen!

Resolution: Be Kinder to the Planet
Resource: Easy Steps with Big Impact for Climate Change, Your Guide to a Gorgeous Green Wedding

Perhaps you've decided to make a commitment to live more sustainably in 2020. We applaud your effort and we're excited to share Easy Steps with Big Impact for Climate Change. This series of 10 simple steps specially prepared by the experts at Phipps provides a guide of concrete actions that you can take to have a positive impact on the planet. If you happen to be planning a wedding this year, also check out Your Guide to a Gorgeous Green Wedding, a 10-step resource that covers everything from venue and florists to rings and honeymoons to help you elevate the wedding of your dreams.

Resolution: Connect with Nature
Resources: Greener Gardening Guide, Ask Dr. Phipps, Volunteer, Membership at Phipps, Biophilia: Pittsburgh

In the age of computers and smart phones, it's more important than ever that we seek out time to spend in nature. Connecting with the natural world has many physical and emotional health benefits and is just plain good for you! Perhaps this is the year you take up gardening. If so, check out our Greener Gardening Guide, a series of resources compiled by the pros at Phipps to help you with everything from veggie harvesting to seeding to raking and frost protection. Have a specific question about your own garden? Drop Dr. Phipps a line and one of our Master Gardeners will return your call within a week! If you're already a skilled gardener but you want to venture outside of your own yard, consider volunteering at Phipps. Of course, the Conservatory is a great place to enjoy the beauty of nature as well, and a Phipps membership allows you to bask in flora and fauna all year long. If you're interested in learning more about humans' innate connection with the environment, Phipps offers free monthly Biophilia: Pittsburgh meetings. Over delicious small plates and light refreshments, a discipline or behavior is identified — often by an expert guest speaker — and discussed among the participants in the interest of sharing ideas and identifying opportunities.

Resolution: Get Active
Resource: Let's Move Pittsburgh Family Fitness Classes

Finding new ways to get moving this year is always a great resolution! Get the whole family together and come to Phipps for Let's Move Pittsburgh's Family Fitness Classes. Commonly offered classes include yoga, Zumba, hip hop, barre, Pilates and more! These classes are offered monthly and are free to attend. Check letsmovepittsburgh.org regularly to find out what class is offered next.

Resolution: Learn a New Skill
Resource: Classes and Programs

A fresh year (and decade!) can be the perfect excuse to learn a new skill or take up a new hobby. Phipps offers a wide variety of classes for adults that can help you grow in a variety of areas, including Sustainable Horticulture, Landscape and Garden Design, Native Plant Landscapes, Floral Design, Botanical Art and Illustration, Gardening and Botanical Crafts, and Culinary Arts. Make this the year that you explore the art of designing beautiful floral centerpieces or become a bonsai master!

Now that we've provided several resources to help you with your goals in the new year, we want to hear from you. What do you want to see Phipps do in 2020? Leave your answer in the comments below!

Select photos © Kristi Hoffman, Phil Johnson II, Paul g. Wiegman