Exploring Life & Business with Jena Pomeroy of 365 With Nature

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jena Pomeroy.

Hi Jena, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am very grateful and honored to be one of the co-founders of the beautiful, heart-centered non-profit organization, 365 with Nature. The mission is to provide education and tools to people around the world to improve the overall well-being of themselves and that of the planet. Our programs are designed to inspire, educate, and empower individuals, families, and communities to deepen their connection to nature through initiatives rooted in food sovereignty, nature-based wellness and environmental education.

My journey began in public health, as a health scientist focused on improving outcomes across communities—especially where health disparities run deep. I spent years studying and supporting programs rooted in evidence-based behavior change. But over time, I began to notice something missing in the models we were using: our relationship with the natural world.

Science has long shown what many cultures have always known—that time in nature supports physical, mental, and emotional health. Research confirms that exposure to green space can reduce blood pressure, lower stress hormones, improve mood, and even increase lifespan. But while the data is clear, access is not equal. Far too many communities face significant barriers to safe, affirming, and nourishing nature experiences.

That realization lit a fire in me.

I co-founded 365 with Nature as a response and a reconnection. What started as a challenge—spending one intentional hour in nature each day—quickly evolved into a movement grounded in equity, healing, and cultural reconnection.

Today, 365 with Nature is a hub for programs that bridge public health, environmental justice, and creative wellness. Through initiatives like ReRooted (our food sovereignty and literacy program), Totally Curious (sensory-rich, inquiry-based nature curricula for kids), and our Forest Bathing Retreats & Certification, we’re building a world where everyone—regardless of zip code, background, or ability—can access the healing power of the Earth.

My work now is a blend of science, story, and soul. I use my background in health to inform systems-level change, while also inviting people into simple, daily practices of reconnection. Because I believe this deeply: when we restore our relationship with nature, we restore something vital within ourselves—and we begin to create a healthier reality for ourselves and the planet.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all—and I wouldn’t trade the rough patches for anything. This path has been winding, muddy, and at times completely unmarked. But that’s how nature teaches us: with resistance, with storms, with seasons of stillness.

One of the biggest challenges has been navigating a world where access to land, wellness, and even time outside is often a privilege. When you’re talking about food sovereignty, ancestral healing, and equitable access to nature, you’re not just planting seeds—you’re confronting systems of disconnection and injustice that run deep. That can be exhausting work, especially when you’re trying to do it without burning out or burning bridges.

But through every challenge, nature has been the constant teacher. Trees don’t rush. Soil doesn’t judge. The moon waxes and wanes, and so do we. Every struggle has strengthened the roots of this work and reminded me that resilience isn’t about pushing through—it’s about remembering who we are, where we come from, and who we’re doing this for.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Our vision is simple: we want a healthier world.

As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, 365 with Nature’s mission is to provide education and tools to people around the world to improve the overall well-being of themselves and that of the planet. Change starts with one step, day by day.

Our programs are designed to inspire, educate, and empower individuals, families, and communities to deepen their connection to nature through initiatives rooted in food sovereignty, nature-based wellness and environmental education. We built ReRooted, our flagship food sovereignty program, to empower people to grow, cook, and share their own food while celebrating ancestral knowledge. Our ReRooted Hub, a mobile third space, brings free and low-barrier food literacy, art, and mindfulness into neighborhoods and communities. We guide and offer Forest Bathing Retreats and certifications, and run Totally Curious Education, a sensory-rich, inquiry-based nature curriculum for kids. And we invite people to listen deeply through our Wild Soundscapes program— mindful listening and sound healing through the natural world.

What makes us unique is our intersectional approach. We don’t separate wellness from justice, or creativity from ecology. Our programs are culturally grounded, low-barrier, and radically inclusive. Whether someone is growing herbs on a windowsill, guiding forest bathing in their neighborhood, or reconnecting with ancestral foodways, they are part of a collective return to what sustains us.

Today, 365 with Nature is a growing ecosystem of people committed to personal renewal and collective resilience. I didn’t get here alone—this journey has been shaped by elders, children, farmers, artists, land stewards, and everyday folks who believe in the transformative power of nature.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that transformation doesn’t come from information alone.

In my early work as a health scientist, I focused on designing interventions that could shift behaviors and improve outcomes. But what I’ve come to understand—through both data and direct experience—is that real change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in connection: to land, to community, to culture, and to self.

Nature has been my greatest teacher in that truth. You can’t rush a season. You can’t force growth. You have to listen, adapt, and trust that even the smallest actions—planting a seed, taking a walk, creating space for someone to feel—can ripple outward in powerful ways.

But I’ve also learned that not everyone has the same access to these opportunities. The barriers are real—economic, systemic, historical. And so, part of the lesson has been this: we can’t talk about wellness without talking about justice. We can’t talk about nature connection without talking about who’s been excluded from it.

This work—through 365 with Nature—isn’t just about spending time outdoors. It’s about reclaiming what has always been ours: the right to rest, to nourish, to belong, and to heal in relationship with the Earth and with each other.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.365withnature.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/365.with.nature/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/join365withnature/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/365-with-nature
• Twitter: https://x.com/365withnature
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@365withNature
• Other: https://www.365withnature.org/blog

Image Credits
Gregory Pomeroy