Prominent Canadian Naturist encourages people to share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #WNGD
TORONTO, ON— Time to head outside and don your gardening gloves and sunhat…but nothing else! This year, World Naked Gardening Day takes place on Saturday, May 7, 2022. Founded by an editor of Nude & Natural Magazine in 2005, World Naked Gardening is not associated with any particular organization—it’s just a day for naturists (a term which to many means the same thing as “nudists”) and other folks keen to experiment and enjoy the freedom and pleasure of being nude outdoors. In North America, we celebrate World Naked Gardening Day on the first Saturday of May. Celebrating this year will be the highly successful Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park. The owner, Stéphane Deschênes, explains that “On this day, gardeners are encouraged to shed their clothes and tend their
gardens naked, just as nature intended”. “The free-spirited proponents of naked gardening are usually naturists, but it’s not just other naturists that are encouraged to garden in the buff—it’s anyone who desires to experience a stronger bond with nature. This could be entire families, couples, gardening
clubs, or a group of friends.”
Why should people use this occasion to try out gardening in the nude? Deschênes points out that it’s actually quite common to be interested in the activity—a study by the American Association for Nude Recreation showed that it’s the second thing people are most interested in trying naked (the first being
swimming nude). “When you think of gardening, it’s easy to focus on the utilitarian chores, like raking leaves, hauling fertilizer around, deadheading flowers, and such,” says Deschênes. “But being in a garden can also be a very sensual experience. Think about being nude in a garden on a sunny day. You can feel the sunshine on your skin, hear birds chirping and bees buzzing; you can chew on a mint leaf while inhaling the delicious fragrance of lilacs in bloom. You can gaze at the vibrant colours of tulips and daffodils. It’s a highly sensory, meditative experience. It’s hard not to be present in the moment when you’re gardening
in the nude. Plus, when we are nude we feel closer to nature because we are our natural self. All of our senses are connecting to the natural world instead of being stifled by clothing. Gardening brings us even closer to nature as we interact with natural processes.”
On World Naked Gardening Day, naked gardeners are encouraged to share their stories with others on social media using the hashtag #WNGD. If they choose to share their photos, it’s a good idea to have private parts covered with foliage, gardening tools, or other fun props. Adding to his advice about being mindful and present while gardening in the nude, Deschênes also recommends that nude gardeners exercise general caution, too. “Be careful around tools, trellises and fences!”
About Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park
Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park is a year-round naturist park near Toronto in Canada where the entire family can experience traditional naturist values in a modern setting. We are nestled among the natural wilderness of the Ontario Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine. Our varied landscape includes open spaces, forests, ponds, streams and a small lake. We also have many recreational facilities. Our clubhouse provides year-round amenities including saunas and a whirlpool. Bare Oaks offers day-use memberships and seasonal campsites but also welcomes visitors and travellers. Some might use the terms nudist and nudism to describe us and what we do. But we prefer naturist and naturism because our creed is so much more than just taking your clothes off. It is a life philosophy with
physical, psychological, environmental, social and moral benefits. We go beyond a mere recreational pursuit and promote ethical naturism. We endeavour to live a naturist life and nudity is key to body acceptance and an integral part of our naturist philosophy. As such, we are not clothing-optional. Clothing is worn only for protection. But we do give new visitors a chance to adjust. Located between Toronto and the gateway to Ontario’s cottage country, it is the perfect location to stay while visiting Toronto. A short drive south on Highway #404 gets you into Toronto in about 30 minutes.
For more information please visit bareoaks.ca.
About Stéphane Deschênes
Stéphane Deschênes is the owner of the highly successful Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park, which is
located just outside of Toronto, ON. He has taught a course about nudity at the University of Toronto,
and he has been hosting the The Naturist Living Show podcast since 2008. He was recently elected as the
first-ever Canadian president of the International Naturist Federation (INF-FNI).
