Cross Pollinate #2
February 5, 2026
Last week, we gathered for our second Cross Pollinate to explore the spectrum between our connection to and separation from nature.
Our conversation with Nina Murrell and Ben Masters highlighted that this spectrum is twofold: the growing gaps between us as humans, and between humans and nature.
At a time when the way we build and operate our built environments is threatening natural systems that support us, it is more important than ever to think differently about how we inspire connection between humans and our planet.
Three Powerful Insights
There was much to take away from the speakers and audience commentary, here are three that stuck with us:
I. Consider our language.
Language shapes perception. It is easy to prioritize sociological issues and ignore the natural impacts when we use language that separates us from nature. Intentional vocabulary helps us educate people on the true value of nature.
“We are a part of the natural world, but how well do we perceive that?” - Nina Murrell
II. Work with what we have.
Instead of mourning what we have lost, we must commit to stewarding what remains. Our task is to cherish, protect, and hope for what we have right now — the more-than-human world that exists today.
“We all want wildness.” - Ben Masters
III. Make it integral.
By framing nature as a fundamental collaborator rather than a commodity, we make it essential to how places, programs, and systems are designed and sustained — not something that can be value-engineered out later.
Want to attend the next Cross Pollinate?
Cross Pollinate is a quarterly gathering designed to break down the silos that exist between vital industries, creating a space for peer-to-peer conversations for those that are stewarding, protecting, and promoting our natural world.
If you would like an invitation to our next event in Spring 2026, email us at crosspollinate@withbutler.com and briefly tell us about your work or sector, and we'll be in touch.
