“And Nature Happened”

Seward County Author Releases Book in Bloom

Nebraska naturalist, cattleman, and now author and photographer, Del Ficke, has published, “And Nature Happened,” a visual and philosophically sensual journey through landscapes transformed by regenerative practices.

Through his unique lens, Ficke captured his land and blooms across the country and documented through photographic art what becomes possible when we remove human interference and allow nature to do what it was designed to do, “I was the progeny and student of a barefoot naturalist. My grandfather, Adolph Ficke, had a clear lens of the destruction of nature by people who didn’t understand its unfathomably grand design. He had the wisdom and the connectivity with the land to know how resilient it could be, that if we got out of the way, nature would take care of itself. Nature rebounds. It does that all perfectly when we are not a hindrance.”

“This collection of photos came together years after I received a calling upon my heart and intellect,” Ficke went on to explain. “I remember where and when the calling happened to change my agricultural practices for the better after falling into an industrialized ag model. It was a Sunday morning when I was out in a pasture where I had spent many moments with my grandfather. He told me, ‘You know better. We all know better. You are not the first. You are not going to be the best. But, you will be uniquely vocal and passionate about the great need to allow nature to be nature again.’”

The book is intended to be a gift to everyone looking to bloom where they are planted and to feel the serenity and inspiration that comes when we observe and appreciate the wonderment of the earth, “I wanted to document that I was here and got out of the way – And Nature Happened.”

Contact Del and experience life blooming through his lens. Invite him to speak, schedule a tour, and order the book at: andnaturehappened.org/the-book. Call/text Del at (402) 499-0329. 

Chapters Bookstore in Seward, Neb. also has a few copies on hand and pre-orders will be taken.