Nature isn’t bad or good. Nature is a relationship, a big map of interconnectedness, of needs met, bodies transformed.
Erin Sharkey, A Darker Wilderness: Black Nature Writing from Soil to Stars
Over the course of this project thus far, I have been forming and strengthening a wide variety of relationships. My relationship with nature, specifically with John’s Island, has been significantly changed due to my sit spot practice and mindfulness as I live and work on this island. I’ve encountered stunning moments of beauty, witnessing owls, hummingbirds, frogs, deer, and so much more as I move mindfully across this land. I’ve slowed down amidst the rush of a hectic job, I’ve allowed myself the space to bask in the beauty around me. I’ve savored the words of David Haskell in his book, The Forest Unseen, annotating and reflecting on favorite sections as I reflect on my favorite encounters from my time here on John’s.
My relationship with the people around me has changed as well. Through my position as gardener, I have had the opportunity to step into leadership and mentorship with children and peers, crafting activities to different age groups and facilitating these activities with a wide variety of children. I’ve reflected on each activity, recognizing what works and doesn’t work and allowing myself grace when a day doesn’t go according to plan. I’ve stepped up as a leader within the unit I live, advocating for quieter camper voices and offering support as my coworkers shine in their own place of leadership. I’ve felt proud, I’ve felt ashamed, I’ve learned a great deal about how to work with others and how to teach in a garden setting.
My relationship with the camp garden has blossomed like the plants within that fence. I have stepped into the role of caretaker, taking on garden chores and maintenance as the summer season goes on. It’s been hard to find the time to get everything done amidst the fast-paced speed of this hectic job, which means I have fallen short in many ways as gardener. But in a lot of ways, I also feel very prideful of what I have accomplished so far, of the harvests I have been able to have. I’ve facilitated the growth and harvest of lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, potatoes, snap peas, kale, plums, cherries, cabbage, squash, and rhubarb. I’ve had the joy of hearing children’s reactions to eating something they harvested right out of the ground. With the amount of time I have been given to care for this space, I believe I have done an impressive job, and I definitely intend to bring my thoughts up with my supervisor at the end of the summer.
Finally, my relationship with myself. Many realizations about self have come out of this project and job, I am finding a great many of my needs being met, and a great many more not being met at all. My body is being transformed, and a lot of it is due to my time in the garden and my time practicing sit spot. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to live, learn, and grow in such a beautiful space, a space that has held a special spot in my heart for a very long time. Looking forward to another month of growth and engagement, hoping it’s a great one.
