This summer I planted my first backyard garden. Through trial and error, I grew kale, cabbage, and even jalapeños in my neighbour’s greenhouse. While the pandemic was wreaking havoc on the outside world, I took refuge in the soil, compost and weeds.
This experience encouraged me to learn about food networks in my community. As I found other people passionate about growing their own food and caring for the land I learnt new skills and felt a deep appreciation and gratitude for my home. During the uncertainty of the pandemic, learning about food sustainability and regenerative agriculture was grounding and inspiring. I had no idea what my future would hold, but I was sure that if I regularly watered my beans I could have a fresh salad at the end of the week.
My newfound love of local food brought me to an opportunity to join the Community Workforce Response Team with CRFAIR. Myself and five other Workforce participants joined CRFAIR over four months, learning about the organization and gaining work experience.
Beginning a new job during a pandemic is an experience I’m sure I’ll remember for years to come. Even though I still haven’t met most of my co-workers in person, we got to know each other quickly over Zoom. Morning coffee in hand, I grew familiar with Ana’s houseplants, Lisa’s sunny lace curtain, and Emily’s cat. We developed routines that deepened our relationships. Instead of water cooler chats, we opted for morning Slack check-ins, a friendly reminder of my otherwise invisible team.
Working from home, just like my first garden, was a learning process. I quickly learnt that being a player within a small, but mighty, team meant I had plenty of independence. Encouraged to pursue creative projects, I experimented and learnt about the people and places that make up our regional food systems. And finally our work culminated with the Good Food Summit, connecting a larger network of gardeners, farmers, community leaders, home cooks, food enthusiasts and everyone in between.
As my time at CRFAIR comes to a close, I feel certain that these roots are long lasting.
Written by Olive Joiner.