Author: Esme Washburn

Passion

Shared-Interest

Sustainable

Growing

Produce/Vegetables

Shadow

Compassion 

Community

Human Relationships

Organic

Labor

Sacrifice

As any younger sister tended to do growing up, I liked to shadow my older sister’s every move. I went to the same school, picked up the cello, and would eat two paninis as an afternoon snack, just because that is what she did. So it was only natural that once she started getting into learning about climate change and the environment I did too. She joined the environmental club, and so did I. I did have a fundamental interest in the subject, it wasn’t merely because of my sister’s presence that i started to get involved, but it was a passion suppressed by my sister’s passion and joining in on her community. It wasn’t until 3 years ago when I was really able to shape my own fervor for the topic, when I got a job on a local organic nonprofit farm nearby where I live. No pesticides were used, only organic mechanisms, which meant that a lot more problem solving and human labor went into producing all the crops. We would spend hours picking tomatoes in “tomato jail”, hand weeding beds, and bunching radishes. My appreciation on how food was grown, especially the extra time and energy to use less harmful practices and produce crops in a sustainable and responsible way amazed me. This experience was an epiphany in my life, because it was an experience that made me realize the importance of everyone’s actions and how vital protecting the environment really is. After this experience, I came back the next two summers to learn more and promote the cause. I also really changed my way of life, only buying what is necessary, and purchasing as much produce and products locally, to take advantage that I have access to that. Not only did it give me a specific and personal purpose to change my practices and help change others to care for this planet, but I became a part of a community, where I was surrounded by people who weren’t in it for the money but were there because they cared and wanted to help. Our days from 7am – 5pm doing even the dreariest tasks were made fun by the conversations and group experience we were having, for we really were all in it together, and everyone was growing as people together.