Plant Lover, Food Grower, Social Justice Advocate, Mama
Organic Master Gardener | Wild Food & Medicine Forager | Frugal Crafter | Community Minded | Social Justice Activist | Mixed Race Feminist | Mama
All things that grow- growing plants, growing a deeper connection with the land, growing a greater sense of food security
Plant Lover, Food Grower, Social Justice Advocate, Mama
Organic Master Gardener | Wild Food & Medicine Forager | Frugal Crafter | Community Minded | Social Justice Activist | Mixed Race Feminist | Mama
All things that grow- growing plants, growing a deeper connection with the land, growing a greater sense of food security
I hope to help people:
> find connection with land, companionship with plants, and creativity in growing spaces
> get inspired to grow your own food
From folks who have never stuck their hands in the dirt, to people whose hands are always etched with soil, I hope to support people in their journeys into a more connected and self-sufficient way of living through organic gardening.
I believe cost should not be a barrier and am happy to discuss sliding scale options for any of my services.
My day-to-day
My education, training & qualifications
My biggest challenges, successes, failures & lessons learned
What success means to me
How I got to where I am today
Issues I care most about right now and why
My values, beliefs, philosophies and/or political views
I have been growing plants since the age of 8 when my mom entrusted me with her seedlings each spring. In my adult years my work with plants formalized through:
-2 summer apprenticeships at Nature’s Way Farm in Northern Alberta where I helped establish a successful vegetable CSA (Community Shared Agriculture);
-3 years working as the Urban Farm Manager at the Hope Blooms Community Garden in Halifax, NS, where I taught kids and adults how to grow and provide food for their community. In 2013 I helped support 7 of these youth successfully pitch their fresh herb dressings on CBC's Dragon's Den (https://hopeblooms.ca/stories-bloom/dragons-den-pitch/);
-Organic Master Gardener certificate (2011, Gaia College);
-Growing Food certificate (2012, Gaia College) and;
-Chartered Herbalist (2014, Dominion Herbal College)
Over the years, I have gained deep respect and reverence for all things green and growing. I believe that when we dig our hands into the earth we become more connected with ourselves and the spaces we are privileged to call home. Through my background in organic gardening and anti-oppressive social work, I help guide people into greater understandings of our connections with plants and food.
“Gardening is the most therapeutic and defiant act you can do. Plus you get strawberries.”
- Ron Finley
I come into this work with a great deal of humility and humour. I know some stuff about growing plants, food, and medicine, but I don't approach this work from an "expert" lens. I'm happy to offer what I know, but also to learn alongside you and help you access your own plant knowledge.
I am a DIY gardener and a huge fan of repurposing, upcycling, and using what you have at home. While I enjoy creating beautiful spaces, I’m not a manicured lawn and ‘no weeds to be found’ type gardener. I’m more the “I don’t care about spots on my apples but leave me the birds and the bees please” type. Plus, many so called “weeds” are quite yummy!
Lastly, while I am happy to offer practical advice and information about growing organically, I also believe that anyone wishing to gain a deeper knowledge of plant and land care must critically think about how our presence on this land functions to either perpetuate or disrupt harmful plant-people relations. For me, respectful plant care and food production sits at an important crossroads of human-relations healing and requires some 'deep digging'. In addition to any practical gardening help, I am happy to hold a safe, non-judgemental space for these 'uncomfortable'' conversations about land access, dispossession, privilege and healing, and ask that you enter them with an open mind and heart.
Chatting about gardening with Sarina was fantastic!! She’s kind and knowledgeable with a gentle way of explaining new concepts super clearly. I learned so much and felt so supported — I’m pretty new to gardening, but Sarin...
Sarina was a delight to have over working in our yard and was super knowledgable and kind and patient with our kids.
Sarina was a delight to have over working in our yard and was super knowledgable and kind and patient with our kids.
Sarina asked all te right questions, and we were able to create a clear picture of what we wanted for a garden. She led us step by step in an action plan that is easy for us to implement. She is a natural teacher and so fu...