So grateful for Bill and Barb for sharing the riches of their rosemary! I am so lucky to have such wonderful neighbours (and not just because they let me raid their garden). The importance of community, especially during tough times, cannot be understated. From 2013 to 2019 I moved every 6ish months, and found that not having a consistent community took a toll on my mental health. Research has shown that social disconnection also impacts your physical health – for instance, Kawachi et al (1996) found a statistically significant increase in the likelihood of socially isolated men to die prematurely of heart disease. This is one of several social determinants of health, or social factors that influence health status. Other factors include education, early childhood development, income, access to healthcare, stress, employment, and (drumroll please) food security.

I’ve found participating in local food movements to be a huge community builder. Think about going to the farmer’s market – instead of your food passing through the clutches of the industrial food system, it heads straight from the farm to your plate via someone directly involved in its cultivation. Sandia Seed Company illustrates this concept perfectly with their graphic shown below. This year we are participating in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture; shoutout to Makoha Farm), a model in which you buy a share of a farmer’s crops at the beginning of the season and then receive periodic boxes of said crops each week for the season. It is a win-win – you’re investing directly in local farmers while receiving fresh, sustainable produce. The only way to get more local is to grow your own food… Which I also happen to be attempting. This too has fostered community. I mentioned in a previous post that my next door neighbour has turned into a fairy plantmother, leaving veggies for me to plant on my doorstep willy nilly. I’ve also met my neighbour Betty, aged 86 and preparing to plant 500 dahlia bulbs she has squirreled away in her basement with the help of her 5 lb morkie, Buttons. Across another fence we have Cathy and horticulturalist Ryan, with a veritable garden of Eden. This is in addition to the numerous people who have connected virtually. I am so thankful!