The Coop Garden:
A sustainable student lunch program in the Marshall Islands.
Co-founder, Gardener, Researcher
I had the privilege of leading the transformation of a barren site on campus into the Coop Garden at Majuro Cooperative School in the Marshall Islands. This dynamic project not only established a sustainable food source for student lunches but also transformed the garden into an engaging educational site for students ranging from Pre-K to 12th grade. By seamlessly integrating agricultural and forestry technologies, we aimed to create diversified, productive, and ecologically sound land-use systems that would endure far beyond our time on the islands. We successfully initiated the Majuro Coop Garden by first identifying the need for a sustainable food source and educational site within the community. Following this, we meticulously researched and adapted gardening techniques, mirroring successful practices from tropical climates and drawing inspiration from regions like Hawaii. The project's success stemmed from our close collaboration with the community and our commitment to addressing challenges through careful observation and innovative design thinking.
After our first year in the garden, we were recognized with a prestigious $20K grant from the Pacific Conservation Trust in New Zealand. Our efforts also earned us the Ambassadors Garden Prize from the US Embassy. This project is a testament to my commitment to research and design aimed at nurturing sustainability and enriching communities.
The Apothecary Kitchen:
A community space for botanical wellness in Detroit
Co-founder, Designer, Copywriter
As a Co-founder and Designer for the Detroit Chapter of Herbalists Without Borders, our journey began in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Informed by a community survey, we initiated a free community apothecary and self-care kits to empower and enhance self and community care using resources from our collective gardens.
Our ongoing efforts have included numerous skill-sharing events, enabling knowledge exchange and large-batch herbal medicine production based on local, native plant seasonality and availability. The apothecary now offers tinctures, salves, oxymels, hydrosols, oil infusions, honey infusions, bulk dried herbs, and a seed library, all accessible for free or by donation to Detroit residents.
Our next endeavor, the Apothecary Kitchen, is a food-safe facility with open hours for Detroit's herbalists to process herbs. As part of this intercultural, volunteer-run organization, we are dedicated to promoting health justice, ensuring affordable access to natural and botanical health and wellness for all.
The Green House at Burnside Farm
Project Manager, Researcher, Designer
During my time as the Greenhouse Manager at Burnside Farm, I had the opportunity to be the first Project Manager and Gardener for this special space. The greenhouse, originally designed and built by University of Michigan architects, had been sitting idle before my arrival. We saw its potential and decided to adapt our gardening practices to suit the Mediterranean-like climate, with its hot, dry summers. We used the space for seed starting, and it also became a tranquil spot for meditation and quiet moments with the plants. Our collection included hibiscus, barley, squash, shiso, and a variety of succulents. Through our efforts, we managed to stretch our gardening capabilities from zone 6a/6b to a more resilient zone 7, proving that with a little ingenuity, we could make the most of this wonderful space.
SECRETEXTS:
A mindfulness practice for deep listening.
Founder, Poet, Designer, Yoga & Meditation Instructor
SECRETEXTS are microdoses of poetry for conscious, cosmic living, born out of reverence for the earth and a desire to expand our capacity for love and empower the creative voice within each of us. An act of deep listening and playful-word foraging, SECRETEXTS’ offerings continue to expand from the digital sphere into the forms of mindfulness practices, scented meditation candles, journals, archival prints, books, and newspaper zines.
DESIGN WORK