Sowing Seeds
This month I’ve been thinking a lot about connection - the bonds we form with the physical spaces we occupy, the living land all around us, our family and friends, and all the people whose paths cross our own. It’s often around this time of year that we’re afforded the opportunity to return to, or place more dedicated time on, fostering connection. Whether it’s the holiday season, or the fast approaching close to another year, this time of year often sees us in a more reflective state with a different type of time at our disposal.
For me I make a concerted effort all year to guard my time; prioritizing rest, making space to create and to be present. The sense of ‘hurry’ or fabricated urgency, so often associated with the holiday season in ‘Western’ society is something I resist actively. Instead, I intentionally move slowly through this season, looking for opportunities to establish deeper and more nourishing connections.
This month (and year, for that matter) I’ve found myself struck by all the opportunities to tune in and connect with the land. Whether it be our morning tea made up of various leaves and flowers, or even the smells so often associated with the holidays like cinnamon and nutmeg, both of which are gifted to us by the trees, cinnamon being bark, and nutmeg, a seed. I’m also captivated by the bodily-regulation this simple form of attention and intention can bring to us physically, along with emotional and spiritual rejuvenation. In some of the simplest moments in my everyday routine I’m invited into deeper connection at so many turns, I just have to be paying enough attention to recognize them.
This month in particular, I also found that the act of giving revealed itself to me in a new way. Having grown up in a family marked by generosity - a by-product of a deeply collectivist-minded tradition and culture, giving has always been a part of my life. This year though, in particular I’ve recognized giving as seeds that offer new connection. Connection, with Earth, with others in my community and with humanity as a whole.
This month, my family and I spent dedicated time, identifying causes that we’re meaningful to us, and that spoke to our individual and family motivations so we could give in alignment with who we are, what we value and our hopes for the future. This process was a revelation into so much great work being done in and around our community, but this also gave us the opportunity to connect more deeply with each other about our core desires and beliefs. The process slowed us down, and gave us a backdrop for deep discussions and reflection on what it means to us to contribute to the world around us. There were linking gifts all along the way to be enjoyed, ultimately leading to our choice of causes to support this year, which I’ve highlighted below.
Contributing to these great causes not only contributes to the future growth of these organizations and initiatives but, much like seeds sown, these gifts planted in us a deeper understanding and point of connection to each other and the world around us. As we look towards a new year, perhaps now is a great time to consider what seeds of connection you can plant in partnership with the community around you. You might also find that in sowing these seeds you discover new gifts within your own life in the process!
The Organizations I Supported in 2025 included:
Hogan’s Alley Society (HAS) is a Black-led non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, economic, and cultural well-being of people of African descent in Metro Vancouver. Their work centers on three strategic pillars: culturally informed housing, nonprofit housing development, and community engagement. The Hogan’s Alley Society (HAS) is committed to daylighting the presence of Black history in Vancouver and throughout British Columbia. They lead in developing Afrocentric, affordable housing, particularly through their Hogan's Alley Block initiative, a catalyst for enrichment and belonging grounded in one of Canada's few Black-led Community Land Trusts, to ensure long-term affordability, and prevent further displacement. The Society has been working with the City of Vancouver to ensure that the redevelopment of the Hogan’s Alley block represents the legacy of the Strathcona’s Black community, which was displaced by the construction of the viaducts.
Young Agrarians (YA) is a farmer to farmer educational resource network for new and young ecological, organic and regenerative farmers in Canada. YA is volunteer-driven, with farmers across the country organizing on-farm events and building community to create spaces for knowledge sharing and growth. The network is made up of a diverse array of food growers and lovers including farmers, fishers, holistic managers, market gardeners, ranchers, seed savers, food activists, bee keepers, community gardeners, and food and farm organizations. YA is a program of Agrarians Foundation, whose mission is to educate the public by providing courses, seminars, workshops, and counselling about agriculture, farming, food processing, entrepreneurship, community economic development and environmental sustainability. Recognizing the Indigenous lands and territories that they work on and alongside, YA is committed to providing programs that are inclusive and available to farmers and friends of diverse backgrounds.
Ethọ́s Lab Society is a Black-led, community-centered innovation academy for youth in grades 5 to 12 in Vancouver, BC. Providing accessible and exciting afterschool project-based programs, the society intentionally fuses Black culture into science, technology, engineering, applied arts, and math (S.T.E.A.M) programming to encourage inclusion, acceptance, and representation. Youth involved with Ethọ́s Lab are empowered with core skills and self-belief to pursue post-secondary education and career paths that are innovative and emerge as leaders in our societies. They empower young people of all identities and abilities to lead and thrive through learning experiences that blend culture, community, creativity, and leadership.
Farm Folk City Folk strives for more resilient, productive, and viable food systems in which farmers are supported to grow their food in ways that mitigate climate change and protect biodiversity. Their programs go from seed to plate—engaging a network of farmers, seed growers, researchers, food system advocates, policymakers, community partners, chefs, and eaters. Together, they are creating food systems in BC that are strong, sustainable, and resilient. Their programs celebrate local food and connect people with the farmers who grow it. Farm Folk City Folk connects, collaborates and engages to foster resilient, sustainable, equitable food systems in BC.
Founded in 1986 by Paster Elder Freeman, Tim Turner and Sheldon Taylor, the Men United for God Food Bank continues to serve its community to this day. Operating year-round, this Windsor Ontario based food bank provides weekly cooked meals to members of the community in need of a warm cooked meal.
Xyólheméylh (Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Services Society -FVACFSS)
Xyólheméylh is British Columbia’s largest fully delegated Indigenous child welfare agency providing culturally appropriate and holistic services through prevention, community development, and child welfare programs to Indigenous (status, non-status, in-community, out-of-community, Stó:lō and other First Nation, Inuit, and Métis) children, youth, and their families residing throughout Stó:lō Territory. Approaching every situation with cultural respect and understanding, Xyólheméylh focuses on reuniting children with their families in a safe, timely manner. Their programs work to create strong cultural ties and reinforce identities for aboriginal families.
SEARA (Sector Equity for Anti-Racism in the Arts)
SEARA is a movement of Black, Indigenous, and racialized BC-based artists and cultural workers to redistribute resources through data-driven action. SEARA formed as a consortium of BC Arts Service Organizations in 2020, calling on Canada’s art world to proactively combat its replication of Eurocentric, colonial, racist ideals in levels of policy, governance and administration. Together, SEARA works to create an equitable society where BIPOC artists and cultural workers have equal capacity, governance, social standing, and visibility within arts institutions in BC.
Digging Deeper
Garden Tips, Land Lessons & Science Things
This month’s ’science thing’ is: “angiosperms and gymnosperms”
These somewhat bizarre sounding words simply refers to the two broad scientific groups that seeds belong to. Angiosperms refer to seed plants that flower, whereas gymnosperms are those that hold their seeds in cones (like pinecones). Regardless of whether you’ve ever heard of these terms, have you ever considered just how amazing seeds truly are? Forming the basis of new life to come, seeds are almost magical when you really pause and think about them - or at least they are to me! Formed and designed to survive all sorts of environmental factors, having been equipped with nutrients and everything they need to spring to life at just the right time. There’s a lot of delicate timing and symphony of activity that has to happen within each tiny seed to make next season’s growth possible - it’s truly amazing!
For me it’s the marvel of seeds that reminds me of the interconnection and significance of our gifts. We may not know exactly what will come of them, but we can wait expectantly, knowing we’ve done our part in the larger symphony that’s at work.
Join the Conversation
I’d love to hear about some of the great work going on in your communities. Are there any organizations, or community initiatives you’ve partnered with, or have you found new meaningful ways of fostering connection with the world around you this year? Let me know your thoughts in the comments or in the chat.
