The Art of Gardening: Jayd and Jazmyn

Robin Wall Kimmerer, in her masterful work, Braiding Sweetgrass, presents a compelling challenge for our modern society. She implores us to reconnect with indigenous knowledge and restore our sacred relationships with the land we inhabit. The urgency of her message is fueled by what philosophers term "species loneliness" – a deep-seated sadness arising from our growing estrangement from the rest of creation. As we assert our dominance over nature, we isolate ourselves, amplifying our loneliness and disconnecting from our natural neighbors.

Kimmerer proposes a powerful antidote to this pervasive problem: a return to native gift economies rooted in reciprocity. But is this realistic in our contemporary world? 

Meet Jazmyn and Jayd, twin sisters who beautifully demonstrate how to harmonize our lives with nature's rhythm, nurturing a culture of reciprocity and connection with the land that is as profound as it is delicious.

Through the lens of attentive observation, the mundane is elevated to the sacred. Jazmyn and Jayd live this principle daily, integrating their gardens into their lives and using social media to inspire admiration and curiosity for our natural environment. The result is an empowering message that encourages us to nourish ourselves and design our gardens in a symbiotic relationship with local ecosystems.

Their creative medium of choice, the garden, is reminiscent of the reflections found in The Artist’s Way. This source of sustenance, community, and ceaseless creative inspiration is their centering device. Their interactions with the land are a lesson in themselves - transforming the soil's bounty into delicious meals, and in turn, wisdom.

Jazmyn, having honed her skills at a permaculture design company before moving to Missouri to continue her homesteading dreams, exemplifies a more sustainable, long-term approach to harvesting. Permaculture echoes traditional and indigenous methods of cultivation, focusing on creating a thriving ecosystem by planting a variety of crops together. Her enthusiasm for teaching is infectious, inspiring a deep admiration for the garden and the bounties it provides.

Jayd's approach to cooking transcends the realm of the physical to become a sacred practice. Growing up with a foodie mother in Ohio, Jayd gravitated towards a philosophy where "food is medicine." Her dishes, imbued with unexpected yet harmonious flavors, offer a glimpse into her creative process that thrives on love and experimentation.

This interconnected relationship with the natural world echoes the wisdom found in Braiding Sweetgrass:

"One thing I’ve learned in the woods is that there is no such thing as random. Everything is steeped in meaning, colored by relationships, one thing with another."

"To love a place is not enough. We must find ways to heal it."

Just as Michael Pollan’s Botany of Desire beautifully states:

"The land is the real teacher. All we need as students is mindfulness."

Both Jazmyn and Jayd exemplify this approach. Their lives revolve around the rhythm of the natural world. When Jazmyn describes the foods that nourish our bodies, her deep appreciation for knowing what she consumes is palpable. She treats gardening as a form of creative expression, considering plant behaviors, pollinator needs, and native species in her designs.

Recently, an edible mushroom workshop organized by Jazmyn illuminated the possibilities of integrating sustainable practices into our gardening efforts. The lessons on how mushrooms can enrich the soil and even remove toxic heavy metals opened my eyes to how we could effectively bring the resilience of nature into our homes, and witness it closely. It was above all, a lesson in hope. 

Our journey into Jazmyn and Jayd's world illuminates the importance of aligning our lives with the land, just as Kimmerer encourages us to in Braiding Sweetgrass. Their stories remind us that even though the scale may be small, the seed-to-sprout, root-to-cutting board experiences we share under the golden light with strangers connected through food are imbued with profound meaning.

The global movement for ecological self-sufficiency and education grows stronger each day. As we weave the wisdom from Braiding Sweetgrass and into our lives, we can begin to mend our broken relationship with nature. After all, as Kimmerer eloquently concludes:

"It’s not just land that is broken, but more importantly, our relationship to land." 

"Plants are also integral to reweaving the connection between land and people. A place becomes a home when it sustains you, when it feeds you in body as well as spirit. To recreate a home, the plants must also return."

We must strive to transform our perspectives, seeing nature not as a resource to exploit but as a gift to treasure, a community to which we belong, and a teacher from whom we have so much to learn. 

Follow Jayd and Jazmyn’s garden learnings on Instagram: 

Jayd: @jaydrose

Jazmyn: @we_humananimals