The Wild Garden


Dear friends and supporters of the Wild Garden,

I have been spending time watching, listening and learning from BIPOC voices and allies. What I am learning is that I am embedded and participate in a system that, since its inception, has been designed to benefit white people at the expense of black, Indigenous, people of colour (BIPOC). *This* is white supremacy.  Because white supremacy is baked right into the design, society defaults to the reproduction and reinforcement of institutional racism, regardless of whether people think of themselves as racist or not. Because white supremacy is a system that I am part of, I have a responsibility to do what I can to change that system. This needs to happen in every aspect of my private and public life, particularly my work with The Wild Garden, all of which unfolds on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg people. Based on what I have, and contine to learn, it is crystal clear that the only way forward is to commit to the work of being actively anti-racist. 
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Because I am in the relatively early stages of this process, I recognise that I have much to learn, a lot of work to do, and will certainly make blunders and mistakes. I need to pay attention to my blind spots, be aware of tendencies toward defensiveness, and get comfortable with the discomfort this work will bring up. I will do my best to receive feedback with grace and a willingness to change. I know that this work will take a lifetime and must extend beyond well-meaning posts on social media. I also recognise what a privilege it is to be able to learn about racism, rather than having first-hand, life-long experiences of it.

Over the coming weeks and months I will take time to reflect and reconsider how I show up in the world with the work that I do. This will bring some changes in what I have to offer through the Wild Garden. What those changes will look like are still taking shape in my mind and my heart. At some point soon, I will send a newsletter with some updates!
Love, 
Amber
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I love introducing people to the amazing, beautiful and useful plants growing all around us.  I love to see the transformation that occurs when people realise how surrounded we are by abundant, nutritious, edible and medicinal plants, even in an urban environment. I hope to see you in the wild garden!
​Herbally Yours,
Amber

Walks & Workshops

Meet the wild edible and herbal plants of the Ottawa area, discover ancient ways of healing, learn how to make herbal remedies and more!