A few days ago on June 3 was my first time volunteering at the UBC farm and it was a blast! I signed up for the volunteer shift a couple weeks ago, knowing that I wanted to volunteer with the Indigenous Health Gardens. I wanted to learn more about traditional and medicinal plants while as taking part in helping maintain the gardens. Nonetheless, I found it to be a very rewarding experience.

My first task on the farm after meeting a few of the volunteers and the coordinator, Hannah Lewis, was to weed two garden beds that were full of different plants. They needed to be weeded in order that we could put in place other plants to be harvested later in the summer. I dove into the job, ready to get my hands dirty!

Weeding the garden beds

Now as a child, I remember helping my dad around the house with weeding, gardening, cutting the grace, and all the other odd jobs that need to get done outside of the house. However, I never remembered the job to be so tiring! Looking back, I must have been playing outside more than I was working! But on the farm, I was determined to get the job done with the other volunteers, despite the ache in my back that was starting to form after remaining hunched over to weed after a while. To be honest, it really wasn’t that bad. In fact, after finishing all the weeding in that area (and there was a lot of weeds on the beds!), I felt proud.

A mix of compost and soil originally from the garden bed

After the weeding came the composting. Our little group had to grab wheelbarrows of compost and heap them onto the beds we had just weeded. This then required mixing the old soil with the new compost. Once this was finished, we were finally able to move the potted plants into the garden beds. However, this wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be! We first started by watering the potted plants, making sure the soil within the pot was soaked all the way through. This was to make sure that when taken out of the pots, the plants’ roots would not be exposed and all the soil within the pot would remain in one piece. Thus, it make the transplanting less of a shock for the plant. So, I watered the pots and then tried to take them out of their pots by gently flipping the pot upside down, holding the plant stem, while gently shaking the pot in an effort to try to get the plant and soil out. No such luck. I tried for about two minutes but the plant would not budge! Finally Hannah came over to help get them out and out they slipped, easy as pie. We then dug a little hole in the garden beds with our hands and slipped the plants in, making sure to then cover the area around the plant firmly with more soil. We also made a little mote around each plant so that when the plant was watered, the water wouldn’t stream down the sides of the garden bed but instead would stay close to the plant to make it easier for the little seedling to absorb the water. Especially as a seedling, these little tips help them grow better.

Filling up the watering can

Once we transplanted all the pots, it was harvest time! It was prime time to harvest some chamomile. What I learned was that the chamomile that was ready to harvest would have its petals facing down towards the stem rather than straight outwards. This meant that the bulb in the center of the flower (the stamen or pistil) was largest. Because there were so many flowers within that particular garden bed, the picking seemed to go on forever – not that I particularly minded since it was quite a relaxing job. What was interesting to learn was what Hannah said about how they are traditionally picked. Before we started harvesting, she let us know that normally the Aboriginals would offer the plants some tobacco as a form of thankfulness to the plant. As a result, she asked if we could give some sort of thanks, whether verbally or in our heads, to ensure an air of positivity, especially since the chamomile would be used as a form for medicine for some. I also learned that chamomile is good for digestion and relaxation, so I hope to incorporate that into my diet in the future!

The perfect harvest of chamomile

The next thing to do after harvesting was planting some bush beans. Again, we were to weed the area first. Luckily, the area was fairly clear already so that didn’t take very long. Afterwards, we got a few buckets of compost to spread and mix with the original garden bed soil. And then it was planting time! To plant, we pushed two fingers into the soil, only up to our knuckles. We then spaced out the pair of holes about a foot apart to ensure each plant had enough space. We put a seed in each hole, covered the hole up, and finished with a good watering over top.

The left portion of the garden beds were freshly planted with bush beans

By this time, it was the end of our work shift. We ended off with putting all the tools back into a nearby shed and Hannah showed us some harvest we could take home! I ended taking home some little potatoes, arugula, and bok choy. I was very excited to cook up my veggies after what felt like a very productive (but tiring!) morning. I found it to be a really great experience overall because it reminded how you get your food. Often times, I forget that food doesn’t just come from the grocery store. Food has to be nurtured, cared for and by volunteering at the farm, this was exactly what I got to do. Although I thought it was more laborious than I expected, it was an experience that made me appreciate my food while reminding me the value and work that gets put behind it.

Delicious organic bok choy to take home!

Time truly flies so fast because I cannot believe it is the end of my second year in university and the end of my first year in GRS! It has been such a blessing to be in this class and I cannot be more excited to have GRS next year. Reflecting over the past year, I have learned a lot, not only from GRS but many of my other classes. In my sociology class I learned about the power of power; in my food and nutrition class I learned about the importance and processes of aspects of food science; in my land and foods systems class I learned how to interact with group members and stakeholders; and in my statistics class I learned how to carry out research techniques and prove whether the results truly are significant.

While I have learned some amazing new ideas and concepts throughout all my classes, some of the greatest things I have taken away from this year have come straight out of GRS. GRS has continued to push me and motivate me to be my absolute best and consider my actions in regards to others around me. I have learned the importance of serving people and that it is what motivates my heart. I have also continued to learn the importance of food security and the subtle complexities behind it. And beyond this, I have learned to have a greater appreciation for nature and the earth. How? During one of our classes, our class helped to move tools, posts, and plants from the old orchard garden to the new. Although I have worked in gardens before, I had never felt so happy to do so. I loved the feel of the earth between my hands. I loved working together with others to overcome a common goal. I loved that feeling of success, of fulfilling what was not thought possible which at the time was taking down several posts at once! It made me realize my passions truly were at the ground level, working with communities and holistic foods. It also reminded me how lucky I am to be in such a wonderful program with so many caring people – my classmates and also Roxana, Brent, and Mercedes. Although I knew this year would be full of new concepts and greater understanding of various events and situations, I never would have imagined being where I am today and being so happy about it. I still have a ways to go, but I know I will get to where I need to eventually with GRS.

So look out GRS, I will be back in third year, excited to learn more in September!

Instead of a class discussion in GRS, one night was dedicated to bringing people together regardless of age or faculty. A dinner was organized and many in the class, other professors, alumni, and organizations came together to discuss important issues facing the world. I found this to be such a rich experience to learn about a diversity of topics while also getting to know more people within my community. One of the things I enjoyed was just being able to sit down and eat together with people. Often times, it is hard to schedule a meeting, let alone a dinner, to spend time and connect with people while talking about issues such as sustainability and food security. It was also really neat hearing peoples’ personal experiences and how it related to where they are today.

The various issues brought up during the dinner were also fascinating and gave me an amazing opportunity to learn about new organizations. For instance, I never realized that immigrant workers had such difficulties receiving proper medical attention and that there was actually a clinic that set out to address this issue. I was so surprised to learn that this was something occurring locally, but also so proud that some compassionate individuals took it upon themselves to initiate something that could help these immigrants. I also learned more about the issues of fair trade and the benefits of community farming. Previously, I knew fair trade was beneficial to many rural farmers but I did not realize what strategy utilized the process best for the locals. After some discussion with people involved in that field though, I was happy to learn that those farming in a community were more successful since they were able to have a larger say and have a stronger collective voice. Moreover, this also allowed for more support and connectedness among the farmers, which I also believe is a key aspect to successful farming. In this sense, the dinner was a great night which facilitated many great conversations and got many brains thinking!

Just before the end of the night, I remember being able to draw with my group on the paper table covers as well as on the blank canvas, which ended up being one of the many highlights of the night. Our group member ended up drawing some (fair trade) fruits around the earth to signify the importance of fresh, wholesome food. As well, one of the people in my group wrote in Chinese characters, “Do you know where your food comes from?” which is an important question that everyone should consider. Where one’s food comes from not only affects you and your local surroundings, but also situations worldwide. I also want to note that the group member who wrote in Chinese was not Chinese but took it upon himself to embrace other cultures and languages – truly inspiring and a great example of what GRS is all about!

All in all, the night was a success and such a fun way to learn and connect. I hope that I can continue to make time to learn more and share more ideas with others in order to move forward and make more sustainable choices that better the world.

During one of our class discussions in GRS, we talked about the various cultural contexts and ideas. To start, I remember Roxana explaining how she came to Canada and how she had limited financial support initially. Looking at how for she has come from that time is truly admirable. On the other hand, it also reminds me of many others who want to chase the, “American dream.” Those often in less economically developed regions see North America or Europe from the lenses of commercial movies or music, often only considering one side of the storyline. Rarely do people see both the good and bad aspects, blinded by the golden dream where it is believed everyone lives a perfectly affluent life, without any forms of corruption in the government and no people suffering or living without basic needs. I find it so difficult and heartbreaking when people are set on the belief because often times, people leave their family and home to be in a harsher environment where they feel in order to belong, they must rid themselves of their own culture. The fact that globalization has increased rapidly over the past few years does not help the issue.

At the same time, I realize that this is not always the case. Both my parents came to Canada from a country far away, China and Poland, yet managed to settle in Canada happily and are living relatively well currently. Throughout the process of settling in Canada however, they have never forgotten about their roots or where they came from. Both often still carry out many of the same traditions they held at home which I find to be a huge blessing. I think that everyone should remember where they have come from and where their family are from; it is an important piece that shapes who you are. It is also important to consider a dynamic interaction with one’s past; not simply just remembering, but acting in response to it. There is so much traditional, cultural and rural knowledge that many of us often overlook and once generations pass, it may be too late to recover them. Addressing these issues is something I hope to be able to work on in my future career. I myself am still learning about my own family history and I hope no one ever loses that passion.

In one of our GRS classes, an alumnus of UBC came in as a guest speaker to talk about his experiences so far after university. Although I do not remember his name, I remember the topics and ideas of discussion, many of which have really stuck with me. The speaker talked about how he has visited multiple countries in Africa, but he always tried to make it a point to use the country’s name rather than simply saying he had visited Africa since every country is different. I never really thought about the importance of this point previously but when he brought it up, it made a lot of sense to me. Context is always changing, whether it be continents or countries, especially over time. In that sense, it is important to be specific and consider the cultural, temporal, and geographic implications of each situation.

Another point he brought up was how important it is to stick with your values and hold onto your integrity. I also strongly believe in this idea and really appreciated when he said that when you go to work, you should always remember why you went initially and if you do not, it may be time to finish up your career there. One should always be one hundred percent committed and dedicated to their job, not any less. The cost can often be your income or even your life and in that sense, it is important that you believe in what you are doing all the way through. Otherwise, the outcome goals of your work and your own well-being or accomplishments may not reach its full potential.

One of the most significant things I took away from the discussion was when he said that if we are in a position to serve, we are in a place of privilege. Many people are not in a position where they are able to help others, not having the means to do so. This message really spoke to me and I hope to always be humbled and remember how I have always lived fortunately; I have never been without a home, I have never been hungry, I have never been unable to meet my needs, which is something many in the world cannot easily say. He also talked about how we should forget about the large corporate logos and just remember that it is about serving others. A large brand name holds no meaning if its only goal is financial profit rather than truly caring for others and the world. Moreover, he brought up the point that there is always room for improvement in your work – the people you are serving deserve it. When put this way, how can you not push yourself to do better, to try harder? At the end of the day, it should always be about the people you serve.

With all the meaningful points brought up in the discussion, I really enjoyed the class. It was a great reminder of the importance of context, sticking to your values, and most importantly, how our work should ultimately be about serving others before yourself.

Many of the classes I take in GRS give me something new to think about or challenge old ways. One of the most interesting, challenging classes for me was the class we worked on the water stress case study. I have thought about the ethics behind some development projects but I have never thought about it in such great detail. I never thought about all the implications and possible situations that could arise from a development project which seemed so straightforward! However, it made me critically think about my own actions and what I think is ethical or moral, which was an amazing experience. It was also great in the way that I was able to compare and discuss my own thoughts on each part of the case study with others whenever I was confused or unsure, which happened pretty frequently!

In part one, the case study was introduced where we were described as volunteers participating in a development project when suddenly, there is an electricity outage. Normally, electricity pumps water, which is an essential need for everyone. The development group has funds however to spend the money to rent a generator to pump the water for our team’s use – but is this ethical when the rest of the community does not have access? In my opinion, I don’t think it’s fair that the community does not have access to water, especially since we are trying to better and help this particular community. As well, it is especially hard considering we have built strong relations with the people within the community, according to the case study. If we have the generator, the community members may not believe we are truly there to help them and in this way, we may lose their trust and our privilege to be in the area. At the same time, in order for us to effectively help them, we also need water. However, I think it would be fair to be stringent, not wasteful, of the water we would use. As well we would try to help the community get access to water as soon as possible. How we would help them though would be run by the community themselves, though we would help them in whatever way they needed us. We would also need to consider the short and long term effects, as well our impacts on their community. Once we left the community, we would need to ensure that they would still be self-sufficient. If our team or I ended up disagreeing with the community’s choice on how to handle the situation, I would not simply pack up and leave. I would still try to help them achieve their needs, and not simply abandon them during a difficult situation. The direct course of action would depend on what aspect we disagreed upon though, but ultimately, we would need to consider their views since we are the ones intruding.

As for the second part, the case study questions what we would do if a child from the community asked us directly for water. I found this question really hard to answer, especially considering that we built strong relational ties with the community, making it difficult to turn down others. However ultimately, I would not give water to them because it would not be fair if I did not give water to all the others in need as well. Moreover, if we continued doing so, they might become dependent on our help. In this case, our intruding would be more detrimental than helpful. Instead, we would consider how the community normally handles the situation and try to apply traditional methods to help the situation. As well, would consider if our project goals are truly more important than the water crisis. How we would go about any changes would be up for discussion with the community.

In terms of part three where I disagreed with our team leader, I would probably feel discouraged, although I would not leave the project. I came to help the community and I will not leave the project because of a disagreement in ideas. Moreover, the other volunteers may be depending on me to do a certain job. If I left, it may prove more detrimental than beneficial. As well, I would not want to cause a large argument in which case I may jeopardize the whole group working in the community. Instead, I would try to compromise and discuss with the community. If the community views were also against our officer’s views, I would consider talking to the other volunteers and our volunteer leader again. I would also try to consider again our long term goals and if they were really effective at helping the community.

Overall, the class was a very thought provoking. It really challenged my views. I am still unsure of how I would go about the situations in person though, which is a little unnerving. I hope that I will not have to make these types of decisions in the future, although I am glad that I have at least been exposed to the situation and had the opportunity to discuss the issue with others in my class.

Although I have only been in GRS for one semester now, I have thoroughly enjoyed participating in it so far. I was attracted by the program initially because it seems to be the only program in UBC which allows me to specialize in food security. Moreover, I am able to specialize in specific regions of my choice. Because there have been so few prerequisites required to complete the major, I have found it exciting to try many courses that I am interested in. In the past semester, I have taken up an introductory anthropology as well as a social geography course, both of which I have found truly fascinating. I honestly believe I have learned more in this past semester because of these courses than I did all of my first year in university. Moreover, because I have thoroughly enjoyed myself within the classes, I have found myself doing better in my courses too.

While it is exciting that I am able to choose essentially all of my own courses and build my own major, it is also a daunting task. I often worry whether I will be able to find a valid career that will align with my studies. Specifically, I wonder if I will be able to find one close to home. In this way, I sometimes worry whether following GRS is the right major for me. At the end of the day however, I know that I am currently following what I am truly passionate about. I could not be happier of the all opportunities to come and for once, I actually look forward to school. I am also excited for all the different people I may meet and the different resources I may use. Even after just one semester in GRS, I am head over heels in love with the major and excited to build my future with it!

Coming into GRS, I knew that I wanted to follow what I was passionate about: food security. Initially, I wanted to specialize in Africa because I wanted to help where help was most needed but currently limited. However, as I started to learn more about myself as well as the issues surrounding food security, I felt that if I was seriously considering working in Africa, I would be the most help if I travelled to different regions within Africa to truly understand the complexities of food security at hand. Specifically, I feel that I should travel to the region frequently to analyze the situation as time passes in order to implement meaningful, long-lasting changes. At the same time, I also learned through various personal situations that I do not enjoy travelling for extensive periods of time. I often feel homesick and do not enjoy being away from family and friends for too long. Although I still remain passionate about helping others with food security issues, I would not be able to handle the emotional stress that would come with the travelling.

After realizing this however, I feel as though I must go back to the drawing board. I am not sure what region I want to specialize in currently, however I feel that specializing in North America for the time being would be a good idea since I would be studying about my own home. Moreover, after attending the Truth and Reconciliation Event this September and focussing several projects on the issue this term, I have gained a lot of interest in Aboriginal food security. In particular, I am interested in learning more about what happened in the Indian Residential School nutrition-wise, and the lasting impacts they still have on Aboriginal peoples today. Learning about the issue this year has sparked a new interest within me which may potentially help me figure out which region I would like to specialize in. For the time being though, I will continue learning more about different issues related to food security and the regions in relation to them.

One of the reasons why I decided to go into GRS was because students are given the flexibility to choose what resource and region they want to specialize in. After learning this, I was ecstatic that I could have the opportunity to specialize in food security. Food security is something I have recently grown a passion in. It grew after I started to realize that I really want to help others and create positive change in the world, however small my actions may be. I was drawn to food security specifically because I find food to be an essential, integral aspect of life that unites every one worldwide.

After attending the 4-H Youth Agriculture Summit in Calgary this summer, which focused on how to feed a hungry planet with nine billion people, I learned that food security issues are much more complicated than they seem. In fact, many people are involved. For instance, those who work in food policy are involved in the way that certain policies may be in place that hinder or encourage food security. As well, state governments at each level are involved too. Others that are involved include various farmers and producers or manufacturers.

Not only are many people involved but also many different issues. Gender issues are an important issue to consider when researching food security in the way that often times, families are not able to obtain enough food because women are devalued and may not be prioritized. Furthermore, land entitlement is another important topic to consider. Many women in developing countries are the ones in the family that actually farm and sustain their family. However, many women also are not entitled to the land they farm. Problems frequently arise because of this fact since they lose their right to farm and obtain access to food when they lose their right to the land. In this way, it is important to consider the effect of land entitlement on families trying to achieve stable food security. Other significant issues include racial issues, farming practices, consumer demand, and water scarcity.

After learning about all the different issues involved with food security, I have grown more excited to pursue it as a career. Learning that food security involves so many different people and issues is daunting, however I am still extremely passionate about helping communities achieve food security. I hope to continue learning about all these different issues in my university life as well as afterwards in order to tackle the issue.