What begins as a backyard project becomes a meditation on place and identity. This talk explores the art and alchemy of rooting ourselves—how sowing seeds, tending soil, and working with intention reshape more than a patch of land. They reshape the person tending it.

Drawing inspiration from Robin Wall Kimmerer’s wisdom that “when we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us,” I share the evolution of a suburban lot transformed into a thriving ecosystem. Layer by layer, season by season, compost became the foundation for new growth, new relationships, and renewed purpose.

This talk reminds listeners that gardening is not an act of independence but interdependence. Pollinators arriving for what the land now offers reveal that everything is connected. Neighbors lingering to ask questions show how community grows from tending a landscape together.

Through humor, imagery, and gentle provocation, Comfrey, Compost & Chives invites gardeners, stewards, and anyone seeking renewal to consider: What happens when the practice of regeneration regenerates us?