“Everything miraculous on this earth comes from this magical substance: dirt.” – Abby Paloma
In this speakeasy talk from Wanderlust Stratton 2014, Abby Paloma discusses the importance of farming and the disconnection between the food we eat in our modern society. As founder of Farm to Yoga, a company that facilitates partnerships between Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs and yoga studios, Abby has always been passionate about farming and sustainable practices. Working as an educator and tour guide at Growing Heart Farm in Upstate New York, Abby has witnessed the joy that comes from pulling a carrot from the ground, brushing the dirt away, and immediately consuming something nourishing and full of life.
As a culture, we’ve become accustomed to the idea that our food comes from the grocery store—washed, sterilized, and completely separate from the environment that created it. Abby stresses the importance of understanding where our food comes from and the deeper connection it can give us to the earth. In this lecture, she also delves into the spiritual and practical side of compost. Of all the things you find in a garden, compost is at the heart. It’s a physical representation of the cycle of life and our place in it. We are born, we grow, we become fruitful and multiply, we age, and return to the dirt. This is a universal truth across all cultures, that we come from the earth and will return to it.
For more information about Abby Paloma and to get involved with her programs, check out Farm to Yoga and Growing Heart Farm.