May 2026

writing out ‘Visions of Hope’

As I sit in front of my computer, my family in the background, I am trying to spill my heart out to you all.  The journey of working outside, to working with children, to having children – and then having my eyes opened as a new mother living through a pandemic and social justice awakening, it’s been overwhelming.  To dedicate my family inheritance, my spare time and my dreams to a vivid solution to so many problems laid out in front of me – well, sometimes I hide into shyness after learning humility recently. 

The idea is large.  It’s also personal.  I have seen the possibility of a different reality where humans live, working together and relying on their local economies to THRIVE.  Organic agroforestry blended in with animal husbandry; groceries and apothecaries work together to heal – in relation to Western Medicine.  We have organized ourselves to know each others strengths, and help each others weaknesses – through the re-established value of community. We sit at the feet of our elders and lift up the indigenous culture of the land we stand on.  It is through grounding into place that we survive the mistakes of our predecessors and current power hungry politicians. 

I have lived with a vision that grew from my education in environmental studies, working in gardening and agriculture painted the vision with colors, plants, animals and open looped systems. Becoming a mother painted reality into the picture – allowing me to see where resources were sparse and where resources are abundant.  Healing from pregnancy and motherhood has helped to add an entire new level of holistic health that serves all on a basic right for natural healthcare.   Growing True Leaves 3, 5 and 10 year plan spills out the details.  The experience where these visions to life; they come from the sea and the sand, the towering redwoods and conversations with birds flying overhead.  

The idea has always felt too large to speak about – but lately its been looming in front of me.  Its become a companion to my weathered mind as I try to keep up with our global reality and balance mine and my family’s mental health.  The feeling of this idea and working towards it very much resembles the tingling and warm feeling of coming upon a large bird of prey.  Startling and naturally magnificent – looming over water or air and simply waiting for the perfect moment.  Then you see them dive and it all comes to light – our power, our potential and our possibilities.  

If we lift up our young children, parents, elders & BIPOC community – offer a place of gathering, supporting, learning and healing; I believe our central coast community can take on anything. 

Have a beautiful evening, 

Celine