Hana is a second-generation Japanese Canadian who is grateful to call North Vancouver home, situated on the unceded ancestral territories of the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nations. While studying in an environmental and planning-related program, her course in Food Systems Planning exposed her to policies of Food Justice and Food Sovereignty. As she explored her interests in food systems by volunteering with the Environmental Youth Alliance and Embark Sustainability, she realized that she wanted to gain hands-on experience in growing food.
Now a proud member of the Edible Garden Project team, Hana is excited to support food systems within her community. She is eager to embrace the learning opportunities of the 2024 growing season alongside the supportive and knowledgeable staff and volunteers.
Hana attributes her love for nourishing food to her parents, who instilled in her the importance of fresh, wholesome meals, and her grandfather, whose garden continues to bloom vibrantly in Japan. Realizing the privileges she was endowed with, she navigates the complexities of our ever-changing world with compassion and strives to contribute to socially just and ecologically sustainable decisions. To put it simply, to live in a way that is nourishing for the land and ourselves.