Relearning and remembering the rich agricultural history of the area we know now as Compton and Lynwood is so important to realizing how nature is living and abundant in our own communities. It’s hard to recognize that nature even exists here because we grow up and live in areas shaped by environmental injustices. 

Through all the pain and overwhelming loss of the last year, the one thing that has helped me stay grounded and has brought me moments of joy has been gardening and spending time in my backyard. It has allowed me to build a better relationship with my abuelitos who share with me their own knowledge of farming and teach me how important it is to care for the land and to build a mutual relationship with it. Living in cities like ours which lack green spaces, we oftentimes need to remind ourselves that we are not separate from nature, but that we are in it and we are a part of it. Gardening has allowed me to truly care for the environment, care for myself, and to reconnect with my roots and the histories that inform my surroundings. 

Through these pieces, I hope to visibilize the abundance of nature in our communities such as the fruits and vegetables we see growing around, the butterflies that visit us, the chickens and dogs that wake us up every morning and night, as well as highlight our very own presence in the environment. I specifically focus on the body of the cactus for my print because it represents resilience, strength, and memory. All characteristics that I observe in my own community’s drive to fight for a better present and future.