“To forget how to tend the earth and tend the soil is to forget ourselves.” Gandhi
Hello, I’m Kana and thank you for being here.
Inboxes can be a terrifying place with everyone demanding your time and attention. I realize that by putting this newsletter out there, I will also take up space in your mailbox. Instead of being a dreaded e-mail, I want to be more like the postcard you receive from a friend—the small, but real, joy of a warm hello and accompanying story from everyday life.
I hope you’re not here expecting advice on how to keep your garden alive, as the name Tending Gardens might imply—sadly that’s not my area of expertise (for now!) While there are few things greater joys than picking off a ripe cherry tomato from the vine or watching a new leaf bud from your house plant, the idea of Tending Gardens is broader and deeper—giving care and attention to the things that support and nurture.
For me, a garden is not just a place to grow things. Along with the tending of plants, gardens can also be a gathering place for meaningful social interactions, a peaceful hideaway to observe nature’s inner workings or a place of play and experimentation.
In Tending Gardens, I try to share a slice of life from rural Japan and what it’s like to live in Kamikatsu, Japan’s first Zero Waste Village. I want to share how I’m learning to do things with my own hands, gaining wisdom from my neighbours and locals, and diving into the Japanese language and culture.
In practice, this means sometimes I’ll write pieces about sustainability or climate change that connect with Kamikatsu’s zero waste initiatives, while other times I may share what it’s like to farm a sweet potato... each week is a discovery!
To this end, I am inspired by nature, philosophy, art, and culture. I hope to bring together insight from daily life and share what I learn on my journey.
About me
I was born and raised in Canada. My parents immigrated from Japan and Hong Kong, so I grew up navigating different cultures.
I am based in Kamikatsu (a tiny village with a reputation for zero waste), Japan. With a keen interest in nature, sustainability, and regenerative practices, I am currently running an educational program called INOW in Kamikatsu.
Of all the many things that bring me joy, it’s the world in all its diversity that moves me the most. I strive to do meaningful work and collaborate with people who are also trying to make the world more just.
You can find me @laurkana on Instagram.
Join me
I’d love for you to think of me as your penpal—sharing a note from a tiny village in Japan. With Tending Gardens, I want to bring you small joy in the form of a newsletter.
Join me and subscribe for postcards bi-weekly (maybe on Sundays)!
