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Déjà: Hi, and welcome to Big Ideas. I’m your host, and Mount Royal University journalism alum, Déjà Leonard.
Big Ideas explores the diverse perspectives, timely research, lived experiences, and hopeful aspirations of MRU alumni, faculty, and students as solutions-focused leaders addressing local challenges.
This season we’re digging deep into wellness in the 21st Century. From aging to technology to our finances, how do the complexities of modern life impact our well-being - for better or for worse? Let’s check out what we’re talking about in today's episode…
Kimberly: So it's really a conversation about soil. And, and like, it's really, it's really what it comes down to is if we can repair that relationship with our soil, we can repair pollution. We can repair biodiversity loss. We can repair the resilience that we have to droughts and floods and fires, uh, just by looking at dirt.
Meet MRU Alum, Kimberly Gray. Kimberly, along with fellow alum, Kalyn Edworthy are the creators behind the award winning short documentary, The Root of it All; a film that explores our relationship with food, community and the earth.
Kimberly and Kalyn reflect on their journey bringing this project to life and unpack the hidden stories behind our meals. From the importance of soil health to the role of food in healing and belonging, they heard firsthand experiences from farmers, Indigenous knowledge keepers, and newcomers finding home through the land.
Join me as I rediscover the power of food—not just as nourishment, but as a force that unites us all.
Deja: So, food is such an essential part of our lives, yet many of us don’t stop to consider where it comes from, or the deeper impact it has on our wellbeing and communities. So, on that topic, you know, why do you think that so many people today feel disconnected from the food they eat and the people that grow it?
Kimberly: I…That's such a big question because I think, it's just like I wonder if it's an educational or awareness thing, I wonder if, if it's, people don't think about where their food comes from. People don't know their farmers or shake the hands of the people that are planting the seeds that go in their body. So to me, I always wonder if it's like a, a lack of awareness, a lack of incentive, a lack of, understanding. We just go to the grocery store. We're in survival mode. We got to get to the next thing. We got to do the next thing. And there's not a lot of space to be like, Oh, I, I bought these blueberries.
Where are they from? Oh, they're from Peru. That's interesting. Cause I know blueberries grow in BC as well. So why did I buy these ones from Peru? Like, I just, I wonder if maybe I overthink, right. But I just wonder if people don't, don't think about it. And so I think that, the kernel of trying to start this documentary, this project, or creating this project was really understanding that that conversation may or may not be happening. And so, can we start that? If you watch, if you watch this film, is that something that you can think about differently when you're at the dinner table, or when you're preparing dinner next time, or when you're out in your garden, or when you're walking through Fish Creek Park and you see wild Saskatoons growing next to you on the pathway?
Kalyn: I would add to that as well to say, I mean, I think that it really is a bigger systemic question, right? Around how things have been set up in society to support families, to support people, to support, our more vulnerable populations. How are we coming at support in whatever that means. I think sometimes there is, you know, again, using myself as an example, like a lack of education. I don't think that I was ever taught about these pieces of nutrition growing up. I certainly have those memories of digging in the soil with my, my Baba, um, Ukrainian for grandmother. Um, and those are such fond memories. But I think because that knowledge, you know, it was just part of what happened, right?
You, you went in and you, you tended your soil and it was a small plot and you grew things that were complementary to each other. And it was just that piece of knowledge almost died, I think, generationally. And so trying to get back into that, I'm coming at it from, I don't want to say a disadvantage because I have, again, a lot of privilege, but it's from a place of not having the exposure to that education, not having some of those tools in place. And I, and I can look at that and expand it a little bit further to say, again from my place of privilege, I can see how that might be different for other people as well. And so I don't want to use that as an excuse. I think one of the things that Kimberly and I talk about. as well a lot is um, that piece of individual empowerment, and the ability that we all have to, to learn, to grow and to make different choices.
Kimberly: Yeah, well, you brought, you made me think of kids. And when we're kids, because you brought up your grandmother, when we're kids, we just have this innate, beautiful curiosity and desire to connect to, to nature and to be outside. Food is an incredible bridge to get children outside more and to get curious and to learn about that interconnectedness of all things. So in Richard Louv's book, The Last Child In the Woods, he, he's basically started a movement to connect kids with nature and has shown that, that the more we connect with nature, the less obesity that we have, the less depression that we have, the less behavior issues that we see in our children. And if it's happening with our children, then it's happening in us as well as adults.
Deja: Absolutely, typically a lot of people were learning about maybe food in terms of nutrition, maybe it's diet, but like you both have said, it's, it's so much more than that. Everything has. Has a story to it, you know, everything you're eating has a full story.
Kimberly: Yes! 100% Deja. Like, that story of where our food has come from, and how that eventually becomes us. Our cells, our muscles, our organs. Maybe it's a lot to think about, but it's so important.
Deja: That's what I was thinking, it's almost an overwhelming, slightly existential thought. Um, but it's also a beautiful thing.
Kimberly: And a unifying thing too, right? Like we, when we were talking about what we were going to focus this documentary on, I think we wanted something, we wanted a topic that was uniting. And the fact that we all eat.
Across cultures, we, we break bread, we gather around the table. We have a variety of foods from all over the world that are so delicious. Cooking in the kitchen with our friends or with our loved ones is like an alchemy of love that you can taste. Uh, there's like, there's a real ability there to, to tell that story and to use that story to unite us and to talk about such an important issue.
Deja: So, Kimberly, I would love to hear from your perspective, you know, who were some of the key people that you, um, interviewed for your story or, or followed for the documentary and kind of what did they bring to it?
Kimberly: And it's hard to say key people, Deja, because everybody was key. And there was only a few of them. So we spoke to some of Calgary's, I would say, masters of food craft and people who are really changing our broken food system. People like Heather from, Highfield Regenerative Farm. She's, she's at a different job now, but Highfield Regenerative Farm was where she was when we filmed, uh, people like Ryan and Alana from a farm called Rebel Acres, just northwest of the city, uh, people like Malcolm, Malcolm Saunders from the Light Cellar, uh, the Light Cellar is like, I think, a pillar in the community for education and, uh, getting to know our food more.
We also spoke to, uh, Blackfoot elder, Herman Manyguns, as well as a couple people from Land of Dreams, including Rod Olson, who founded, uh, YYC Growers and a number of other businesses and, a refugee from Afghanistan named Fawzia. So did I miss anybody, Kalyn, I think that was everybody that we spoke to and each person that we got to know in this process I think just added so much color to the story as a whole that it was, it's, yeah, so when you say key people, like, it's really difficult to just pick that out. Those were the people that made this story possible and that we got to know and, you know, quite literally broke bread with over the course of creating this, this film.
Deja: Absolutely. Yeah, I agree. You know, they all played a very important role, um, in the documentary. So, what was, you know, let's say one of your biggest surprises while making the documentary?
Kimberly: Do you want to take this one, Kalyn?
Kalyn: I think one of the things that I I'm no longer surprised by it, but I think I was surprised at the time and now reflect on. with a lot of gratitude and wider eyes, if you will, is how it changed my own relationship with food. I think I came at the story from a place of being further behind in the journey of closeness to my food. And so I think it surprised me that simply by getting to know the people, by getting to know that story, which is so important in telling the story obviously, but it really profoundly changed how I see the world now. And I, I don't know why that surprised me so much, it shouldn't, but it did because it's such a huge shift in perspective.
Kimberly: I love that answer. I can echo that too, probably. And I think one of the big things maybe that surprised me is how important the soil is to our well being as a species. Like, I, I, I knew the periphery of that from my education, but we really got into it in the film, and without healthy soil, it, it's not possible. We are not possible. as humans.
Kalyn: Totally. And like maybe just to You know, continue this a little bit, like that synergistic relationship that the soil has with the microorganisms and everything that's growing in it. I don't think we often think about it, and we don't think about how that impacts the nutrients that are within the soil and then within the food that it's growing. You know, and I think back again, I'm, I'm a little bit embarrassed to say this, but, you know, three years ago, I went to the grocery store and I looked at a carrot here and I looked at another carrot over there and I thought that they were the same. Even just that understanding that different foods grown in different places with different environmental makeups and, and nutrients in the soil that changes the nutritional value of the carrot and, and they're, they're no longer the same.So yeah, just that relationship and how everything works together is huge.
Kimberly: So it's really a conversation about soil. And, and like, it's really, it's really what it comes down to is if we can repair that relationship with our soil, we can repair pollution. We can repair biodiversity loss. We can repair the resilience that we have to droughts and floods and fires, uh, just by looking at dirt. Well, it's not dirt. It's soil because soil is alive and the microbiomes are what but we walk on it all the time and we don't think about how important it is to our well being and our wellness.
Deja: Right. It's this kind of interconnectedness, you know, we talk about being connected to our food, but it's this whole, it's this bigger ecosystem. And I, and I think that's really what I think is really cool about this project is that brings that to life. Okay, so was there a moment in the documentary that you think really captured the healing power of reconnecting with food from your perspective?
Kalyn: One of my favorite moments in the film is when Kimberly is in the soil with Fawzia, uh, And they're, uh, they're pulling garlic, and Kimberly's talking about… I'm gonna ruin it. I don't want to ruin it. It's such a beautiful moment.
Kimberly: You're not going to ruin it!
Kalyn: Ugh! Um, do you want to explain it?
Kimberly: Yeah?
Kalyn: I wonder if it's more powerful coming from you. Because, like, I see it. Through the edit, you experienced it and you had that emotional connection, right? So I think it's why I'm pausing is like, it's once removed, right? I'm witnessing you in that moment through a camera lens. I'd love it if you actually..
Kimberly: I don't think one is more powerful than the other because you have, I don't know, I mean and people who've seen it have connected with this moment that you're speaking to as well. But I will happily take this on. Uh, there's a moment in the film where I Um, pulling garlic with one of, uh, our storytellers, Fawzia, and she's sharing how she left behind her two brothers in Afghanistan, in a war zone.
She's come to Canada with her mother, and she's trying to understand, you know, this new world of Canada that is in front of her from language to culture to cold weather to everything and it's a really it's a really beautiful moment that made me very emotional when we were filming. Because she says “when we touch the soil it is just like I feel like I'm at home.”
I'm butchering the quote, maybe, but she says, “I feel like it is my home and it doesn't matter, there's not a big distance between me and my family members when I touch the soil.” I'm emotional thinking about it now because it's just, she's right. You know, we're all connected to this land.
Deja: Beautiful. Thank you for sharing that. Um, and that was absolutely, you know, one of my favorite moments as well that I saw. And I, I might bring it up again a little bit later in this conversation. Um, so, In the documentary you go to, um, the land of Dreams, um, and can you kind of explain what's, what's going on there and what happens there?
Kalyn: Land of Dreams is this magical place that is the brainchild, if you will, of Rod Olson, who really had this idea of welcoming newcomers and, bringing Indigenous teachings and way of, ways of working with the land and sort of melding that with folks that are coming to Canada, to Calgary, you know, they're used to working in the soil.
They're, they're, they're dropped in this jungle, this concrete jungle that is so not, supportive to their well being being able to bring them to a space that, like Kimberly mentioned, just connects them back to home and creates these relationships with, with everybody that's there is such a… I'm at a loss of words in a way, because it's so, it's something that I aspire to, I think, in the way that I want to exist in the world. I want to show up in a way that is welcoming and that cares about the perspectives of everybody and that works together. And so it, it's such a, yeah, it's, it's so inspiring.
Deja: I mean I think it's very …it’s so interesting and powerful that food can essentially can help create this sense of belonging, this sense of community, this sense of connection for people.
Kalyn: Totally.
Kimberly: You nailed it. You nailed it, Deja. That's it. That's it. Like, Land of Dreams is a place where people from all over the world, multiple different countries, can learn about Canada and, and, you know, The traditional knowledge of Canada, the Blackfoot ways of this land called Canada, and bring in also their knowledge from their home countries, so they're sharing how to grow certain things.
There's an apiary, there's bees, and there are there's recipe sharing and food sharing and community that is being built. So these people are exactly creating belonging and not feeling so alone in such a strange place. It's like, it's hard to describe and if you don't know it's here, you wouldn't, you wouldn't know.
But it's this beautiful place and it's like off Stony Trail in Calgary. It's, it's, it's so wild. People probably drive by it. Every day.
Kayln: One of the things that I love most about Land of Dreams is that I think we have this idea of, you know, helping others. And of course I think that's part of Rod's work, but what I love so much is his acknowledgement of what he gets out of that experience as well, like what he is also bringing forth then able to share further out into the communities. Everybody is coming together, they're working together, and it's the definition of community, exactly. Where everybody is valued, everybody has something to offer and something that they're receiving and it's, and there's, there's nothing, it's, it's magical, it's just so magical.
One of the things that was really, really lovely. in the creation of this film is how open everybody was to receiving us and welcoming us in. And that was certainly the case at Land of Dreams where I emailed Rod and said, Hey, working on this project, would love to learn a little bit more about what you do. And he invited me out. And from there, we sat at a table, nice little bench, um, on the property and he was just so generous with his knowledge and his time. And everybody along the way was the same. And I think that, again, going back to your earlier question of the things that have surprised me, I think sometimes I have this perspective of being so insulated and, you know, worried about asking for too much or imposing upon others. And I come from a place that, I’m happy to go over to my neighbors and I know my neighbors. But beyond that, like, I think sometimes that that space is a little bit limited. And I think it was a beautiful opportunity to grow and expand my own reach and my own knowledge of what it means to be supported and welcomed.
And likewise, I think that, this film definitely, um, pushes, pushes on that.
Kimberly: If I could add one more thing too Deja. When we went, we started filming at Land of Dreams, it was our first day. So I was hecka nervous, uh, because yeah, there was a whole bunch of things going on. But we started the day, not, before, before the cameras rolled, before anything happened, Kayln and I helped Land of Dreams raise a teepee.
And it was incredibly special because I had, I had a lot to learn about how to do that. And the elder who appears in our film, Elder Herman, was very, very patient and also shared a ton of knowledge with us. And then we officially asked Herman and offered tobacco for him to, to bless the film and bless the crew.
And again, I didn't know how to properly do that, and he showed so much kindness, and kind of taught me, you know, how, how you request from an elder, and it was just so, it was so special to start our day of filming in that teepee with him, and a teepee that we'd raised, and then carry on with the rest of the footage that or the story that you'll see at Land of Dreams, but I just wanted to add that because the Blackfoot teachings that I think Land of Dream incorporates into and integrates into their whole community is, it's unlike anything I've ever, I've ever seen. And it's a really important part of the story.
Deja: Absolutely. Well, thank you for sharing more about your experience there. And I think that, you know, also as people go on their personal journeys of perhaps learning more about food and the people who grow it and the amazing organizations that are out there is remembering that piece of, um, you know, number one, being open to that approach, but then also, um, you know, being, being respectful and learning. And, um, like you said, kind of creating that reciprocal type of, of, uh, bond.
Okay, so let's see, what are some simple things that, you know, listeners could start doing to feel more connected to the food that they're eating? Like what could be our first step if they listen to this episode and they're like, okay, I want to take some action. But I don't know where to start.
Kimberly: I think just getting curious is the best place to start. What's on my plate? Where did it come from? Once you start asking some of those questions, then one thing leads to another. Or maybe it's as simple as planting a seed in a pot. Or maybe it's understanding a little bit more about some of the food access programs that we have in the city, like the Good Food Box, or some Community Supported Agriculture programs, or going to a farmer's market and having a conversation with a farmer who brought the eggs.
You don't have to necessarily purchase them if you can't, but it feels really good to just talk to somebody and understand how they love on their hens or, um, back to the egg example, but I mean, how they… how they show up for the food that they're bringing into the world and to the market and how they show up for, for you to feed us.
Deja: Would you add anything to that, Kalyn?
Kayln: I don't think I could say it better than that. I, yeah,
Deja: So you kind of mentioned, I think we have some great organizations, you know, in Calgary and Alberta. Are there any specific ones that you want to, um, give a shout out to when people think about, you know, learning more about their food, local kind of food organizations in our city?
Kalyn: Take it away.
Kimberly: Me
Kalyn: Yeah.
Kimberly: Learning about their food, local organizations, well, the farmers markets, there are several of them throughout the city is a really great place to start. And there, sometimes you can find a community-supported agriculture programs. So community-supported agriculture, just for the listeners who aren't aware of how that works.
You actually purchase and commit to a farm for a season. And in return, for example, you pay, um, you buy a share in a farm. You really invest in that farm. And so. In return, you can go out to that farm and tour around, and you'll get a box, depending on the size of share that you buy, you'll get a box of veggies and fruit or locally seasoned produce for 16 weeks.
And what's really cool about it is every week is different, and sometimes you'll get some food, like a purple cauliflower, sometimes you'll get a purple cauliflower, and you won't have ever seen one before and you're like, how do I even cook this? What do I do with it? And so the curiosity kind of takes hold and, and allows you to get.
More in touch with your food. I don't know how to cook a purple cauliflower. What is it? Where does it come from? What is it? So that's a really cool way. I think to get in touch So any of our farmers markets or a CSA's around town are great some of the farms that you see in our film, high field regenerative farm, land of dreams, even rubble acres like they all have opportunities for people to get involved in what's going on there.
The Light Cellar is an incredible place to learn, uh, from everything from ferments to foraging. There's always something interesting going on at the Light Cellar. And there's a ton of garden, community garden spaces around Calgary too. So, I think there's a number of opportunities for people to get involved, even just asking questions if you're out for dinner.
Understanding where the food has come from. There's some really great restaurants that have relationships with local ranches. And they'll tell you the story of how that steak got onto your plate, if you just ask.
I think another thing that's really interesting that's going on is the innovation around food that we're seeing. A great example of this is the, the Dutchess strawberries at Sunterra where they're greenhouse grown in Calgary all year round.
They're delicious. And it's just wild to think that I can get strawberries that were grown in a sustainable way in a greenhouse in my city in the middle of February. I read an article the other day about a farm in Saskatoon growing tropical fruit and bananas in like a passive solar greenhouse. So it's so interesting to see what people are able to do with the right amount of gumption and curiosity. We can grow bananas in the prairies.
Deja:And if people want to go and watch the documentary, where could they find it?
Kimberly: There's a number of opportunities coming up that may allow people to watch the film. The best way to figure out where it's playing, whether it's a community screening or on a streaming service, is to follow us on Instagram, @the.root.of.it.all, with periods in between.
Each word, and we have a great community that we're building on Instagram, too. And that's where we'll post all of our updates for screenings or where you can catch the film or even maybe a little bit about next projects that Kalyn and I may be focused on.
Deja: Love that. Okay. And any other final thoughts from either of you?
Kimberly: I wanted to go back to my, my spiel about soil. I think, I think the biggest point of disconnection is actually our disconnection from the soil. And one of the things that was really interesting while we were making this documentary was that story of soil that came out of our interviews with several people, the nutrient density, the difference that that makes, um, everything kind of comes down to the soil and the health of the soil.
And I read a really interesting statistic recently from Regeneration Canada that we're losing about 12 million hectares of productive land every year that becomes barren, and 12 million hectares is a lot. It's about. It's like bigger than Honduras.
Deja: Oh,
Kimberly: That in itself is where we need to start looking for these solutions.
And I think, I think what you mentioned about that interconnectedness, like soil is connected to all parts of our, our wellness. So if we can enhance the quality and nutrient density within our soil, that goes to our food that keeps money in the local economy that creates resiliency around droughts, fires, and floods that helps our water cycle.
It puts more carbon back into the soil. You know, the conversation around climate change and carbon emissions, enhancing our soil quality is one of the best ways to improve some of that, the carbon emissions that we're seeing, some of those challenges. So I don't know, I thought it was worth mentioning how important our soil is to this whole conversation.
Deja: So it's like soil is, is at the root of it all.
Kimberly: Kind of, but it's also the interconnectedness of soil and all things and people. Yeah,
Deja: people and belonging and community,
Kimberly: that's right.
Deja: amazing things.
Kalyn: Thank you so much for having us.
Deja: Thank you, and amazing job with the documentary.
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And that wraps up this episode.
A huge thank you to Kayln and Kimberly for sharing their insights and experiences. I hope this conversation has inspired you to think deeper, and ask questions about where your food comes from and who’s producing it.
My Big Idea from this episode is that every small action matters. It can feel overwhelming to try and change your food habits all at once, but by biting off one small piece at a time we can rebuild that connection between our food and ourselves.
Déjà: The Big Ideas podcast is produced by the Office of Alumni Relations at Mount Royal University. A special thanks to MRU journalism and digital media alum, Gabrielle Pyska, for her savvy editing talents.
Until next time, I’m your host, Déjà Leonard and this is Big Ideas.
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