Camille Flanjak
Camille (she/her) was raised immersed in Deaf culture. Her parents are both Deaf, and she and her three siblings were raised bilingual. They spent their summers and holidays at Deaf World events, surrounded by other CODAs.
Camille grew up working the soil on the traditional Indigenous lands of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, Qayqayt, Kwikwetlem, and Semiahmoo peoples. Her start was at a humble hobby farm but she has grown and harvested foods in many places – wild and urban. She brings a perspective of wild, dynamic permaculture wherever she farms.
Camille shared with us:
“This land I’m currently growing on, in what is now known as Vancouver, is so much more than space to grow the prettiest, most productive fields of cut greens to sell at high-end restaurants. We city-farmers access this impossibly valuable living space beside a huge number of stakeholders: from Indigenous Peoples whose land is occupied by us farmer/settlers; to ‘homeowners’, unhoused folks, dog walkers, and high school students; raccoons, hummingbirds, wasps & rats; and newcomers who have been torn from homelands.
As an urban farmer, up to 40% of my crops go missing. But this phenomenon reminds me how precious fresh, hand-picked food is and how privileged I am to be growing it where I am. Further, the incredibly human experience of harvesting food isn’t something many people have access to. So any losses I may experience become an opportunity to count my blessings. The intersection of many blessings –my ancestors, my history, my privileges, my queerness, my family culture, and my politics– with how I farm beside my neighbours is something I celebrate and ruminate on, daily. Life is hard, complex, beautiful, and delicious, especially when we share and work with others.”
You can currently catch Camille working for Fresh Roots as their Good Food Farm Manager.