“Sometimes Compost, Sometimes Flowers” came from thinking about how nature never treats decay as failure… but in a more raw and cumbersome way, the phrase came to me as I was sharing to a friend how much of a shitty day I was having compared to the day before. In my sarcastic, anxious, and slightly high pitched internal voice I thought, “Well, I guess sometimes compost, sometimes flowers...” A mini crazy laugh of acceptance came after.

Anyway, the phrase serves as a metaphor for the natural cycles the earth and ourselves go through in life. Nothing should be wasted, and I mean that in the most literal and metaphorical sense. We learn and grow from our past, and bad experiences, which are both inevitable and necessary. 

Compost is not pretty, but is an essential component for nourishment and growth. Forests know this. Gardens know this. People… well, forget. Flowers don’t exist without the compost before them. Difficult days, seasons and struggles shape us, ground us and make room for self growth and good things to bloom. 

“Sometimes Compost, Sometimes Flowers” is about accepting this cycle and learning to reuse AND recycle, (i.e. clothes, bottles, knowledge from past experiences), FOR the good of the EARTH and for OURSELVES. 

This piece is to remind people that healing, growth, and becoming are rarely clean processes. Sometimes you are walking through flower beds. Sometimes you are going through the soil, BUT even those messy, heavy parts of life can become something beautiful AND meaningful.

After all, this is the cycle. Recycle :)