As a ceramist, I think about where materials come from. Some are mined, some are chemical compounds. Material safety is important to all artists. In 2016, I had a serious reaction to epoxy in the studio that was further aggravated by neighborhood lawn pesticides. My health continues to be impacted by pesticides and other environmental toxins.

This led me to found Grow Safe: Non-Toxic Missoula. Our organization advocates for the reduction of toxic pesticide use to protect public health and the environment. Through community outreach, education and partnerships we are gradually shifting local practices. Many people don’t realize that pesticides originated as chemical warfare. One widely used herbicide contains the same chemical compound (2,4-D) found in Agent Orange. The manufacture and use of pesticides has consistently increased since the 1940s. These toxins are on our food, as well as, in our air, water, and soil. In 2022, a study by international scientists concluded we have crossed the “planetary boundary” for chemicals in the environment, making action imperative. Pesticides contribute to climate change and threaten biodiversity across the globe.

I believe service and action spur change and that change is most possible at the grassroots level.