Girls' Night In - Issue #229: on the hunt & in bloom 🌻🔎

During the height of the pandemic, I was feeling pretty uninspired — and for good reason! At some point, I took a day off work and found myself watching  Justina Blakeney, the founder and creative director of Jungalow, talk about her ritual of rainbow foraging. She regularly goes on long walks with her daughter and finds items in rainbow order around their natural environment. They then collect the items physically or digitally document them. A DIY scavenger hunt?! I was in!

I promptly took myself on my first urban foraging journey that day. In the process, I recalled one of my more memorable graduate courses on food systems and cultural history where I learned that the act of foraging is deeply rooted in Black, Indigenous, and POC traditions. My first item spotted: A graffitied red stop sign I took a picture of, followed by seeing reunited friends gathered around the flickering orange flames of a backyard bonfire. An untouched lone green tomato propped up by the protruding roots of a tree caught my eye, as well as deep purple hydrangeas in full bloom on the next block. By the end of the hour, I found the walk to be a meaningful avenue to learn more about my surroundings and reconnect with nature.

Since then, I go on a rainbow foraging walk each week to spark inspiration. In case you’re also now inspired to go on a rainbow foraging walk, here are some tips I’ve found helpful in my own experience. I tend to walk at a dedicated time (I even have a calendar hold to keep myself accountable) and typically turn off my phone notifications and tune into a playlist I specially curated that evokes colorful vibes. More recently, I’ve brought my polaroid camera to capture some of the sights along the way. I’m grateful for this new practice; I find myself being more present, attentive, and in-tune with myself throughout the day. I may never have stumbled upon some of these objects otherwise.

Are there any objects or observations that have made you stop in your tracks recently? Press reply and let me know. Have a colorful weekend.
 

—Olivia Rogine, Director of Brand Strategy
 

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