Karen has committed her life to service of those most vulnearable and marginalized within our ecosystem. In her work with CRC Mitzvah Farm in St. Louis, she has come to understand how gardens can become “spaces of resistance” that grow justice from the ground up. As an activist, writer and teacher, Karen fosters multi-tradition collaboration and shares wisdom on how spiritual, psychological, economic, racial and environmental health blossoms organically when people come together to feed each other.
Karen works alongside communities developing Justice Gardens and offers workshops about the hands on process of growing for justice as well as earth centered spirituality. She received the 2019 Unsung Hero Award by St. Louis Jewish Light. The CRC Mitzvah Farm under her leadership, received the Richard the Irving J. Fain Social Justice Award by the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism in 2019
“Justice Gardening offers both a vision and a space of resistance to work together towards a healing world in which oppressive systems are dismantled. Balance and justice are restored. Compassion and kindness prevail. The vulnerable are cared for. The stranger is welcomed home. All have a place at a crowded table with enough to fill their need. By connecting our roots with each member of the ecosystem, we share our vulnerability, our wisdom and resources, giving voice to our deepest yearnings. We are strengthened to find the way forward. How does this miracle of renewal and resilience happen? The secret is in the roots alive and strong in each other’s embrace.”