Sarah A
“My brother’s urn holds huge sentimental value. Dylan took his life in 2012, so his ashes sit here. Grief is something that really changes the fabric of who you are, if you’re fortunate enough to allow it to take place and to see the beauty in a passing.
It’s made me realise that life’s so important. I really appreciate it so much more, especially in terms of being curious and doing things. Life is fragile and fun! We don’t need to be so serious. I was working a lot and suddenly I did a 360. I went off the rails for a couple of years there, honestly. It’s interesting how you react to something quite traumatic. I took a couple of years to resurface and then we moved here. I started studying before we moved, once I’d found my feet again through the grief. I got into herbal medicine and skincare. I could see clearer and that’s when the lessons and beauty came through. I decided I would just do the things I loved to do.
My latest thing is food. I love making everything from scratch. I’m redefining what health and nourishment is for me. Ironically, what I love making is bread and cheese. If you’d said that to me a few years back I would’ve thought: ‘That’s crazy! I won’t eat bread, it’ll just weigh you down and give you brain fog’. Then I started learning about it and realised it’s made from a plant designed to nourish you. Milling the flour to make the bread makes me feel connected to the generations before me. I make cheese the traditional way as well, not using packet cultures. I ferment the milk using milk kefir. I pick up milk from the farmer in a 20 litre pail every weekend and come back and make my cheese. It’s really nourishing to know my food footprint and I think it’s missing from today’s society. I feel immensely grateful.” - Sarah, Featherston, South Wairarapa. (Interview: Chloe Mason)