Harvest and Heal Festival - Student Participation Opportunity

Participating in the mental health awareness event was a powerful and eye-opening experience for me. From the moment we began setting up to actually taking part in the activities, I felt a real connection not just with the earth around me, but with myself.

One of the most memorable parts was facing our fears by holding beehives. At first, the idea of being so close to bees was intimidating, even scary. But standing there, feeling their gentle buzz and learning about their role in nature, I realized how often fear comes from misunderstanding. It was a lesson in courage, trust, and respect not just for the bees but for my own limits and growth.

Beyond that, the event also emphasized the importance of feeding our bodies in healthy ways. Through the activities and conversations, I learned practical tips about nourishing myself physically as a part of mental wellness. It reminded me that caring for our minds and bodies goes hand in hand.

Overall, this event showed me that healing and strength come from connection, whether it’s connecting to the earth, to others, or to our own inner courage. I walked away with new perspectives and tools to support my mental health in everyday life.

Paula Lucero  1 año Hace the hours have been checked

At the Harvest and Heal festival, I had the chance to learn and help out in many ways. We started by harvesting vegetables, which was a great way to see how much work goes into growing food. It felt good to work with others and support local farming. We also learned about permaculture and different farming practices that are better for the environment. I found it interesting how these methods help the land stay healthy for a long time unlike the methods used in larger scale farming. One of my favorite parts was learning about beekeeping. It was cool to see how important bees are and to try some of the beekeeping practices ourselves. It made me realize how much we depend on them. We dressed up with the typical beekeeping clothers including the hats with the nets. Id always wanted to try one of the uniforms on. At the end of the day, a herbalist gave a talk about using plants for natural healing. It was really interesting to hear how herbs can be used to support health in traditional ways. She brought along tinctures of different plants and we had the opportunity to sample some! This event taught me a lot about nature, farming, and working as a community. It made me appreciate where our food comes from and the people who care for the land. But most importantly, this event was centered in mental health topics. We practiced mindfulness, discussed different topics pertaining to mental health, and were given several resources. This has been one of the most impactful events I have been to, and one of my favorite as well. Despite braving a storm and getting soaked in the rain I would definitely participate again, rain and all.