Introducing Living Dialogues: a series of conversations with artists, makers, healers, and explorers, that trace the textures of their life in orbit with our experiential world.
In this edition, we chat with earth-educator, gardener, and cook Chloe Bilsland. Chloe takes us through her appreciations of simplicity, visions of a brighter world for future generations, and all the beauty of California's Santa Monica Mountains.
Name: Chloe
Location: Southern California
I am: A teacher, gardener, & cook
Current inspirations: Greek mythology, reading essays instead of scrolling and the musician Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
What rituals or rhythms guide your daily life?
I’m a deeply routine-oriented person and find freedom in defined schedules. As a teacher, I find that the biggest part of my job is showing up as a regulated, calm presence for my young students. To achieve this, structure is everything!
My daily life is guided by a rhythm of waking up at 5:00 (with my ten dollar classic alarm clock- best purchase) and making a good breakfast, usually a nice yogurt with seasonal fruit, nuts or homemade granola. I drink matcha every morning after eating and lately have been enjoying reading Substack essays before getting ready for school.
Once I’m back home, my evening routine starts by putting my phone away in airplane mode at 7:00 every night. I started doing this a year ago and I feel it’s improved my work/life balance so much! It’s nice to claim the evening for myself when the rest of the day involves giving so much of myself away to others. The evening routine never changes and always includes drinking sparkling water (lately with a few drops of the Earth Archive Adaptogenic Beauty Drops) and peppermint tea, doing my skincare/shower by candlelight to calm my nervous system and then journaling and reading before bed.
What core question is at the heart of your current work or creations?
How may we create a brighter, more sustainable future for us all by bringing our children closer to the earth, nature and each-other?
Could you share a bit on your approach to nourishment?
My adult life so far has been dedicated to working in all matters of food and nourishment, both as a chef and by working on various farms, ranches and gardens. Essentially, my approach to nourishment is to keep things beautifully simple. I always think of eating a tomato straight off the vine in summer- warm from the sun, kinda dusty, the smell of the plant’s leaves hitting you first…no fussy meal could ever compare to that experience.
What does beauty mean to you?
Beauty to me is honesty, authenticity, courage and joy. Also, as I get older I’m finding lots of beauty in places or things lacking the touch of human intervention…gotta love a meadow.
Are there philosophies, values, influences, or traditions that have shaped the way you move through life?
I’m very inspired by the work of Helena Norberg Hodge and her organization, Local Futures. She’s an incredible economist, author and thinker who has dedicated her life to education around localizing communities.
How do you feel the most connected to the earth?
I feel the most connected to the earth when I’m moving slowly enough to notice the little things around me.
What landscapes or places live inside of you?
This past year has brought me back to the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California where I was raised. Being here again has made me recognize how deeply this landscape shaped who I am and how lucky I am to call it home.
Current reads, listens, or other inspirations?
I’ve been returning to this essay again and again since my friend shared it with me…
Follow Chloe here
