Jess Garrett is glad and thankful to be spending 2022 at EarthDance as the next Americorps Storytelling VISTA. Jess grew up mostly in St. Louis and worked for some years as a photojournalist in rural Missouri, then in New England, before moving back to St. Louis in 2004. She became a birthwork nurse in 2007, and over the next 13 years, found her favorite nursing work to be in collaboration with people seeking care and professional birthworkers alike, focused on changing care practices in the interest of health equity.
Jess is generally happiest outdoors and enjoys gardening. She first came to EarthDance as a volunteer in Fall 2021. Since then, she continues to be drawn to the land’s beauty and bounty, to the soil, and to the kindness, wisdom, and meaningful work of the people here. She is in awe that she gets to spend a year as part of this community – learning, working, documenting, and sharing on all things EarthDance.