​During the summer of 2023, I went tree planting. Before I went, I got in shape, started eating better and did just about anything that would help me prepare for the hard journey ahead. Once I started, my legs would be riddled with bruises, my toes became numb, and my hips hurt like hell. All the physical damage my body suffered was manageable, what wasn’t was the mental. I cried nearly every day, not reaching my goal, and not being able to plant enough trees. Some would say 700 trees is a lot, that was my average, but if you're a planter, you know that's barely anything, that's not even enough to make minimum wage.

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I ended up having a massive breakdown, and on my day off, I taped a note to my boss’s trailer, ran to my car and floored it out of the camp. I wasn’t able to say goodbye to anyone face to face, I was humiliated with myself.
The people I met there were some of the most amazing people I have ever met, and I was afraid I would see their disappointment in me.

These are the only photos I had taken that weren't blurry or damaged.

 

​​2023

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