Love & Liberty Food Forest is Here!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to find some measure of peace in a world that seems determined to pull us in the opposite direction, and I keep coming back to a book that shaped my thinking years ago: How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World by Harry Browne. It’s not a book about fixing the world, or winning political battles, or even persuading others; it’s about reclaiming your own life, your own time, and your own sense of sanity, regardless of what’s happening around you.

That idea has been sitting with me as I’ve made a bit of a shift in my own life. I stepped back from Libertarian Party activities and resigned as Secretary of the LPF last November. For now, I’m focusing more locally here in Palm Beach County. It wasn’t a dramatic decision so much as a necessary one. The burnout had been building for a while, and I could feel it in a way that’s hard to ignore once you recognize it, so I chose something different and returned to the things that ground me, which, since my move to Florida in 2021, has meant being outside, working with my hands, and doing something real.

In doing that, I’ve found something surprisingly powerful in its simplicity. The garden is thriving right now in a way that feels almost defiant against the backdrop of everything else. Tomatoes are coming in strong, seminole pumpkins are stretching out with quiet determination, luffa and watermelon vines are taking over every bit of space they can find, and okra has become a daily harvest rather than an occasional treat. The chickens are doing well too; the three pullets are growing into themselves, and one has already started laying, which still feels like a small miracle every time I find an egg.

At the same time, I’ve been putting more energy into building out Love & Liberty Food Forest, offering tours and sharing Florida-friendly food forest staples with others who are curious or just getting started. One of the things I’ve come to really love is introducing people to subtropical plants and trees they’ve never even heard of, and watching that moment when curiosity turns into possibility; it reminds me of how much there is to learn, and how much knowledge is out there if you’re willing to seek it out. A lot of what I’ve learned has come from years of trial and error, but also from some incredible gardeners sharing their work online, especially on YouTube, and it feels good to pass that along in a way that’s practical and grounded in our local environment.

There’s something deeply satisfying about not just growing your own food, but reaching a point where there’s enough to share, whether it’s plants, knowledge, or actual food. Eggs are now available, sapodillas are coming in but in limited quantity, and the seminole pumpkins should be ready around May into June if all continues to go well. It turns abundance into something communal rather than just personal, which feels like a small but meaningful shift in how we think about provision and independence.

None of this means I’m unaware of what’s happening in the world; quite the opposite. I’m frustrated, even exhausted, by the state of politics and the direction things seem to be heading, and I don’t think I’m alone in feeling that way. But I’m also realizing that staying locked in that frustration doesn’t fix it, and it certainly doesn’t make life better on a day-to-day basis. There’s a point where you have to decide what you can actually control, and then act accordingly.

For me, right now, that looks like growing more food, spending more time outside, building something tangible, and reconnecting with a sense of independence that feels increasingly rare. It’s not an escape from reality so much as a different way of engaging with it, one that prioritizes resilience over reaction and creation over constant consumption of bad news.

If you’re feeling worn down by everything, I’d encourage you to think about what that might look like in your own life. It doesn’t have to be a full food forest or a garden, although I’ll always advocate for that; it could be anything that brings you back to something real, something you can build or nurture or share.

And if you happen to be nearby, feel free to reach out and come by for a tour. There’s always something growing here, and more often than not, there’s something to take home too!