Sarah (she/her)
Head Gardener & ResidentCould you tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Braziers Park?
I’ve been a gardener all my life, firstly with ornamental plants, designing and building gardens in London, and writing a few garden books. I lived in the Braziers community in 1994 and now I’m back, growing vegetables in our beautiful walled garden, with the help of some great volunteers. So my 'job' here is now Garden and Grounds. I’ve also been heavily involved in Green Party politics, though currently less so.
What is it that fascinates you about living in a community?
I’ve always been involved in collective living, having done so in London, Buckinghamshire, here at Braziers and Oxford. Group process and change is fascinating to me, not surprisingly, and I have followed the ebbs and flows of the Braziers community with interest over the years. It has echoed general political and social development, not surprisingly – I have often seen connections in both language and current absorptions between, say, work communities and those at Braziers. And we echo local and world politics as well, of course. We are not separate.
I became interested in Buddhist practice after having taught Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for a while, when I practised as a counsellor in Oxford. I find this enormously useful.
How would you describe the community at Braziers?
The community here is widespread across the age span – 12 to 94 – and interests – music, meditation, sport, politics and more. We are at present in a wonderful period of growth and enthusiasm, which we hope will translate into deeper effect in our education programme and also in the renewal of our buildings!