I have only pleasant memories of working in gardens and greenhouses throughout my life. Perhaps I shouldn’t even call it “working” because of the amount of joy these experiences give me. Here at Solheimar, I have had the pleasure of working in two greenhouses. Each one, as I have learned from the workers, provides deliciously fresh vegetables not just for the Solhemiar community, but also the entire country. In addition to nourishing our bodies, they also feed our souls. It was not until I came to Solhemiar that I learned how much the simple act of tomato picking and packaging feeds my soul. There is something about walking into a pleasantly humid greenhouse, away from the brisk fall Iceland temperatures, and smelling fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. It is as though I am in a dream-like state when I walk up and down the rows, feeling the green leaves, seeing the growth of each little tomato, smelling the freshness of new life, and making that fulfilling connection with nature. It gives meaning to life that I sometimes I lose sense of. It gives me perspective on the importance of caring for each other and the world around us. I am thankful for the time I get to be immersed in the tomato plants. It feeds my soul.
