A Soulful Saturday

Andrea’s Garden

Saturday was turning out to be a great day; the kind of day that nourishes and replenishes the soul. I was hanging out with one of my best friends, Julie.  It was the first time I had a friend come visit me, since quarantine; and it was doing both of us a world of good. I was aware of the time, though, because I had arranged for a Galorian to meet me at my home. We would be trading his masks for my rooted cuttings of chocolate mint plants. Sirach Fortuna had contacted me, the previous day, asking if I’d like to do this trade; and I was delighted with the idea.

Ryan Xavier Miller, Galora’s founder, had created a business, in Paris, France, renting out furnished apartments. The business ran 15 years, but ended when flights were halted, due to coronavirus. He moved to Los Angeles and formed a property management company, operating in New York as well as L.A. He also created Galora.

Sirach Fortuna had worked as an accountant in the Entertainment industry. After coronavirus spread throughout the U.S., he was furloughed. He decided to resign, in order to do much more needed and fulfilling things with his time and energy.

Both Ryan’s and Sirach’s lives spun around 180 degrees, and went into new directions, as a result of coronavirus.  Ryan had a vision for facilitating connections between community members with diverse lives and backgrounds. These encounters could reinforce the idea that we’re all human and similar

Sirach decided to assist others in staying healthy and coping with the pandemic. He began creating videos for his YouTube channel and website, covering topics like nutrition and exercise. He created and oversaw the production and distribution of masks, which would prevent new coronavirus infections. Sirach formed “One World One Nation”, and has distributed close to 112,000 masks throughout the world. The current masks are made with waterproof and reusable material. Eco-friendly versions, made with sustainable hemp and bamboo material, are in development. One World One Nation also has sub-groups, which help farmers and landowners feed their communities; and help urban dwellers create gardens in their backyards. More details on all these projects can be found on the website.

Sirach, along with volunteers, converted a sidewalk in East Hollywood into a community garden, complete with fruit trees, herbs, veggies, and floral plants. It’s sustained with vermiculture, composting, a solar system and rain water system. The mint cuttings I traded with Sirach will be part of this garden.

My friend, Julie, and I talked with Sirach for over an hour. The three of us share a common belief that, along with the tragedies stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are also so many good things happening. We now see families going on walks and bike rides together, people working on the home improvement projects that they never could find the time for; and more people than I’ve ever seen, are now spending time outdoors, enjoying life. It took this pandemic for Ryan and Sirach, to start new life paths that would help make the world better.

Sirach will soon be attending a school in Lost Valley, Oregon, to study permaculture and learn how to create an eco-village. He plans to do this very thing to a mountain resort in Cebu, Philippines. This will happen with support from local underserved community members. Unfortunately, he has spent all his money on his philanthropic programs at One World One Nation. Donations to his crowd sourcing campaign will go directly to the school, for his tuition. All contributions are greatly appreciated.

I’m thankful for Galora, and the beautiful Saturday I experienced as a result of being a member and having a listing. It did me a world of good, to not only spend quality time with an old and new friend; but to be reminded of good people doing wonderful things, in order to make life better for themselves and others. 

If you are interested in exchanging something with Andrea for her Chocolate Mint plants, you can find her listing here! I wanted to thank Andrea for sharing this amazing story of connection through Galora, and I hope that she continues to have great experiences like this in the future.

Image by Kisenok