iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

TWO full bins bound for Living Edge Market today! So much kale and lettuce, chard, zucchini, herbs, nasturtium and more. #communitycare #communitygarden #esquimalt #foodsecurity #gardening

Two plastic bins filled with fresh garden produce, as viewed from above.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Another box bound for Living Edge! Lots of lettuce, chard, kale, peas, sage, rosemary, thyme, mint, chives. #communitycare #communitygarden #foodsecurity #gardening #esquimalt

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

A specific goal, just for the boink of it: Learn all the lyrics to the Spanish version of "Just Another Day". youtu.be/U_z9zziCjxg?...

YouTube video by Jon Secada - Topic

Otro Día Más Sin Verte

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Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

I'm all peace, love and brown rice until I find my bottle of Cholula empty in the work fridge after I brought it in new and only used it twice. 😤

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Esquimalt Community Garden's first delivery the season to Living Edge Market, which gives out free food on Saturdays. Lots of lettuce, some spinach, arugula and mustard greens, rosemary, thyme, parsley, chives, and a handful of strawberries. #communitycare #communitygarden #esquimalt #foodsecurity

Box of green produce as viewed from above.

Anyway. Here is said ice cream cone. Roasted strawberry from Kid Sister in Esquimalt. Was pretty good.

Hand holding up ice cream cone in a parked car, with a view of the ocean in the front window.

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Yeah, I'm all peace, love and brown rice unless you're in an SUV parked next to me, FACING THE OCEAN with your windows all rolled up and engine idling for twenty-plus minutes (probably to run your AC) while staring at your phone. Then I'm all 😑 and going online to bitch about your jackassery. 😤

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Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Is old-timey etiquette not a thing anymore? I don't mean stiff, repressive, classist rules—I mean behaviors for common courtesy, engaging in conversations, neighbourliness, etc. It seems the intensifying cacophony of *waves arms* everything, has eroded how we interact, especially in person.

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Welcome, spring. Hello, new garden plot. Transplanted my thyme and lupine, picked some kale and chives. Felt good to get my hands dirty and putter and mutter like a goblin. I almost forgot how deeply therapeutic this garden was for me last year. #communitygarden ##foodsecurity #gardening #spring

Empty garden plot in early spring. A few small plants are in the plot.

A bundle of kale and chives in a square yogurt container sitting on a wooden work table in a community garden.

A close-up of a hand covered in garden soil.

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Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

And then one day you wake up on a Saturday morning with a strong desire to find purple sweet potatoes.

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Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

This drizzly day calls for puttering, soup-making and listening to an audiobook. #audiobooks #puttering #soup

Screencap of an audiobook cover. The book is titled I Who Have Never Known Men.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

I've been given a new, better plot for 2026; it was abandoned, so I'm clearing it out and wrapping up my old one. I've learned that gardening is about planning and working towards the next season, not just tending to the current one. True for life in general, too. #communitygarden #gardening

A raised bed garden plot with an orange wheelbarrow next to it, partially filled with old kale.

A raised garden plot in a community garden. The plot has been cleared of old plants and vegetables.

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Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

A sunny autumn day and a walk along the water with my wee doggo. Perfection.

A closeup of a small, content-looking dog with expressive eyes and floppy ears. In the background are sunlit trees lining a body of water.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

How can I go back to eating pale, store-bought, off-season tomatoes after harvesting and gorging myself on all these tomatoes I grew this summer?

Close-up of deep red tomatoes, cut and arranged on a baking tray for roasting.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Cusp-of-fall bounty, bound for Living Edge Market, which serves those experiencing food insecurity. Herbs, lots of collards, patty-pans, beets, tomatoes, kale and more. #communitycare ##communitygarden ##foodsecurity #gardening

Two plastic totes filled with fresh, colorful garden produce, as viewed from above.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Anyway. Tofino and Ucluelet are gorgeous. So worth the trip.

Lush green rainforest with wood boardwalk winding throughout.

Surfer carrying surfboard on Long Beach, Tofino.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Driving home after a vacation. Stopped in Port Alberni for food and to stretch our legs. Random dude in a truck loudly yells "Fuck Mark Carney! Fuck Mark Carney!" at my husband, who's wearing an Elbows Up t-shirt and walking our tiny dog. Sir, this is a McDonald's parking lot. Calm your testicles.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Harvested 14 tomatoes today—not even half of what's still ripening.

A pile of ripe red tomatoes on a rustic wooden table outdoors in a community garden.

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Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

The abundance continues. More produce from the garden, bound for Living Edge Market. I'm convinced that food insecurity is more a matter of supply-chain and communication breakdown than a scarcity of produce. Grow food. Share food. #communitycare #communitygarden #foodsecurity #gardening #solarpunk

A variety of small yellow and green squashes on a wooden table

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

Thai lime leaves (aka Makrut) grown and shared by a neighbour. Will freeze these for making curries, soups and other Thai-inspired dishes. I really love growing, accessing and sharing food outside of commercial channels. #foodsecurity

Viewed from above, a pile of small, thick, waxy-looking green leaves on a wooden table.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

This week's bounty, bound for the local free-food market. Underneath all the leafy vegetables are beans and squash. The red-and-green bundle to the right is shiso, a member of the mint fanily, used in Vietnamese cooking. #communitycare #communitygarden #foodsecurity #Esquimalt ##yyj #vancouverisland

A plastic box holding leafy green vegetables from an organic community garden

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

This weekend's delivery to the local free-food market that serves neighbours in need. We can grow food, share food, have food. In the face of scarcity and loneliness and the housing crisis and the climate crisis and rising food costs, we still have this. #communitygarden #foodsecurity #hopepunk

Box filled with herbs and vegetables from a community garden

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Remember that pile of mint and lemonbalm that a neighbour gave me a couple of weeks ago? Dehydrated it and mixed it together for a delicious calming tea. Kind of blown away by how little came from all those fresh herbs, though. #gardening ##greenwitch #herbalremedies

Mason jar filled with dried green mint and lemonbalm leaves

Freshly cut mint and lemonbalm in a black bucket against a grey wooden fence

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Dehydrated the calendula and have started to do the same with some borage. Soon I'll be making a soothing, summery salve. Am I...becoming a green witch? #gardening #greenwitch #herbalremedies #borage #calendula

Two large Mason jars of dried orange calendula flowers set on a wooden table in a kitchen.

Close-up of borage plants in an orange bowl

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

About 16 cups of calendula, given to me by a neighbour. Will dehydrate it and infuse the petals in carrier oils to make salve. #gardening #herbalmedicine

Closeup of a pile of orange flower heads

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Pondering the truth and consistency of nature's cycles and how we are bound to them—whether or not we realize it. There's a lot I don't know, but I know we can count on that. How do we want to be with that? How do I want to be with that? How do you want to be with that? #creativepractice #dailyart

Colorful abstract watercolor and acrylic painting that suggests layers of the earth and nature's cycles, from seeds deep in the earth to their roots and green shoots with tiny yellow flowers, all reaching towards the sky and stars.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Put together some herb bundles (mint, sage, oregano) for my colleagues, as a thank-you for supporting my balcony garden at the office. #foodsecurity #gardening

Office desk in a creative space near a window. On a white desk is a pile of several herb bundles made up of mint, sage and oregano.

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Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Making unholy sounds as I sample this cilantro-and-garlic-scape chimichurri made from ingredients grown at the community garden. This stuff is going on *everything* and won't last the week. In fact, it'll probably be devoured by Wednesday. #communitygarden #foodsecurity #gardening

View from above a jar on a wooden surface. Jar is filled with a thick, bright-green condiment.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Today a neighbour gave me this massive bounty of apple mint and lemon balm. Plucked, washed and dried what I could and now it's in the new-to-me dehydrator, on the lowest setting overnight. Hoping I'll wake up to some lovely tea leaves. #foodsecurity #foodshare #gardening

Black bucket holding a large bunch of mint and lemon balm leaves.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

Sweet little bounty for the local foodshare organization, as shared by community garden members.Thyme, rosemary, a huge bunch of French tarragon (not showing all that well in the photo), lettuce, rainbow chard. #communitycare #communitygarden #foodsecurity #gardening #localfood

A wooden table outside in a garden, on top of which are lettuce, rainbow chard, kale and herbs in plastic containers.

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Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Harvested about 5 cups worth of cilantro today from my three cilantro plants. Also, scored some free bok choy from our shared produce stand. If you're on a tight budget, find your local community garden—they may have a free produce stand. #communitycare #communitygarden #foodsecurity #gardening

Pile of fresh cilantro on a rustic wooden table outdoors in a garden.

A hand holding up a bunch of bok choy. In front of a sign with big green letters that spell "produce stand".

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

Fortified my pea trellis, tied back the peas, trimmed the borage, replanted some greens, used some borage leaves as temp shading. Will later shade those areas w/cheesecloth so the seeds can germinate without excessive heat. Going to try eating the borage leaves tonight. #foodsecurity #gardening

A raised bed in a community garden, with growing peas, borage, beets, marigolds, tomatoes and cilantro.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

My borage, planted from seed in late April, is getting big and is about to blossom. #communitygarden #gardening #flowers #pnwlife #yyj

Close-up of a large, leafy plant with fuzzy, pale-blue flower bids in the center.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Came home to a sweet, surprise art care package from my fave local artist @jbirdmclaughlin, and the infusion of joy to my soul is DEEP. #abstractartists #yyj

A selection of colorful abstract watercolor art in a pile on a wooden table

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Love this rose campion growing next to my workplace.

Wild-looking bunch of flowers, with pale green leaves and bright fuschia petals, growing among long, untended grass against a shabby blue background.

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Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

June vibe: Sitting in my #communitygarden after a watering sesh. The breeze and sun on my hair and skin. Listening to birdsong and the hum of bees. Two dudes nearby have a lively, sweary discussion about linguistics and the usefulness of different letters and break down pronunciation and sounds.

Strawberry plant growing in a raised garden bed

A robust, green, leafy sage bush in a raised garden bed

Orange flowers, calendula, grow in a raised garden bed

Fuschia snapdragons growing in a raised garden bed

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Indulged in some car karaoke to kick off the long weekend. EPIC. CHEESY. EIGHTIES. #80s #genx youtu.be/qeFm-rM51K4?...

Gowan - A Criminal Mind (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by Gowan

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

I was very kindly given permission to create a little balcony garden at work. Planted a couple of tomato plants today. The collards I rescued from a free pile. There's other stuff but it looks janky atm. The goal is whimsy, food sharing and delight. #communitygarden #foodsecurity #gardening

Garden gnome sitting near a potted flowery succulent.

Nursery pots with soil and a collard seedling, with a little sign that says "collards".

Small tomato plants in a container eith soil. Black cherry tomatoes.

Small tomato plant in a container with soul. Indigo drops.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Finished off the chive blossoms by steeping them in white wine vinegar. Will keep in the fridge and shake every couple of days for a week or so—whenever it's nice and deep pink. Then I'll strain out the blossoms. #communitygarden #foodsecurity #gardening

Mason jar on a wooden cutting board, filled with purple chive blossoms steeping in white wine vinegar.

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Remember that abundance of chives I was talking about a week ago? Just made some chive-blossom butter with some of it. Will freeze this half-pound brick and keep the other half in the fridge. #communitygarden #foodsecurity #gardening

A block of butter on brown parchment paper. Mixed into the butter are green and purple flecks of chopped chives and chive blossoms.

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Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

I really hope we will see substance behind these words.

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Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

RIP, Mike Peters. I'll think of you when I feel the rain in the summertime. #genx youtu.be/8D6pPgwafq0?...

The Alarm - Rain In The Summertime

YouTube video by TheAlarmIRSVEVO

Renée Layberry @rlayberry.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Election day—the last day of the countdown I've done almost every day for a month. Today calls for a song with substance and power. VOTE! #canadianfederalelection #yachtrock youtu.be/tt4cR9szMS8?...

America - You Can Do Magic (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by AmericaVEVO