If you have followed my co-op journey, or read any of my other posts, you might be able to tell that I really love to blog. It’s just something I genuinely enjoy because I think self-reflection is important, it’s fun to write, and there is a very cool possibility that you could be helping other people!  But, the bottom line is I love it!

Asking my Supervisor

When I was interviewed for my position at SFU, I mentioned my blogging experience, and a month or two upon hiring I realized that I could use my blogging skills for my job. I brought it up at a meeting with my supervisor and suggested an SFU Food Bank Blog.  She was very enthusiastic about the idea and suggested focusing the blog on our Food Bank garden plot in the Learning Gardens, and asked me to write a proposal with logistical details. When I got cracking on my proposal I had so many ideas, and I was so excited!  Not only could I write for this blog, but also I could teach the SFU Food Bank Assistants about blogging, and I could be the editor!  This will be a new experience and skill development for all of us, how exciting! 

Asking the Team

When I showed my proposal to my supervisor, she was very encouraging.  But, it was not just my supervisor I had to impress, I had to see if any of the SFU Food Bank Assistants would be willing to write for the blog as well. Blogging does not appeal to everyone, and I certainly understand that. That is why I was elated when we had three members of our team expressed an interest in writing for the blog.  I hosted my very own “Blogging 101” workshop and I went through the basics that I’ve learned through my own personal experience and some research. As a team, we also brainstormed some ideas for the blog, and it was really inspiring to see the enthusiasm of the newly formed blogging team.

Our Blog Today: “The Words and the Weeds”

I am absolutely amazed by how much our blog team has learned in such a short time. When I asked the team if anyone has ever blogged before, no one had.  Only after a couple of blog entries, they have really developed their blogging skills and it’s been amazing for me to witness the process. To be quite frank, I get so excited to read their posts I feel like I am receiving a present when they email me their latest blog entry to edit. How awesome is it that I get to feel that way when I'm doing work?

We’ve been working hard on our blog, and in my incredibly biased opinion, I think it’s been coming along quite nicely.  The team has written how they have “grown” to love gardening (pun completely intended) and what we have learned from taking care of our very own garden plot.  We have even “branched” out to write about the recipes we created from the very own products we have grown from our garden!

Overall, this has been a wonderful experience and I’m so glad that my supervisor allowed me this opportunity to start this blog, and I’m really glad that we were able to form a blogging team.  Not only did I learn a lot, but I would like to think our blogging team has learned a lot as well. This has taught me that there is potential to take what you’re passionate about and apply it to your work.  But, sometimes you need to take the initiative and ask first -  who knows, it might work out for you too!