Born and raised in Baltimore, Crystal experienced a number of influences in her early life that piqued her curiosity and directed her attention towards food. Although she was never food insecure, she grew up in a food insecure area. At the same time, her father had apple and pear trees in his backyard that she would eat from at a young age. During our conversation, she recalled looking around at the parks in her neighborhood, wondering why the trees weren’t also fruit trees. It just didn’t make sense to her that people wouldn’t use that space to grow food. Her keen sense of health and clear moral compass that guides her to lead a lifestyle in service of our true interconnected nature is refreshing, to say the least. She claims that she doesn’t even consider meat and dairy to be food sources anymore, and yet she holds no judgement towards the majority of people in the world who still gravitate towards that side of the food pyramid. Being able to maintain such conviction and compassion at the same time is a rare occurrence, but when she explained this to me, I had no doubt that it was true. Her sincerity was palpable.
She described herself as a picky eater from a young age. However, in hindsight she realizes it was because the average diet that is saturated with meat and dairy just didn’t sit well with her body or her conscience. Laughing, she explained that for this reason she actually gained weight when she switched over to a plant-based diet, something that tends to go in the opposite direction for those who brave the transition. She finally was able to find pleasure in her food, and this is not a side benefit of little importance. In addition to being healthy, affordable, and good for the planet, she emphasized, “and it must always be delicious, that is important.” This is her mission that she holds with a notable grace and ease.
She reflects back on her preference for plant-based food when she was younger. At that point, she says, it was more of a spiritual matter; something that just didn’t sit well with her conscience. It wasn’t until she started to learn about the environmental and social impact of the global food system that she made the informed decision to stop eating meat and dairy all together. This choice was motivated around the time of Lent. Although she was not religious, she took the spiritual practice of doing penance as an opportunity to challenge herself and move towards more intentional living. After that, Crystal says she briefly went back to eating dairy and felt so sick that it convinced her to commit to a permanent plant-based diet and lifestyle.
It wasn’t until six years ago when she joined a CSA that her purpose around teaching and cooking began to take shape. The CSA had a sweat equity program, that offered food in exchange for labor. In that program, Crystal learned to grow and harvest the food she was eating. She also quickly discovered that she had no idea what to do with some of the food she would take home. She thought, “if I’m having trouble with this, I know other people are too.” This inspired her to start community cooking classes, and she was wise to follow this hunch. From there, people started asking her to teach at churches and community centers, “and then it basically became a business,” she shrugged, giving the sense that this was the most natural and obvious progression.
Crystal told much of her life’s work and trajectory in this casual, offhand tone, making it seem almost effortless. This stood out to me, at first seeming to contrast her unshakeable commitment and devotion to living a life that is aligned with her values. But then, I could see that these two qualities were not at odds in the slightest; they were resolved and dissolved in her unique way of being. The gentle strength she emanates appears to be more gifted than developed, and it can be found in the essence of her life’s work. Her vision of the world is steeped in simplicity. She sees the connection between large systemic issues and our daily meals, and acts on it. Whereas many people can experience overwhelm or defeat with this awareness, she makes impactful lifestyle-changes seem uncomplicated. For her, the change we need begins with the basics: the food on our plate.
When we discussed the spiritual and emotional benefits of a plant-based diet, she once again highlighted the simple yet profound impacts of her choice. She started out by saying, “I think just not being stressed about what I am eating is a huge thing.” She further explained that this stress was related to the cognitive dissonance that often comes with participating in today’s modern world: “I could eat my food and not feel like I was doing harm to anyone.” She described a kind of “mental relief,” knowing that she could meet all of her basic needs without participating in a violent and scarcity-based food system. The relief that she named gave me a full picture of our interconnectedness; just how deeply intertwined our emotional, physical, global and planetary health is. It became abundantly evident how a personal diet change made in compassionate service to the world could affect much more than just one’s physical health.
Accessibility is another core value that propels her work forward. Referring to herself as a “dollar tree vegan,” Crystal strives to communicate the message that healthy living can be done at a low cost. She connects people to resources in Baltimore where there are programs for people to get free, fresh produce or use their snap benefits for food. She says that she often won’t tell people she is a vegan upfront because she recognizes the complex relationship we all hold with food: “talking about food can be touchy, because people have cultural practices attached to food.” She is careful to use accessible language so that people can come to her with curiosity and discover for themselves what works. In March of 2020, when Crystal’s plans to do a cooking demo fell through as the world was shutting down in response to the pandemic, she found herself with an abundance of produce. She quickly called up her parents to ask them to use their kitchen and made the decision to go live every day with cooking demos for her community. These videos were accessible to everyone and free of charge. Crystal had resisted making videos for years because she was camera shy. However, when the pandemic broke out she saw how important her work was for her community. Since March, Crystal has been making one video a week. Times like the pandemic reveal what is most important and challenge us to face our fears. Crystal’s choice to make these videos despite her fear of being on camera is a testament to her commitment to her work and values.
Again, her message is simple: it’s possible to create global change with our small, daily life choices. She emphasizes, “I would like everyone to realize how easy they can make a change by changing what’s on their plate. It can be super easy and doesn’t have to be dramatic.” She recognizes the mental, physical and spiritual impact of these changes, as well as the local, global and environmental ripples they create. She is sensitive to people’s attachment to food, be it cultural or emotional, and recognizes that it is important to transition with this in mind. For this reason, she recommends building up a support system of people who are making similar choices. With a smile she says, “when you go to family events, bring something vegan with you that you know everyone will want.” She also emphasizes being clear about why you are making such a big lifestyle change. Often, she points out, there will be one or two documentaries or books that really impact us. Her recommendation is to identify those sources that made their impact and return to them at times of struggle. Lastly, she returns to compassion: “I think when we make things not just about ourselves but about others as well it is easier to stay with those changes. When we all actually feel how connected we are at our core, I think that is when we will have that real change.”
Crystal is a passionate health and wellness educator and founder of Holistic Wellness and Health. She has her Master’s in Public Health and Health Administration. She also holds a long list of certifications, including, but not limited to: Reiki practitioner and instructor, Group Life Coach, meditation facilitator, permaculture designer, Baltimore City Master Gardener and Farm Food Safety Educator. She is passionate about helping people live a healthier more vibrant life with a whole-person approach using the benefits of a plant-based diet; and she simultaneously works to improve food justice, food sovereignty and sustainable food access. She is an avid forager, gardener and urban farmer. Currently, she is offering live workshops and tutorial videos on Facebook twice a week for her community. She volunteers as a Baltimore City Master Gardener and works as a food safety educator, helping local farms with risk assessment and food safety plans. This year, she received a grant that will allow her to work with a local farm to host a three-month program on holistic agricultural and plant-based cooking. She will work with youth in the area, teaching them how to cook culturally appropriate, plant-based meals. The young participants will also learn about regenerative agricultural practices, mindfulness, and compassionate living. Crystal occasionally teaches in Permaculture Design Courses, and is currently enrolled as a student in an advanced PDC course for land management with Starhawk.