Meet Bear Belle

We were lucky to catch up with Bear Belle recently and have shared our conversation below.

Bear, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I draw resilience from the blood of my ancestors. I am here because they had the courage to endure. I come from a lineage of backcountry cowboys, queer activists, land stewards, pioneer shepherds, and farmers.

I was raised in the Latter-Day Saints Church, where honoring our ancestors was taught from a young age. At the time, I found it boring, and I often felt ashamed when learning about the people who crossed the plains. I was always conflicted by the fact that my people committed genocide and stole these lands.

For a long time, I struggled with the question: “What is there to be proud of?” However, as I step into adulthood, I find my connection to my ancestors growing deeper. I now understand that resilience is not just about survival, but about reclaiming our stories. The stories that were erased from our history books are the ones I now live out—as a queer, disabled shepherd and earth activist.

I have deep gratitude for the women and queer ancestors who hold me today. They fuel my fire to continue forward, tending to our people and planet.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

When the pandemic hit, I lost my job at Lush Cosmetic, a place that felt like home, surrounded by queer activists who cared deeply for people and the Earth. Those three years shaped me, but lockdown sent me into a spiral. My Tourette’s became unmanageable, it felt impossible to navigate the world. Finding work as a disabled person was a challenge, but eventually, I became a crew lead for Northwest Youth Corps, an AmeriCorps position that supported young people develop career skills through conservation work. This opportunity led me to an education award, which I used to earn certifications in Professional Permaculture Design, Whole Farm Management, and School Garden Coordination at Oregon State University.

During that time, I was introduced to Kindness Farm, a regenerative, queer- and immigrant-led nonprofit in Portland that donates 100% of its food to the community. As their Community & Education Lead, I saw firsthand how regenerative agriculture could nourish not just the land but also the people tending it. That experience fueled a bigger vision—to bring regenerative land stewardship directly into neighborhoods and create meaningful work for disabled and queer folks.

Last summer, my husband Dawny and I co-founded Earth Benders, a Regenerative Community and Land Stewardship Cooperative rooted in ancestral practices. We offer permaculture design, consulting, and garden maintenance, making outdoor work accessible while strengthening our connection to the land. Our vision includes a youth permaculture program, pairing young people with elders who need support in their gardens, fostering intergenerational learning and community care. Through regenerative land stewardship, we cultivate reciprocity, connection, and repair, recognizing that social and environmental justice are deeply linked. By decolonizing our relationship with the land and each other, we are building a future grounded in resilience, belonging, and ecological balance – one garden, one community, and one season at a time.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Patience
Listening
Endurance

I’m still early in my journey, so I don’t have advice – only insight. What I’m learning from working with nature is to slow down. The purpose of being on the planet is that in itself. The future we dream of may never fully unfold in our lifetime, but we can experience today with intention which in turn builds a more resilient tomorrow.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

Since I’m still in school, I’ve been reading countless books on permaculture and the climate crisis. Science fascinates me, but immersing myself in topics like water scarcity and pollution every day can feel overwhelming. Earlier this year, I hit a reading block, absorbing so much environmental doom left me exhausted.

One day, my husband had just finished a sci-fi book that moved him to tears. He insisted I read it: A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. At first, I resisted – I had too many books to get through for school. However, Dawny persisted. I will forever be grateful to my husband for many things, but this book? This book changed my f*ck*ng life. When you open it, the dedication reads: “For someone who needs a break.” And I did.

The story takes place on Panga, a moon where robots once labored for the benefit of humans. One day, they put down their tools, walked into the wilderness, and never returned. This disruption sparked a massive societal transition. One half of the moon became an untouched wilderness, the other a thriving human habitat. Centuries later, society has regenerated through ecological technology, and a queer monk named Dex leaves behind everything they knew to become a tea monk, traveling from town to town by bike, offering soothing drinks to calm people’s worries. But even in their new life, something still feels missing. So, they venture into the wilderness, where they meet Mosscap, a robot who has only one question: “What do people need?”

I have never related to a book so deeply. It made me laugh, cry, and feel seen. It comforted me during nightmares and became the perfect companion to my morning coffee. Most stories about robots or societal collapse feel dark and dystopian. Understandably so, because we are living through real tragedies, a real apocalypse. This book illustrates that disruption is where we grow stronger. It painted a future not of destruction, but of accountability, regeneration, and interconnectedness.

Due to my disability, I don’t drive – I ride my e-bike to each of my clients, creating soothing gardens and companionship in their yards. Like Dex, I find purpose in meeting people where they are, bringing comfort, and tending to what needs care. I am so grateful for the abundance I have in my life and the community I have the honor to serve. One day, I hope to live out my dream of disappearing into the forest with my husband and sheep, to simply experience what it means to be.

Contact Info:

  • Other: Howdy@earthbenders.org

Image Credits

Bear Belle

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your