October 2026 Letter to Breastie Back-up Singers
Welcome to Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2026
Well, Breasties Community It’s October. Which means everything is pink, everybody suddenly remembers breasts exist, and those of us who have actually had breast cancer get to spend a whole month having very complicated feelings about “awareness.”
So we’re doing October our way. We’re going to talk about breast cancer, obviously. But I (Beverly) actually hate the color pink sooo…we’re also going to talk about the stuff that doesn’t fit neatly on a pink ribbon:
Bodies that changed, hair that left and came back weird, (Yours Truly)
Caregivers who are exhausted, gardens that got away from us, asking for help when you really hate asking for help, and what it means to build a life while cancer is happening—or years after everybody else assumes it’s over.
Because around here, breast cancer awareness is less about being aware that breast cancer exists and more about being aware of the actual people living through it.
And speaking of actual people…
LOOK WHO’S GROWING WITH US
When Britany and I started Backyard Breasties, there were a whole lot of conversations that began with, “Okay, but how the hell are we actually going to do that?” Turns out one answer is: find good people. This month, we get to introduce three women who have stepped up to take real pieces of this work off our very full plates:
Re’Shelle Brown
Claira Guerra-Bailey
S. Elizabeth Randsdell
You’ll be hearing more about each of them, what they’re taking on, and why they decided to throw their gloves into this particular garden. And that matters. Because every new person who helps us organize, write, plan, fundraise, volunteer, make connections—or simply get one more damn thing off the founders’ to-do list—means Britany and I have more capacity for the reason this whole thing exists: Breasties. Or honestly, any capacity at all. Without going into the dirty details, Britany, TJ ad I ALL got hit with rugged school commute details this year. Jayme had some horrific deaths and family emergencies.
We are emerging bruised but still committed to the woman around the corner recovering from surgery who can see her empty garden beds from her bedroom, the caregiver over in Santa Paula trying to keep the house, kids, pets and appointments moving, the person in treatment in Westlake who would really like somebody else to worry about the weeds for a minute and survivors who just need some time with someone who gets it. That has been the mission from the beginning.
Free Garden Support and Petsitting
And apparently we’re building ourselves a pretty good neighborhood to do it. Welcome, Re’Shelle, Claira and Elizabeth. Now somebody please hand them a shovel.— Beverly & Britany
P.S. Hahaha they wish…Re’Shelle is an expert in horticulture and aquaponics (stay tuned!) Claira has years fo expertise managing health care offices and Elizabeth is a published author. Read more on our Meet the Team page.
If you’ve been lurking around thinking, I’d like to help, but I don’t know what you need—October is a very good month to stop lurking. We need gardeners, organizers, connectors, event people, writers, fundraisers and regular humans willing to show up. You do not have to be a master gardener or a breast cancer survivor to be useful around here. Come to our Open House at Deeply Rooted this month to learn more and ask questions. And as always every dollar helps so please consider donating.
Limited Edition Sticker that will ONLY be available at Deeply Rooted on the 22nd