The Gerk Family
Compassion and Climate Consciousness
Fiew Gerk and her kids, Ava and Kale, are fostering positive change through growing their own food, reducing waste, and volunteering in their favorite places and spaces — bringing along lessons learned in Thailand.
Tending to Their Roots
Fiew Gerk was born in Thailand, and started her family in the U.S. She and her kids, Ava and Kale, moved their way around Southern Oregon for several years, including homes and farms in Talent and Grants Pass, before settling in Ashland. Here, Ava and Kale appreciate living within walking distance of their schools, Willow Wind Community Learning Center and Ashland High School.
What else do they love about their home in Ashland? A big bonus, they say, is having space to grow heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables, with the goal of being self-sustainable and reducing food waste. The kids appreciate the open space for wildlife to thrive, too.
“We grow a lot of tomatoes, all kinds. We even have a chocolate one. My favorite is strawberries, watching them grow from flower into berry.”
– Ava Gerk
Time in Thailand
In 2023, Fiew enrolled her children in school for four months in the small village in Thailand where she grew up. “The school still doesn’t have air conditioning, but everyone stays cool with their own self-regulation methods,” Fiew shares. “Daily meditation is still practiced. Student gardening is still going strong. Every child helps clean the school each morning. In the U.S., that would be the janitor’s job—but there, it’s every student’s responsibility.”
Fiew also recalls that when she was younger, there was no running water in her neighborhood—families had to carry it from at least 30 meters away, and knew not to waste a drop. Food from the market was wrapped in banana leaves instead of plastic, and there wasn’t a lot of trash, she says, because people managed their household waste carefully. While some things have changed since then, many things remained the same during their stay.
“Not everything was all comfortable for Kale and Ava [in Thailand], but the key is learning how to adapt and make the most of the little you have—thoughtfully. If you have enough within, you are fulfilled.”
– Fiew Gerk
Small Actions, Big Impact
The Gerk family approaches sustainability through practical, everyday choices. At home, they tend to a worm garden that provides compost for their soil, and they’ve practice a number of simple strategies to reduce their environmental footprint, including:
- Reusing jars for drinking and food storage
- Conserving energy by using only necessary lights
- Shopping with cloth bags
- Taking short showers
- Walking to school to reduce car emissions
Reducing Waste Through Borrowing
The family also utilizes Ashland’s unique community resources, like the Jackson County Library of Things. From camping gear to microscopes, musical instruments to bike repair kits — the Library of Things offers a way to “try before you buy,” which helps keep materials out of the landfill for longer, and stops more new products from being made.
Engaging with the World Around Them
For ninth-grad Ava and fifth-grade Kale, their actions are more than just household habits—they’re a way of engaging with the world around them. Kale picks up trash in local parks regularly, bringing his own “grabbers” and trash bags. Sometimes, he’s even able to inspire his friends to join him.
Ava’s commitment to community is evident in her volunteer work at the Ashland library, where she gets to “meet so many people, help with events, and enjoy arts and crafts.”
“If you’re a kid learning about taking care of the environment, you’ll grow into an adult who can continue to do the same.”
– Fiew Gerk
Inspiring Individual Action
The Gerks believe in the power of individual action, and the small undertakings that add up to big community change. “Even if it’s a small number of people doing something, it inspires others to join in,” Fiew shares.
Looking ahead, the family has clear hopes for their community. Fiew envisions more bike-friendly infrastructure, noting that she believes Ashland is moving in the right direction to improve accessibility for cyclists with the new green bike lanes on Ashland Street. Kale wants to see more appreciation for parks, particularly Lithia Park, and Ava wholeheartedly agrees. In her opinion, “It’s about fresh air, meeting new people, and preserving land for wildlife.”
Community Care
When asked about pressing community issues, Ava speaks passionately about addressing homelessness. This was one of the main topics in Ava’s essay for the 2024 If I Were Mayor… contest, which she won locally for the middle school age group.
Her approach emphasizes support for basic needs, job access, and community resources that can help individuals build stable lives. “If we focus on the problems we have together, we can make Ashland a better place,” she says—a sentiment that captures the family’s collaborative spirit.
“I believe the key to helping this group of people is to make sure they have stable jobs and incomes. They need to have access to important necessities and support. Having places where they can access free showers as well as laundry machines would boost their chances at well-paying jobs.”
– Ava Gerk
Compassionate Choices
The Gerk family demonstrates that climate action and community care are deeply interconnected. Through their daily choices, volunteer work, and thoughtful engagement, they’re helping to shape a more sustainable and compassionate world.
Story Credits
Family
Fiew, Ava, and Kale Gerk
Author
Rachel Koning
Photography
Personal photos shared courtesy of The Gerk Family.