Jane Hirshfield's professional journey is marked by diverse experiences that shaped her as a poet and thinker. After graduating from college in 1973, she began her first job as a farm laborer in Rocky Hill, New Jersey, while living in a red Dodge van adapted into a comfortable living space. This period of her life involved eight years of formal Zen training, intertwined with various jobs, including driving a lumber truck during her time at Green Gulch, part of the San Francisco Zen Center. Although she hasn’t written about the truck driving experience, she has shared its relevance in connecting with students when teaching poetry.
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In her life, Jane has also been a devoted horse enthusiast, sharing a long partnership with several horses, including Flame, her chestnut Arabian gelding who lived for thirty-two years. This passion for horses led her to serve as a Volunteer Mounted Patrol Park Ranger, and she often reflects on her riding experiences. Her poem about an aged quarter horse captures the bond between horses and their deep emotional connections.
From 1979 to 1982, Jane was a dinner chef at Greens Restaurant, which became known for bringing vegetarian cuisine into the mainstream. She has often commented that her culinary experiences have inspired many of her food-related poems, emphasizing that her writing about food is rooted in her personal love of cooking and eating.
In recent years, she has taken up mushroom foraging and is familiar with several types of mushrooms, expressing joy in discovering the names of various species. Jane is a member of the Marin Mycological Society and appreciates the beauty found in nature.
Her firefighting experience began in 1977 when she assisted in brush clearing for the Marble Cone Fire while living at the Tassajara Zen monastery. Jane has expressed that witnessing forest fires has profoundly impacted her perspective on climate change and environmental challenges.
In the realm of science, Jane has increasingly integrated scientific concepts into her poetry, founded Poets for Science in 2017, and actively participated in advocacy for science. Her reading at the March for Science in Washington, D.C., to an audience of thousands highlights her commitment to this cause.
Jane Hirshfield is recognized as one of today’s leading poets, authoring ten poetry collections, including her most recent work, "The Asking: New & Selected Poems" (2023). She has received numerous accolades, including fellowships from prestigious foundations and has served in various teaching roles, including as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets.