After record breaking and sustained cold and snow, Spring is here! The Sweet Water team is busy preparing for the coming growing season and (still) harvesting produce that has been growing in our hoop houses all winter long. So far, we have planted more than 10,000 seeds for the Sweet Water Community Farm and SWF Seedling Market that will be opening in early-to-mid May.
Beyond agriculture, the team used the indoor season to develop a new suite of SWF carpentry products and began deconstruction work in preparation for the renovation of the Civic Arts Church.
Last, but far from least, we engaged community via the Sankofa Living Memories Series and relaunch of the Seeding The Future program.
Read on below to learn more. We look forward to welcoming you soon to The Commonwealth.
There GROWS the neighborhood!
IN THIS ISSUE:
|
|
SWEET WATER STORIES
2021 - "Let's Get It Done"
|
|
|
SWF's NEW SUITE OF 'WASTE-TO-RESOURCE' PRODUCTS
Before the onset of SWF’s peak farming and programming season, the SWF team has worked hard to design + build a new suite of carpentry products that will be integrated into SWF’s daily practice, lessons for upcoming apprenticeship cohorts, and, in the future, available for sale to neighbors and visitors, alike. Read more.
|
|
|
SEEDING THE FUTURE [RE]LAUNCH
The Sweet Water team is excited to announce the relaunch of its newest program, Seeding The Future, which was scheduled to launch in Spring 2020, but paused due to the onset of COVID-19. In mid-February 2021, SWF began conducting weekly, virtual Urban Ecology lessons with 4th graders at neighborhood schools and distributed soil, seedlings, journals, and seeds to bring their lessons to life. Read more.
|
|
|
SANKOFA LIVING MEMORIES SERIES RECAP
In celebration of Black History Month, SWF embraced the practice of Sankofa, reaching back to the knowledge and wisdom of the past and bringing it into the present in order to build a more radical and imaginative future. The Sankofa Living Memories Series uplifted the wisdom of elders and ancestors and to share and preserve their memories and practices. Read more.
|
|
|
REFLECTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY
Living Memories
|
|
|
|
by Victoria Pratt Davis
During the four weeks in February set aside to reflect upon African American History, Sweet Water held a Friday afternoon series which they called Sankofa Living Memories. What a significant event to take place during Black History Month, dedicating time to gather, talk, and actively listen to the community folks and elders among us. It is a harsh reality that planners of our cities are rarely concerned with the cherished memories and human faces of the communities which they systematically devalue, disrupt, and displace. Choosing the West African Adinkra word and symbol of Sankofa was an insightful way to honor the wisdom of our African Ancestors, while celebrating the life works and experiences of our resident elders.... They shared stories of their work, their art, and decisions to participate in Sweet Water’s Vision for The Commonwealth. Click here to continue reading Victoria's reflection on the Sankofa Living Memories Series.
|
|
|
|
|
|
