Spring has sprung! Despite a few rainy (and snowy) days, daily activities have begun to shift outdoors and The Commons is welcoming more and more visitors daily. During the month of April, SWF hosted its first farm-to-table dinner of the season in the Lightbox Theater + Gallery and also began hosting volunteers every Wednesday to help on the farm and in the Work-Shop. The SWF team continues to prep The Commons for upcoming events and finalize summer activities.
This month, take a moment to read how SWF's team is spreading the practice of Regenerative Neighborhood Development across the City of Chicago and beyond. We also invite you to read how SWF is utilizing art at The Commons and providing a much-needed space for an intergenerational audience to express creativity and stories through art. We look forward to seeing you at The Commons this spring! There GROWS the Neighborhood!
IN THIS ISSUE:
Sweet Water Stories- Radical Imaginations and new partnerships @ The Commons
Meet Jesse Blom...Jesse has been part of the Sweet Water family since 2010 when he worked with SWF to cultivate partnerships with schools and community groups across Milwaukee and Chicago. Although his professional journey has led him to his current role as Executive Director of the Green Heart Project in Charleston, South Carolina, Jesse continues to be a close collaborator and an extended member of the SWF team. Green Heart Project uses agriculture as a tool for personal development, education, and community engagement, and will be developing an urban garden in downtown Charleston. SWF is excited to feature Jesse as a partner and lifelong member of the SWF family.
WEEKLY VOLUNTEER DAYS: Join the Sweet Water community as we prepare for the 2019 farming season! Each Wednesday from May 8 - May 29, SWF is looking for 10 volunteers to help us prepare the farm. Activities include: clearing out rows, tilling, laying down woodchips and soil, and transplanting.
Remake Learning Days: Radical Imaginations @ The Commons
Sweet Water Foundation is excited to take part in the Remake Learning Days Chi festival. The festival, presented by theChicago Learning Exchange (CLX), will turn Chicago into an open and dynamic learning laboratory with more than 100 hands-on, learning opportunities in schools, museums, libraries, parks, and community centers across the city. All ages are welcome. Activities will include seed starting and transplanting, movement workshops, and nature-inspired art.
SAVE-THE-DATE: 2nd Annual Juneteenth @ The Commons
Save-the-date for Sweet Water Foundation's annual celebration of freedom and community. Free food, music, arts + craft, community-building and more.
More details coming soon.
STAY TUNED FOR OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS AT
THE COMMONS
RECIPES
Onion and Chive Bread
One of the first plants to start sprouting this spring at The Commons were chives. Often overlooked as a type of grass, chives are perennial herbs in the allium family that taste similar to onions. Mix chives into mashed potatoes, garnish a main dish with them, or sprinkle chopped chives on top of a fresh arugula and kale salad for an extra bit of flavor. This month, add freshly chopped chives to this Onion and Chive Bread recipe by Pattie from Olla-Podrida. This bread recipe is simple, flavorful, and can be eaten at any time of the day!
Got Rain Barrels?
Help us reduce our water usage buy donating an unused rain barrel and/or purchasing a new rain barrel. Click the image above to purchase the best priced rain barrels, as recommended by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
