Fall 2019 at The Commons has been jam-packed with weekly events, educational programming, and a steady stream of visitors. This October, SWF welcomed a new cohort of Urban Ecology Apprentices for the fall Sweet Water Academy session, engaging young adults in project-based learning that spans art, agriculture, carpentry, design, and ecology.
With the end of the year in sight and cold weather in the air, the Sweet Water team has begun to finalize outdoor projects and move work indoors to the Work-Shop, Think-Do House, and Hoop Houses. In November, SWF will continue to host community events including the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival Neighborhood Tour Performance on Saturday, November 23.
There GROWS the Neighborhood!
IN THIS ISSUE:
Feature Story - [Re]Construction House Opening at The Commons
[Re]Construction House Built, 1891. Re-rooted, 2019.
On Saturday, September 28, 2019, Sweet Water Foundation (SWF) unveiled its latest transformation project - [Re]Construction House at The Commons - an art gallery and co-living space for the SWF community. [Re]Construction House at The Commons is the physical manifestation of Regenerative Neighborhood Development applied to the rehabilitation of an abandoned home. A home that once stood vacant and degenerating has been brought back to life and now stands as a vibrant place of commoning.
On October 3, 2019, the SWF core team gathered in the kitchen of the Think Do House to learn how to make yogurt from Human-In-Residence, Jen Rae. Jen transported the yogurt culture from her home in Australia to Chicago for Then a Cunning Voice - Food to Be Experienced, an overnight performance event at Calumet Park on September 28, and then brought it to The Commons during her residency to share the practice of yogurt making with SWF. Read More...
HUMANS-IN-RESIDENCE: THE BLACK SCHOOL RESIDENCY AT THE COMMONS
In early August 2019, Sweet Water Foundation welcomed Shani Peters and Joseph Cullier III, Co-Directors of The Black School, to The Commons for a 10-day Humans-in-Residence immersion. The Black School is “an experimental art school teaching Black/PoC students and allies to become agents of change through art workshops on radical Black politics and public projects that address local community needs.” Read More...
OCTOBER 2019 | HAPPENINGS AT THE COMMONS
Fall 2019 has been a busy season at The Commons. Despite cooler weather and shorter days, groups of people from all walks of life have continued to visit Sweet Water Foundation for tours, events, and workshops. From hands-on field lessons-to-"disorientation” tours-to-staff retreats, the SWF team has welcomed visitors from across the globe throughout September and October to learn about and engage in Regenerative Neighborhood Development. Read more...
PEOPLE
Humans of Sweet Water
HUMANS OF SWEET WATER...
Meet Zainab Firdausi. Zainab was first introduced to Sweet Water Foundation via Yash Kumbhat, a high school friend and SWF Summer 2018 Fellow. Having just completed a research project on segregation in India, she was intrigued by what she heard about SWF’s practice of Regenerative Neighborhood Development as an innovative approach to address similar issues in the U.S. This month, we invite you to learn more about Zainab’s experience at Sweet Water Academy Fellow. Read more.
EVENTS
What's Happening at The Commons?
SAT
NOV
23
Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival Neighborhood Tour
Join us at The Commons on November 23 from 11 am - 1 pm for the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival Neighborhood Tour performance.
The puppet show is free, but space is limited. Registration is requested.
Re-Root + Redux at the Chicago Architecture Biennial at the Chicago Cultural Center
Check out Re-Root + Redux, SWF's contribution to the 2019 Chicago Architecture Biennial. The installation is on display at the Chicago Cultural Center through January 5, 2020.
Even though it is nearing the end of the growing season, cool weather crops (collards, kale, chard) are still growing in abundance on SWF's Community Farm! This year, the SWF team maintained a small pumpkin patch at the back of the farm to harvest in the fall. In October, SWF harvested pumpkins to use as a pop of color for decorations, to bake, and to cook! Pumpkins are a highly nutritious type of squash that are high in vitamins and minerals. They can be cooked and pureed to add to pies or soups and are perfect for fall! This month, we invite you to warm up with this Harvest Pumpkin Leek Soup by Marzia from Little Spice Jar.
3 tablespoons butter
2 leeks, cleaned and thinly sliced
½ cup chopped onions
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
6 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1 (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons maple syrup (more to taste)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage AND freshthyme
¼ teaspoon EACH: ground cinnamon AND cayenne pepper (omit for a mild soup or use more if you want it spicier)
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.
