Sweet Water News: Volume 4, Issue 2

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Sweet Water Foundation News: Volume 4, Issue 2 View this email in your browser Help us GROW the neighborhood! THERE GROWS THE NEIGHBORHOOD Sweet Water News In February, the Sweet Water Community celebrated Black History Month with workshops, conversations, and events that focused on our ancestors, history, and legacy. We welcomed Rick Lowe for an intimate conversation in Gallery at [Re]Construction House, activated The Thought Barn during an arts+culture workshop for kids and their families, and shared memories with elders and local residents during a card making event.  As the weather warms up and the days get longer, The Commons is beginning to bustle with activity. In March, SWF will launch Seeding the Future, a pilot program that will engage elementary students from nearby schools in hands-on, project-based learning experiences that follow the seed-to-table process. We will also begin hosting volunteer days, events, and finalize preparations for the Spring 2020 Academy Cohort.  We look forward to seeing you at The Commons soon! There GROWS the Neighborhood! IN THIS ISSUE: Sweet Water Stories - Celebrating Black History Humans of Sweet Water - Meet Victoria Pratt Davis Events - Find Out What's Happening @ The Commons Recipes - Hominy and Spinach in Tomato-Garlic Broth from 'Afro-Vegan' Tips and Tricks - Transforming Wastes to Resources Photos - Winter @ The Commons Spread the Love - Help us GROW The Neighborhood! REGENERATIVE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT   Sweet Water Stories ARTIST TALK | A CONVERSATION WITH RICK LOWE On Tuesday, February 11, renowned artist, activist, and MacArthur Fellow, Rick Lowe, joined Emmanuel Pratt for the February Artist Talk at the Gallery at [Re]Construction House. This conversation was the first of a series of talks between Rick and Emmanuel that will be hosted at The Commons in 2020.  During their first conversation, Rick talked about his journey as an artist, activist, builder, and collaborator with Project Row Houses. Click here to read more. CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY THROUGH ART In February, Sweet Water Foundation hosted two arts + culture workshops at The Commons in celebration of Black History Month. More than 40 participants - children, their families, elders, local residents, and SWF team members - engaged in the workshops, through which participants had an opportunity to celebrate their ancestors, history, and legacy through art. Click here to read more. ARTS, CULTURE, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WORKING GROUP AT THE COMMONS On Wednesday, January 29, Sweet Water Foundation hosted ArtPlace America’s Arts, Culture, and Workforce Development Working Group at The Commons.  A diverse group of more than 35 workforce leaders, policymakers, investors, researchers, artists, and community activists engaged in a half-day experience focusing on how arts and culture can be used to enhance workforce development programs. Click here to read more. PEOPLE Humans of Sweet Water HUMANS OF SWEET WATER... Meet Victoria Pratt Davis. Known by the Sweet Water community as ‘Mama Victoria,’ she serves as a vital source of inspiration, wisdom, and counsel for Sweet Water Foundation as a key member of its Board of Elders. One of the many contributions to Sweet Water Foundation that she has made is sharing her gifts as a writer. Click here to learn more about Victoria and read a piece she wrote about Sweet Water’s work, Seeds For Change. EVENTS What's Happening at The Commons?   WED MAR  11   Volunteer Day at The Commons Join the Sweet Water community as we GROW the neighborhood. Help prepare The commons for spring + summer. Activities include laying wood chips and soil, general site cleanup, deconstruction of wood, seeding, painting, organization, and more! Date | March 11, 2020 Time | 10 am - 1 pm Volunteers should wear comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes and bring a water bottle and sun protection.  Registration is requested. Click here to register. THURS APRIL  23   SAVE-THE-DATE:  Exhibition Opening The Commonwealth | Coming Soon, A Community for You  On April 23, Sweet Water will open its latest exhibition in the Thought Barn. Save-the-Date for an opening reception as we re-imagine and plan for the next phase of SWF's work - The Commonwealth.  More information to come. VISIT SWEETWATERFOUNDATION.COM/EVENTS FOR MORE INFO   RECIPES   Hominy and Spinach in Tomato-Garlic Broth from 'Afro-Vegan' This month, we invite you to try this recipe by renowned chef, Bryant Terry. The recipe is a fusion of Nigerian and North American cuisines and is a perfect option for a cold day. The SWF team has continued to experiment with and learn from growing in the hoop houses. Some of the cold weather crops - like the spinach needed for this recipe - are ready for harvest. Not only is spinach highly nutritious, it also adds color to this beautiful red broth.  We hope you enjoy this recipe for Hominy and Spinach in Tomato-Garlic Broth from Bryant Terry's book Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed.   1 cup dried small hominy, soaked in water overnight and drained well 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 cup diced carrot 1/2 cup diced red onion 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt 7 cloves garlic, minced 1 (28-ounce) can plum tomatoes with juices, chopped 5 cups vegetable stock, homemade or store-bought Sunflower oil, for deep-frying 1 cup packed minced spinach Freshly ground white pepper 2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley To try this recipe, click here.   TIPS & TRICKS Turning "Waste" to Resources  Do It Yourself: Water Bottle Planter Do you know where your plastic water bottles go after you throw them away or recycle them? According to National Geographic, there is a "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" where microplastics from our garbage and recycling accumulate in giant mounds.  Sweet Water Foundation continually seeks to transform "wastes" to resources. This year, the farm team will be working with three neighborhood schools for the inaugural year of its Seeding the Future Program. The team will visit each school in March to introduce students to the program and to SWF's practice. One activity each student will participate in will be to transform wastes into resources: starting seeds inside a plastic water bottle. This is an easy and fun activity for learners of all ages and a great way to get your seedlings started for spring. A thank you to Seattle Sundries for the step by step instructions. PHOTOS Winter @ The Commons Show Your Support Visit our Amazon Wishlist. 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