Spring 2022 Reflection at The Commonwealth
Despite the fluctuating weather of spring 2022 -- with lots of rainy and cold days and a few very hot/humid days -- The Commonwealth was buzzing with activity in anticipation of the summer. SWF welcomed groups to The Commonwealth for hands-on field trips, relaunched Wellness Wednesdays, opened our Seedling Market and Farmer’s Market, and welcomed visitors for tours and workshops. Before we knew it, summer had arrived!
We invite you to take a moment to reflect on spring at The Commonwealth.
Field Trips
This spring, we welcomed groups of students from three schools for hands-on field trips. More than 25 second graders from Beasley Academic Center, who have participated in monthly Seeding The Future lessons with SWF since the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, were finally able to visit The Commonwealth during two field lessons in spring 2022. Barbara Sizemore Academy students attended the school’s first field trip at The Commonwealth since the beginning of the pandemic, welcoming its fourth grade students in June. SWF has been connecting virtually with Sizemore students for two years, and the entire team was excited to finally welcome them for their first visit in person. High school students from Evanston Township High School made the trek to Sweet Water Foundation for a halfday of hands-on activities to learn more about urban ecology and help prepare The Commonwealth for summer.
During each of the visits, students were split into groups to rotate through various hands-on, urban ecology activities including: examining plants to understand plant life cycles and learn the structures and functions of plant parts, participating in cooking demonstrations featuring berries and produce from the Community Farm, reclaiming space by spreading wood chips in the Community Garden, engaging in art activities such as nature printing and carving root vegetable stamps, exploring soil to understand the difference between soil and dirt; and observing insects(roly polys and worms) to understand the diversity of life at The Commonwealth. These field trips re-energized the SWF team to welcome groups and visitors for the remainder of the year.
Farm Prep, Seedling Market, and Farmer’s Market
This spring, the Sweet Water team focused on preparing the Community Farm and Community Garden for the upcoming season. We cultivated the land, and are now entering our period of abundance! In May, we opened our Seedling Market, distributing seedlings to hundreds of individuals who are growing their own food. Some of our regular market goers had never grown their own produce before this year, and have shared their success and excitement with us! Beginning in June, our Farmer’s Markets were in full swing for the harvest season, providing locally grown produce to the community every Friday between 12:00 - 2:00 with new items available each week. We hope to see you there!
Wellness Wednesdays and Civic Arts
In May, we re-started Wellness Wednesdays and Civic Arts activities with the SWF team and visitors. Every Wednesday, new and returning volunteers join the SWF team between 10:00 - 1:00 for Wellness Wednesdays, an opportunity for volunteers and the extended SWF community to help cultivate the land. Each week, we accomplished a lot of work on the Community Farm, which is followed by a farm fresh meal prepared by a SWF team + community members. So far, we have enjoyed SWF greens + beans and roasted potatoes, tostadas with fresh cilantro, chickpea “chicken” salad with pickled beets, cabbage with beans and rice, and more! If you are interested in joining us for an upcoming Wellness Wednesday, please email info@sweetwaterfoundaton.com.
In spring, we also relaunched the ritual of integrating art + culture into our weekly routines. Every week during our Seedling and Farmer’s Markets, we have a Civic Arts activity for the team and community to participate in. Team favorites include nature mosaics, nature prints, and natural dyeing with mulberries.
