Summer of Solutions' August Gathering 2010!

Hey SoS Team!

This is a letter I wrote in collaboration with the August Gathering SoS National team, for the purpose of thanking donors for their support of our gathering. My own personal experience at this event was phenomenol! I most remember enjoying the green jobs / making it real stuff, especially the Know Your Farmer brainstorm session. It was fantastic seeing the people we'd been working with all year and watching them interact with OMNI Center & Fayetteville. I still think about those moments, even today walking to the library, my thoughts fluctuated between "ooh, autumn leaves!" and "ooh, august gathering!" This solutionary work is super imporatant and exciting, as it is guiding my career path and pretty much consumes my daily life. For example: yesterday we rearranged the apartment furniture, which was a nice change of pace! Now there is space for an SoS meeting in our living room. See? Always about SoS in some way :) I'll be attaching one of Michelle's photos from the gathering, or multiple pics, in a moment. And the letter / report:

Thank you for supporting Grand Aspirations - Summer of Solutions August Gathering! Youth participants representing 8 cities attended the gathering in Fayetteville, Arkansas from August 14^th - 18^th 2010.

Youth leaders engaged topics ranging from social entrepreneurship to anti-oppression for collective liberation in workshops, discussions, and listening circles. The most popular sessions included program sharing, green job creation, and one-on-one time with peers, in which participants learned strategies of successful programs while reflecting on ways to improve them next year. Gathering in one place also allows Grand Aspirations to observe key components of each city's program, including demographics, fundraising methods, and facilities such as housing. Attendees noted that meeting one another and sharing inspirational stories was one of the most valuable benefits of the event.

“We have individual personal motivation towards each person's own goal to realize sustainability in the future. This gives diversity and awesomeness!” -Joe, West Virginia

During the gathering, participants contributed to significant organizational decisions that will improve development and communication for future Summer of Solutions programs, including creating a set of guidelines for new programs, national media strategies, and envisioning our future direction as a non-profit. These decisions are improving Grand Aspirations' national cohesion, program support, and quality of results.

“Even more important than training leaders is what those leaders will do.” - Serena, Arkansas

Youth leaders within Grand Aspirations who attended the gathering have already begun creating resources for future events, including a planning guide for running a national gathering from start to finish. These steps, along with your support, ensure the sustainability and future success of the Summer of Solutions projects happening all around the country.

“It's the goal of our program to create something that lasts beyond the summer.” - Casey, Minnesota

At its conclusion, the gathering was thoroughly evaluated by attendees, who noted that it was overall very successful while ensuring improvements for next year in areas such as geographic accessibility and increasing communication among the various programs.

This enormous confluence of inspiration and solutionary action was made possible through your generous donation of cliff bars to Grand Aspirations. Thank you once again for your support!

Out of order

As always, my abilities to keep track of days and blog accordingly have failed me, so while this post is dated for Sunday, it's actually about the amazing time SoS Fayetteville had on Thursday and Friday.

In early July, I interviewed Mark Cain of Dripping Springs for my Know-Your-Farmer project over a late lunch at Taste of Thai. It was a pleasant, relaxed conversation. We lingered well past the last of the lunchtime crowd. When we did finally finish and part ways, Mark invited our entire SoS team to come tour and garden, and complimented the color of my car.

So Thursday, August 12^th was devoted to that visit.

There were several changes of date and time, so we had a few hiccups actually beginning our journey out to the garden. Google maps told us it was at least an hour outside of town. But after winding our way through county roads and gravelly drives, after I nearly killed the bottom of my Taurus trying to climb over gates and hills, we arrived! At least an hour late, but nonetheless excited. The initial reactions, in my car at least, were all the same: wonder. The flowers and vegetables were thriving with a living color (!) and vibrancy. The placing of the garden, the buildings, everything seemed so natural.

First, Mark briefly showed us his beautiful house that his friend designed, all made out of local timbers. It was magnificent, but not in a flashy way. Just beautiful. Then, armed with an Asian rice hat, we headed outside to help the interns start planting the seedlings for next spring’s flowers.

There were two rows of landscape fabric lined with identical holes. Nancy, Ryan, and _____ showed us how to dig holes into the rocky soil and stick our little green guys in, quick, and cover 'em back up. And you had to get down deep, or it would kill the plants. Mark had to correct several of mine. It was relatively easy, though, and so soon we were on to our next task: weeding the potatoes. I still have some thorns embedded in my pinky from that little adventure. We basically ripped up all the green stuff and threw potatoes that were unearthed into Saba’s bucket. Weeding concluded with Joel and Michelle’s arrival and Stephan eating a cricket.

“It didn’t taste like anything.”

We finished weeding another bed, and then it was quittin time. We got to go down to the creek. Through a bamboo forest. To the most pristine little swimmin’ place. Gives Wattle Hollow a run for it’s water. Michelle’s pictures will do it better justice than my words, so I’ll leave it at wonderful.

Then we dried off and set up on the porch for yoga. Apparently, the entire Dripping Springs crew does Ashtanga yoga, led by Mark, every day. Mark did not mess around, according to the child of a yoga master. I think everyone kept up pretty well, but Mark did not baby us. It was great. I hadn’t practiced yoga since I took from Mrs. Caffrey at the end of 11^th grade, but I felt good about my abilities on Thursday. Until we got to the standing-on-one-leg-grab-your-toes-from-the-other-side-of-your-body-stick-your-leg-out-breathebreathebreathebreathebreathe-pose. But basically only Mark could do that. And Joel.

Then we swam in wonderland creek again, and then we ate delicious organic homegrown veggies enchiladas and salad and melons lunch, prepared by the other female intern whose name escapes me for the time being and who went to market with Michael that day (meaning to make all that food for us she had to get up at like 4 or something). Basically, their hospitality was astounding.

After lunch we all sat out on the porch and I asked Mark my follow-up questions and we had a long, relaxin’ conversation about all things Dripping Springs. And after that came to a natural close, we decided to do the tour. And then we realized it was 5:42. Five hours had passed like twelve minutes. It was crazy. But it also felt so appropriate. They definitely have a different way of life out there, and I liked it a lot. Several of us left that day seriously considering applying for an internship next year.

That’s a whole lot just for Thursday, but it was a very full day. I think Friday can be summed up pretty concisely. The U of A sent over 14 ROCK Camp volunteers, incoming freshmen who want to move in early and make friends before school starts. My future classmates. So we tackled pesto makin’, sign design, bamboo construction, and OMNI cleaning. They worked hard. Not a whole lot to report. It was work-filled morning, and most people trickled away by the afternoon, excited for the Gathering.

And now we’re in the middle of it, and it’s great, and I’m glad I’m finally finishing this post.

Love,
Andrea

August Gathering Begins

What a brilliant force - impassioned people united for a common cause - led by the omnipresent truths inherent within us all- to hammer out the reality that we know to be true in our deepest thoughts.

There is a great awakening taking place. It is our hope. It is life.

There are efforts taking place. It is community action and world action.

How can we strengthen one another? How can we ensure we take the road to victory? Order, method, and communication. Sweat equity in diverse places and sharing the valuable knowledge gained from it. Training and discipline in executing the necessary steps to reach goals. Discipline in developing the skill of foresight to know what obstacles lie ahead and how they must be overcome.

Freedom, equality and harmonious thrivance are goals we pursue.

Victory, not for self-edification, but for the edification of humanity. The battle is the mending of the world and nurturing the seed of a new vision.

August 9th and 10th.

Yesterday, a few of the SoS members were at our Monday meeting. This meeting consisted of the August Gathering agenda, brief touches of other events coming up (such as Rock Camp), and general facilitation over preparations for these events. The meeting was surprisingly long, lasting for about two hours. Overall, it went well and roles were decided quickly. After the meeting, I went outside to weed and to water the plants. Always have to keep up with our garden~

Today I couldn't do much with the garden, even if it wasn't my day to do so. However, Adam and I planted a marigold right next to the peppers and tomatoes in the mulched garden. It adds a bit of color to the garden, other than green~ We also revised information about selling the rain barrels such as the prices for the barrels themselves and all the different packages. He also sketched out a simple diagram of how the irrigation system would work. At ten more people started showing up for the Rock Camp meeting. Though I wouldn't be able to attend it, I listened to the plans. When I returned home, I created a rough draft of a rain barrel flier. However, I will have to send it to Karen before I use it.

August 4th and 5th

Hello friends!

The past two days have been generally successful.

Thursday morning, most of the SoS team accompanied Adam to the SAF Gardens. The gardens have donated lots of produce in the past few weeks, and so we wanted to volunteer to show our support. They worked for a couple of hours there, then returned to OMNI to do more work. I hope that we make a habit of it in the future.

I wasn't personally able to attend the SAF volunteer work, mostly because I spent my morning working on fliers. I have nearly perfected my messaging for my project called Green Food Solutions (Check out my blog, the paper year, for more info.) , so I made a simple flier to spread the word. Furthermore, I'm giving a cooking demonstration at the Farmer's Market on Tuesday, August 17. During training, I promised myself I would begin advertising by August 5. So, naturally, I had to crack down.

After finishing the fliers, I went to OMNI to join the rest of the team. It was a quiet day, and I worked on recipes for an upcoming cooking class. A very successful meeting with my potential coworker/boss left me giddy and empowered. I went in to tell Ryan, Amanda, and Gladys the news, and we giggled for awhile.

That evening, I handed out fliers at the First Thursday art opening at the Underground. It was satisfying to have something to show to people -- an emblem of our hard work. I think it was a general success. While I was there, I ran into Joel, Banah, and Andrea who were also enjoying the art.

Today, Friday, I got to OMNI late to find Banah, Joel, Adam, and Stephan all working on the bamboo beds outside. The details have escaped me., but I know they've been very innovated, utilizing knew materials in creative ways. I think that project has united the team more than any other.

Earlier that morning, Amanda, Andrea, Stephan, and Ryan (correct me if I'm forgetting someone) went to a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce building. They talked, briefly, about an upcoming event during August Gathering (Structured as a board meeting, different cities will cite their successes and challenges for each other and the public.). While the meeting at the Chamber generally went well, there was little to no promise about future funding. Furthermore, there seemed to be a general air of competition versus comradary. This especially came up while discussing other cities that might attend AG. Like Joel mentioned in his blog, the SoS community is an oasis of support. Sometimes we forget the actualities of the outside world. Rather than let them bring us down, however, I find them to be a call to action. Working to shift these unpleasant realities is the next step to making a generally supportive community.

Back at Omni, Banah whipped up a delicious meal of vegetables and rice around 1:00. We ate as a team, and Amanda made note that our community meals are expanding. Too true! It's comforting to be able to eat as a group -- it fosters a sense of family and security. I remember the first few meals I ate at Omni, sitting alone in the main room. How it's changed! In a way, we are eating our vision. We are proving that it can be done. And I find that satisfying.

Sometime after lunch, Ryan and Amanda were part of the August Gathering call. While exhausting, it proved productive. Because much of the team woke up early to make the meeting, there was a Friday-afternoon laze in the air. It was slightly overcast, and Adam and Ryan both took mini naps in the library. Joining them looked ridiculously tempting.

Later in the afternoon, Joel and I worked on editing the sponsorship letter. We both wanted to personalize it without making it any less legitimate. Kelsy, who drafted the letter format, did a really excellent job; I am very grateful for her help. With that, I went home, leaving much of the team still at Omni. Who knows what they accomplished afterward!

We're missing Karina, who left for the Carolinas this morning. Regardless, she'll keep in touch via internet and continue working at her own pace. I can't believe that by the time she gets back it will be August Gathering!

Thank you all for your time and support. A team's a team's a team...

Have a lovely weekend!
-Serena

August 3rd and 4th

Yesterday, Tuesday, was a typical (I use this word loosely) workday for our Summer of Solutions team. To start off the morning, I met with my newly recruited mentor Sage Billig. She and her sister run a garden that supports the only urban CSA in Fayetteville from their adjacent homes in the south of town. It was really nice to be able to see their garden and be able to talk to someone who experiences and is knowledgeable in urban agriculture. While I was talking to Sage, Adam and Shiew-wen were working on improving the bed that we have installed at the library; they put down a layer of cardboard beneath the mulch. Adam hopes that this technique will help the bed hold at least some moisture as the days grow progressively hotter. During our Monday meeting, we discussed the importance of maintaining and bettering the library plots and so have picked up our efforts. Adam went so far as to create a detailed manual of all of the tasks that have yet to be done.

Later on, Serena and I went to Ozark Natural Foods to buy the remainder of the food that she wasn't able to get at the Farmer's Market for our community meal tonight (Wednesday). Stephan had a good morning filled with promising clients for his Lay of the Land database and only one rejection by 12:30. Andrea completed her first draft of her interview with Sycamore Farms and is finishing up the one highlighting farmer Jesse. Banah continued her search of the ever elusive food providers for the the Fayetteville Public Schools cafeterias. And the rest of the team, of course, kept at it and only escape getting mentioned because I failed to notice their specific actions.

This morning (Wednesday), Banah, Andrea and I worked outside for about an hour and a half on the bamboo beds intended for the library. Even without Adam's physical presence, we were able to make progress thanks the the previously mentioned manual. Although it started heating up by the time we retired to the indoors, it feels so good to have accomplished something so obviously tangible. That, along with the pleasure of simply being outdoors and being able to ride my bike this morning, has put me in a great mood. It is refreshing. Tonight is our community meal scheduled for 6:00. The menu (put together by Serena) looks premium and I look forward to being able to just sit back and enjoy the meal with our team.

-Joel

August 1st and 2nd

Sunday night the SoS team gathered on Shelley Buonaiuto's creek for our Green Fire training. We first shared various cultural dishes with each other, like bagels, feta cheese, and macaroni and cheese. After playing in the creek for a little bit (and discovering some good swimmin' holes), the team gathered around the campfire to begin training. Ryan and Amanda led us through a couple exercises where we discussed the concept of race and oppression. We discussed our "green fires"--everyday motivations to fight social injustices-- that is, why we do what we do.


Monday morning we met again as a team at the OMNI Center for the group update. A brief, brief summary: Shiew-wen's on her rain barrels, Adam's working on the OMNI and library gardens, Karina is researching bringing local produce into soup kitchens, Havilah is putting together her proposal to the mayor for her window gardens, Kelsy created awesome Sponsorship and Thank-You note templates, Andrea is working on her Know-Your-Farmer program, Jeanie is fundraising and researching the Mobile Marketplace project, I'm working on my program to bring local produce and a community garden to Root Elementary, Joel is working to create a community garden in an economically instable area, Serena is launching her cooking classes and Stephan is finding clients for his Lay of the Land database that tracks people's resources and makes them accessible. Want more specific information? Check out our individual blogs or email sosfayetteville@gmail.com. And we always need volunteers! ( For example, Adam really needs people to help him on the bamboo project everyday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.)
Twenty days left of the program; eleven until August Gathering.
GO TEAM GO!

-Banah
p.s. Community meal Wednesday night 6 p.m. at the OMNI Center! All are welcome! Especially, especially volunteers and partners.

A Change in Season: July 29th Fundraiser

The art show A Change in Season on July 29th, 2010 was a fundraiser to support the Summer of Solutions program. All the art in the show was created by local artists and was auctioned off silently. The art show was a huge success; several people attended and donated to the SoS cause!





Pieces of Lloyd, a local band who volunteered to play at the art show.





Global Chair


A chair designed by Amanda Bancroft featured at the art show- several candy wrappers from around the world were glued to the chair.





Day of Change

This is one side of the rain barrel that Shiew-Wen Tan and Andrea Love painted for the art show. It's called Day of Change because the city on the barrel starts out polluted in the day time...





... and becomes a green city at night!

Farmer Jesse's: June 25th

We met Farmer Jesse, a local farmer diagnosed with cancer, in early April. The Summer of Solutions team decided to make it a part of our mission to help local farmers like Farmer Jesse to integrate their products into the food system. We took a field trip to his farm on June 25th to learn valuable skills by harvesting potatoes.

 

 

Serena, Jeanie, and Annemarie are assisted by farmer Jesse's children in harvesting garlic.      

    Jesse's son, Joshua, eats a slice of watermelon on the porch during lunch.

 

Day Two Training: June 15, 2010

Some of the fresh blueberries picked from Jeanie's farm.



Amanda picks blueberries.



The blueberries at the bottom of the 2-gallon picking bucket.



Andrea, Joel, and Adam on team bamboo.



Joel ties the bamboo to the car.





Amanda, Havilah, and Jeanie hang out after picking blueberries.





Shiew-wen watches as David from Brickhouse Kitchen demonstrates cooking a dish with fresh, local ingredients.

Day One Training: Monday, June 14, 2010

Katie D. teaches Shiew-wen, Amanda, and Ryan about the garlic Amanda planted last year.





A closer view of the garlic harvested.



Adam collects soil to be tested for pollution.



Andrea finds Obama hiding in the back room.