Fresh Camp Part II

This summer we're teaming up with Dee Jay Doc to help maximize his Fresh Camp. If you were reading our blog last year, you know that we collaborated with the students, sharing some fresh things we were learning in Panama, while they shared some fresh things going on in Cleveland (check it out here).

I'm on the screen holding a chicken!

This year, we're actually back in Cleveland and getting involved in a bigger way. We'll be teaching and training students to grow their own fresh food in our local community garden!

Doc has been crafting this kind of youth work steadily for 15 years and the Fresh Camp is the culmination of his life's work and experiences. You can browse the indiegogo campaign to find out what's going on. If you regularly donate money to a church or other organizations, consider supporting us this month. We're trying to raise $6,000 in 40 days. 


Please consider sharing this with anyone you think would be interested in promoting the Fresh Camp to their friends through email, facebook, or networking.

Here's summary of what it's about:

At The FRESH Camp students explore what's FRESH in our neighborhood by visiting people and places where transformation is happening, such as, urban gardens. They look for FRESH ideas and learn how to grow fresh food. By critically thinking about what makes our neighborhood unique, they create their own vision for our community.

Professional artists-in-residence help youth use a music style they enjoy, hip-hop, to craft their message into song. They make beats in Beatmaker 2 on the Ipad, write lyrics, and record professionally. Then it's time to hit the streets with their message by rocking live performances and spreading their music through out Cleveland.

- Listen to the song from the 2011 pilot camp.

- Listen to the 6-song EP from last year's FRESH Camp.

- Read a write up from Fresh Water Cleveland.

- Read a write up from Cool Cleveland.

- Watch a TV broadcast from Neotropolis on PBS.

Youth grow in confidence, creativity, collaboration, and community action.
They learn digital music composition, persuasive lyric writing, performance, promotion and hard work.

Joel Salatin

We got to hear Joel Salatin speak the other night to a packed house at Hiram College. He's a pretty well known figure in today's agricultural world. It was good to hear someone talk right for a change (that is, with a southern accent).
He talked lots about the food industry, good/bad agricultural techniques, the importance of stewarding the earth. Nothing new if you've heard him before, but still, very entertaining and good to be around like-minded folks.
I tried to take a picture of him signing books, but it's kinda blurry. He looks like he's about to backhand this lady.

Come on Spring!

I mean, winter's good and all, but come on. It's mid March. We're ready for sun and birds and flowers and gardening!

We went to a seed starter gathering the other at a local church. Met some good folks and learned some good tips. I already started a few indoors.

A while back we took a train to New York to visit our good friend Denton and his girl Vanassa. I highly recommend train rides and good friends in New York.

In the meantime, we've been working part-time jobs, fixing up our 3rd floor space at Doc's house, and spending time with Selah and Mathéo.

Found some pallets and painted them.

Lynea and lists go together. Thanks to whiteboard paint, she can write lists on our wall each day.

Story-time

Thank you winter for being cold and unsunny. I promise to appreciate spring and summer more than ever.

The thing about snow

The thing I like about snow is that it reminds us that we aren’t in control. The very verb that we try to do all the time, “control”, is laughed at by snow. We can go inside, but it still snows. We can put on our jacket and snow hat to shield us from the flakes, but they still come. It disrupts traffic, messes up our schedules. It may even cancel school or work, or even worse, something fun.

The reason I like snow better than the other uncontrollable elements is that most of the time, it’s peaceful. It absorbs sound and renders all the normal noise quiet. Unlike rain, you can walk through it and not get soaking wet. You can enjoy it for long time, sledding, skiing, making snowmen or snowwomen.

This is what I thought about the other night as I walked peacefully through the snow. I thought about how I have spent the last year barefoot and shirtless most of the time, and how now, I’m wearing as many things as I can find. That’s because we live in Cleveland now. It’s good to have change.

A white Christmas in Cleveland

Being an uncle

I took my nephew to school today. As that statement sets in, I realize I'm getting pretty old.