Meditations on the Garden

2012.  What seeds will we plant?  What will we sow?  My very favorite teacher, Dr. Caroline “Isis” Fuqua said, “Whatever you plant, you’re going to have to eat.”

A big component of m.a.m.a. e a r t h is the work of resident papa, Eugene Cooke, urban farmer and the Grow Where You Are! movement.

Local Food Worldwide.

Just so you know what this m.a.m.a. e a r t h team is about, check out some of the things Eugene accomplished in 2011.

• Designing and managing operations for the largest urban farm in Atlanta, Truly Living Well Center for Urban Agriculture at Wheat St.  What can you do with a big slab of concrete where housing projects used to stand?  You can turn it into a living, breathing food system and vibrant, thriving hub of a community.  Check out this 3 minute video about Truly Living Well – you will be inspired!

• Planted over 100 fruit trees with volunteers in celebration of the 25th Dr. Martin Luther King day in Atlanta, Georgia.

• Took a research trip to Kenya from January-March, 2011

• Created home gardens in California

• Delivered a 4-part workshop series at Center for Living Peace. A place and a movement that is promoting a stronger sense of spirit and community for all.  This year, Center for Living Peace also hosted His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Charlize Theron and Sir Richard Branson.

• Hosted Dr. Cornel West and Tavis Smiley at Truly Living Well Wheat St. during their Poverty Tour.

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  Hosted Will Allen of Growing Power (retired NBA player and urban farmer in Milwaulkee) and other national urban growers at a strategy session in ATL.  Growing Power implements their mission by providing hands-on training, on-the-ground demonstration, outreach and technical assistance through the development of Community Food Systems that help communities gain equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for all.  Click here to learn more about Will Allen.
  

• Presented a lecture at the 2nd Annual Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners Conference in the Bronx, NY

• Consultant for farm projects and school development work in Jamaica with Brenda Isaacs of One Love Learning Foundation.
• Awarded 2011 Artist Project Grant from City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs to present “Expression Labs” project.  Art, Yoga, Dance and Live Food!

Eugene & the rest of the team at m.a.m.a. e a r t h are humbled by the scope of our work and look forward to more opportunities to be of service to our local and global communities.