"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
PAST PROJECTS
Boys & Girls Club of the North CountryRoot to Rise Launch Events |
With support from the Tillotson Fund's Empower Youth Grant, Root to Rise is working with the kids at the Boys & Girls Club of the North Country on a permaculture gardening program. The kids have built raised beds and an herb spiral for food production at the club, learned about working with cob and other natural building materials, practiced sheet mulching and building forts out of sunflowers and corn, and the kids help at the Mt. Sacred Heart Gardens, weeding, mulching and harvesting food for the local food pantries.
With the support from the New England Environmental Grassroots Fund, Root to Rise held two launch events: On May 24th at Schilling Brewing Company and on May 25th at Reklis Brewing Company. At these events, Root to Rise shared its mission, learned about potential projects and partnerships, and fostered inspiring conversation and relationship building with community members. These events built the soil and foundation for Root to Rise's work this summer.
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intensive permaculture design workshop at reklis brewing company |
With the support of the Dorr Foundation on July 5th - 12th Root to Rise led an intensive permaculture design workshop at Reklis Brewing Company. This intensive included base mapping the site, a detailed analysis and assessment of current ecological systems, articulating the goals of the owners, and the creation of a design for the property that included pollinator plants, shade trees, kitchen herbs for use on-site, and social gathering spaces. The students presented their final designs to the owners, community and state leadership, and the media. |
Two Permablitz workshops led by Root to rise at Reklis Brewing Company |
On July 31st and August 14th, Root to Rise hosted two Permablitz workshops, a hands-on experiential learning model where participants work together, learn together, and share together. During our two permablitz workshops, we engaged more than 40 people and taught them how to sheet mulch, build structures using recycled, natural materials, work with on-site stormwater solutions, harvest existing wild crops on-site, convert lawn space to garden space, and integrate pollinator plants and habitats into the landscape, all of which came from the designs completed by the students this summer. In an effort to support Root to Rise and all the work completed this summer, Reklis Brewing Company has made a Permablitz beer with wild sumac harvested on their property. One dollar of every Permablitz beer purchase comes back to Root to Rise for future permablitz workshops!!
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