Growing Our Future

SSG Lacy “Mc” McDonald is joined by Janett Lewis with Rustic Roots Sanctuary. Her involvement in Spanish Lake began as a business investment but became a calling. She quickly fell in love with the land and the people, choosing to stay and pour her passion into the community. Janett developed programs to touch on all of her impact-driven passions — from sustainability to community development and youth engagement.

Stephen Lucke is joined by Project Sweetie Pie with Mr. Michael Chaney. Project Sweetie Pie works with neighborhood residents, non-profits of all sizes, universities, members of faith communities, friends, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and others to challenge the status quo. Project Sweetie Pie is the story of a city that came together and worked together on a common goal, for the common good of the youth and families of its community; for it takes a village to raise a child. We believe everyone lends a hand in achieving justice. We believe in co-creation and co-design and provide a supportive atmosphere where individuals work collaboratively as one team. 

Stephen Lucke is joined by Julius Buzzard with Growing Hope. Julius found his home in Ypsilanti in 2013, and never looked back. He spent the formative years of his career within the local nonprofit and education sectors and always created ways to tie his passion for growing and environmental justice into each context. Developing meaningful and intentional relationships with the community is at the core of everything Julius does—knowing that together, we can foster a safe, caring and just food system and community as a whole. Julius has lived a life with his hands in the dirt.

Check out this podcast from the @biggreen DAO 2024 Annual Conference 🌱

Stephen Lucke is joined by Ivory Sambula. She works for Mo'Betta Green, a farmer's market in Denver, Co’s Historic Five Points. The initiative promotes wellness and urban farming. Listen to her story of how she got involved and how she created Elementals Creates!

#sustainability #SanAntonio #GardopiaGardens #podcastepisode #BigGreenDAO

Stephen Lucke and SSG Lacy "Mc" McDonald are joined by Rebels in the Garden and Mo'Betta Green, Beverly Grant and James Grevious. Beverly Grant’s gift to her hometown is about more than a few plants, though. Born and raised in the area between Five Points and Park Hill, the Denverite has spent the past 11 years working to increase access to local, organic, and healthy food. Grant founded Mo’ Betta Green in 2010 as a farmers’ market and education and wellness platform; she now has three Seeds of Power Unity Farm sites spread across central Denver.

#sustainability #SanAntonio #GardopiaGardens #podcastepisode #BigGreenDAO

Stephen Lucke and SSG Lacy "Mc" McDonald are joined by Catherine Burns, a story midwife and consultant, keynote speaker, and former artistic director at The Moth.

#sustainability #SanAntonio #GardopiaGardens #TheMoth #podcastepisode #BigGreenDAO

Stephen Lucke is joined by Elinor Crescenzi and Ellie O’Bosky of Integrative Development Initiative, a nonprofit that highlights and affirms the importance of initiation and organized initiatives in bringing about a world that is more compassionate, harmonious, equitable, sustainable, healthy, and beautiful. They seek to engage the humanity of each person, empowering them as individuals and orienting them towards interdependence. 

#sustainability #SanAntonio #GardopiaGardens #IntegrativeDevelopmentInitiative #podcastepisode #BigGreenDAO

SSG. Lacy “Mac” MacDonald is joined by Paris Monaghan and Joseph Campos of Gardeneers. They work with Chicago’s South- and Westside schools and communities to contribute positively to the larger food system. They do this by supporting youth in their school garden and farm programs to build their own knowledge, skills, and habits to become leaders who care for themselves, their environment, and their communities.

#sustainability #SanAntonio #GardopiaGardens #Gardeneers #podcastepisode #BigGreenDAO

In this episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, host Stephen chats with Lilah Wheat, Gardopia Gardens' Education, Health, and Environment Intern and a senior at Trinity University. Lilah shares how her studies in anthropology shaped her curiosity about food systems and community wellbeing. Together, they explore her experiences at Gardopia Gardens, the lessons she's learned, and her vision for the future after graduation. Tune in for an inside look at what it's like to be part of the Gardopia internship experience!