Juana has a vibrant personality and a great sense of humor. She loves to grow things. She and her husband Luis have live in the Pixan Ixim Community of Omaha.
Fresh produce is scarce in Juana’s neighborhood. She was interested in growing her own food but didn’t have the best space with available water and good soil to grow vegetables.
Juana was introduced to the Sacred Seed community garden on 13th and Leavenworth. There she and Luis learn alongside veteran gardeners and volunteers as they grow produce in the garden for the Pixan Ixim Community Center. Juana is committed to growing food in the garden. She rides the bus to the Sacred Seeds garden almost every day to check on the plants, weed, water and now, harvest.
This past month, Juana found one of her corn plants broken off at the bottom. Devastated, she dropped to her knees and stayed there for several minutes. As we gathered things to leave the garden, she brought the corn plant over then explained that she was going to make tamales for us out of the corn. Her brilliant smile matched her resilience in finding a way to share in that moment.
Juana is inspiring. Community gardens like the Sacred Seeds Pop Up provide an opportunity for neighbors like Juana to grow culturally relevant food while sharing their culture with others.
Juana’s resiliency is inspiring. Community gardens like Sacred Seeds provide an opportunity for people to grow food that supports their culture while sharing their culture with others.
Prepared meals and fresh produce to keep you happy and healthy!
French ratatouille, summer cornbread pudding, vegan pasta primavera…how does that sound? Sounds delicious and nutritious right? These are just a few examples of many plant-based convenience meals you can receive weekly through Community Harvest, a prepared meals program. Prefer to make meals yourself? Sign-up for the Community Harvest CSA program where you receive a weekly share of locally sourced produce to create your very own recipes.
We believe eating healthy, local and fresh should be easily accessible for all. Market price for meals is $5 and CSA’s are $20 or you can participate through our Pay What You Can Model. Learn more and register for the next 6-week session. Registration deadline is September 28th!
Emergency Food Relief Still Available
Jeffreen Hayes, the ED and curator of ThreeWalls in Chicago states “Sharing a meal is an equalizer.” With that as a starting point, this exhibit consists of one fine artist, one craftsperson, and two culinary artists putting forth our common contributions of aesthetic vitality to everyday life.
The exhibition will include a painting by Barber, a wall installation of ceramic plates by Kathryn Schroeder, and a shared meal featuring the work of two culinary artists, Meya Hill and Wes Zollicoffer as a moment of radical hospitality thanks to the support of No More Empty Pots as a community partner for this event. The meal will be plant-based, and made of donated seasonal food from community gardens in the Omaha area and served with utmost care for social distancing and health precautions during the pandemic. The works of these four artists joining forces together are meant to be an intervention in the white-walled gallery ruminating on how greater good can be cultivated by disparate bodies together addressing the issue of food access/security as it intersects with art.
JOIN US FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH
The exhibition and event will take place at PetShop gallery in Benson at 2725 N 62nd St, Omaha, NE 68104 in conjunction with Benson First Friday. The Culinary Art event will happen on Friday, September 4th.
Upcoming Virtual Activities
Preservation Series
Tuesdays via Facebook Live
9/1 | 1pm – 2pm: Condiments (Relish, Ketchup, Mustard)
9/8 | 4pm – 5pm: Curing
Make a Meal With a Chef
For more information, contact Leslie at lschmeling@nmepomaha.org!
