Getting our MUD on in Seward

It could not have been a better DAY 1 of Cob building! We started the first layer of Cob for the Poetry Sharing Post in the Seward Neighborhood. Sisters Camelot came to join us with delicious food once again. It was an awesome start! Little kids got to enjoy in some COB mixing, feeling it in between their little toesys. For any of you uncertain as to what that weird word Cob is and confused as to why you can't find any pieces of corn anywhere, it is an ancient building technique that over half of the world still uses today to live in. Very similar to adobe, it is a mixture of sand, clay, water and straw that is very strong, sculptural and natural to build with. We will be finishing the structure on Saturday, the 30th and encourage all to come out and partake in this awesome event.

For those of you looking for easy access to the remaining Schedule of Events...here it is:

Friday June 29th : Natural Building Project in Seward;  2618 E 22^nd St.

12 - 6: Come build a sculptural poetry plaza out of cob (ancient building technique using clay, sand, straw and water.) Building with cob is incredibly fun, inspiring of the senses and approachable for the littlest to the biggest of human beings.

7 - 11 Cultural Exchange and Open Mic at 2nd Moon Cafe (2225 Franklin Ave.) How do we begin to live genuinely in community with the many different cultures that exist in Seward? Followed by an Open Mic. 

Saturday June 30th: 

12 - 6: The Cob building continues

6 – 7 ArtiCulture (2613 E Franklin Ave.) our local Art's Laboratory will host an Art Party. Playing has never been so constructive!

7:30 - 9 Closing Ceremony, Cantastoria Puppet Show and Lantern Release down at the White Sand Beach (W. River Parkway, just past 26th St. Follow the stairs 12

Also! Muy Importante, we have only a couple of days left to meet our Kickstarter fundraising goal. If you'd like to support these projects and see more like them happen in the future, then please check out our video. Go to www.kickstarter.com and search: Village Reclamation Festival. 

The Greenhouse Builds Itself! (Well, not really, actually a whole lot of people showed up to help.)
Here are photos from the Greenhouse Build/Permaculture Exploration in Phillips. We had a total blast. Absolute. Today (Friday 6.29.12) we're getting ready to begin the cob building in Seward. Come on by from 12 - 6:00. 2618 E 22nd St. See you soon!

It Has Begun!
Here are some photos from Day One of the Village Reclamation Festival. We had a blast and got farther than we thought we would despite ending the day early due to impending rain. We're going to keep Muralizing away today, you're welcome to join us and don't forget about Mark Lakeman's presentation tonight at The Holy Rosary Church (2424 18th Ave S. Enter the door off of 17th ave.)

See you Soon,
Love, The MRP

Here's Our Most Recent (and Final) Full Schedule of Events! Only a Few Days Away!

Schedule of Events:

Saturday June 23^rd : Elliot Park Mural Creation; 735 East 16^th St.

10 am: Opening Ceremony:

11am - 4pm: We paint the mural – to unite cultural identities in a neighborhood that is as diverse as it is historic.

Sunday June 24th:

10am - 4pm: The mural painting continues on…

7:00 – 8:30 Special Guest Presentation: Holy Rosary Church 2424 18^th Ave. S.

Mark Lakeman, Co-founder of The City Repair Project in Portland OR will speak about his lifetime's work of creatively transforming the urban environment. City Repair stands as a guidepost for those of us intent on utilizing our creative resources, capable hands and bold vision to realize what our city already is and what it could become.

Monday June 25^th:

Day of rest and preparation. No scheduled events on this day.

Tuesday June 26^th: Permaculture Installation in Phillips;  2416 17^th Ave S.

12 – 5pm: We’re going to build ourselves a Greenhouse out of pallets. Come build with us!

6 – 7:pm:  Permaculture Garden Tour/Block Reclamation Showcase. Root cellar workshop, children's activities.

7 - 10pm:  Feast provided by Sister's Camelot, Celebrations galore!

Wednesday June 27^th:

The Permaculture Continues…

12 - 5pm: Complete greenhouse...

6 -7pm Permaculture Garden tour/Block Reclamation, children’s activities, herbal medicine and self reliance exploration. 

7:30 - 8 Ceremony: Honoring Community - Where Spirituality meets Activism. 

8 - 10 pm Movie screening in the Garden followed by a performance by Doc. Muskrat and His Mississippi Mudsteppers. 

Thursday June 28^th:

Day of rest and preparation. No scheduled events on this day.

Friday June 29th : Natural Building Project in Seward;  2618 E 22^nd St.

12 - 6: Come build a sculptural poetry plaza out of cob (ancient building technique using clay, sand, straw and water.) Building with cob is incredibly fun, inspiring of the senses and approachable for the littlest to the biggest of human beings.

7 - 11 Cultural Exchange and Open Mic at 2nd Moon Cafe (2225 Franklin Ave.) How do we begin to live genuinely in community with the many different cultures that exist in Seward? Followed by an Open Mic. 

Saturday June 30th: 

12 - 6: The Cob building continues

6 – 7 ArtiCulture (2613 E Franklin Ave.) our local Art's Laboratory will host an Art Party. Playing has never been so constructive!

7:30 - 9 Closing Ceremony, Cantastoria Puppet Show and Lantern Release down at the White Sand Beach (W. River Parkway, just past 26th St. Follow the stairs 12

To Donate to this Festival, go to www.kickstarter.com and search: The Village Reclamation Festival. Thanks!

Attention! Special Announcement!

Special Guest Presentation!

Mark Lakeman, Co-founder of The City Repair Project and The Village Building Convergence of  Portland OR joins us for the first annual Village Reclamation Festival here in Minneapolis to speak about his lifetime's work of creatively transforming the urban environment. City Repair stands as a guide post for those of us intent on utilizing our creative resources, capable hands and bold vision for what our city already is and what it could become. Mark has spoken to activist communities all across the country and world, his passion and clear sense of how to achieve the impossible is not to be missed. We hope you will join us!

When: June 24th from 7:00pm - 8:30

Where: Holy Rosary Church, 2424 18th Ave S. 

Why: Because you'll leave shaking in your boots, ready to pick up a paint brush, shovel or a hand. 

The Village Reclamation Festival was formed in response to the exuberant desire of many to continue with the bold and creative work that will shift our city closer to it’s wildest potential.

One week at the end of June, three main catalyst community projects in three different South Minneapolis neighborhoods. We recognize that creating tangible beauty in the commons is secretly an excuse to experience a greater depth of what it means to be an engaged citizen. We invite you to join us.

·       Elliot Park Neighborhood Mural: we will utilize the tools of large-scale mural making to honor the multiple cultures that reside in this historic neighborhood.

·       Phillips Neighborhood Permaculture Block Reclamation: we will work to transform a city block through permaculture design, and adaptive reuse to leave functional beauty in our wake.

·       Seward Neighborhood Natural Building and Art Bash: we will use an ancient building technique that uses clay, sand, straw and water to craft a form that is as sculptural as it is structural.

All events are free or by donation and open to everyone!

The Village Reclamation Project:

In Elliot Park: 736 East 16th St. 

Saturday June 23^rd 

10 am: Opening Ceremony:

11am - 4pm: We paint the mural – to unite cultural identities in a neighborhood that is as diverse as it is historic.

Sunday June 24th:

10am - 4pm: The mural painting continues on…

7:00 – 8:30 Presentation by Special Guest: Holy Rosary Church 2424 18^th Ave. S.

Mark Lakeman, Co-founder of The City Repair Project in Portland OR.  Mark will speak about his lifetime's work of creatively transforming the urban environment. City Repair stands as a guide post for those of us intent on utilizing our creative resources, capable hands and bold vision for what our city already is and what it could become.

Monday June 25^th:

Day of rest and preparation, no scheduled events on this day.

In Phillips: 2416 17th Ave. S. 

Tuesday June 26^th:

12 – 5pm: We’re going to build ourselves a Greenhouse out of pallets. Come build with us!

6 – 7:pm:  Permaculture Garden Tour/Block Reclamation Showcase. Root cellar workshop, children's activities.

7 - 10pm:  Feast provided by Sister's Camelot, Celebrations galore!

Wednesday June 27^th:

The Permaculture Continues…

12 - 5pm: Complete greenhouse...

6 -7pm Permaculture Garden tour/Block Reclamation, children’s activities, herbal medicine and root cellar workshop, vermiculture, self reliance exploration. 

7:30 Ceremony: Honoring Community - Where Spirituality meets Activism. 

8 - 10 pm Movie screening in the Garden followed by a performance by Doc. Muskrat and His Mississippi Mudsteppers. 

In Seward: 2618 E 22nd St. 

Friday June 29th

12 - 6: Come build a sculptural poetry plaza out of cob (ancient building technique using clay, sand, straw and water.) Building with cob is incredibly fun, inspiring of the senses and approachable for the littlest to the biggest of human beings.

7 - 11 Cultural Exchange and Open Mic at 2nd Moon Cafe (2225 Franklin Ave.) How do we begin to live genuinely in community with the many different cultures that exist in Seward? Followed by an Open Mic. 

Saturday June 30th: 

12 - 6: The Cob building continues

6 - 7ArtiCulture (2613 E Franklin Ave.) our local Art's Laboratory will host an Art Party. Playing has never been so constructive!

7:30 - 9 Closing Ceremony, Cantastoria Puppet Show and Lantern Release down at the White Sand Beach (W. River Parkway, just past 26th St. Follow the stairs down.)