May 2021 | Exciting Updates at IWC – Greenhouse, Produce Market, Bees, and More!

Hello Everyone,

Riue here.  I was determined to get our first blog post out this month.  It has been such an exciting few months of growth here at IWC. I just don’t know where to begin. 

I first want to welcome all of our new Community Collaborators of more recent:

• The Delaware Urban Food and Farm Coalition
• Urban Acres Produce
• Bellevue Farms
• Terra Donna Gardens
• The Challenge Program

As is the case with all of our other community collaborators, these folks are doing some awesome work in the community.  I am equally grateful to be serving on both the boards of the Delaware Urban Food and Farm Coalition as well as Urban Acres Produce.  Both organizations have a number of up and coming initiatives which will greatly support the community and assists in shifting the present paradigm. Look out for more to come.

So, what has been happening specifically relative to IWC?

Lots, Lots, Lots!

• First, we finally launched our new website back in August of 2020.  This was truly a labor of love which took approximately one year of great effort to consolidate and present our six-year story.  I am truly grateful for the effort of Gaby Fernandes, our social media administrator for leading this effort.
• Next, for the past several months it’s been all about the Greenhouse Build which began in October of 2020.  It has taken us about three years to finally complete this project and with the support of community friends, a few donations and lots of Love, the project manifested into so much more than what we had hoped.  Instead of just a hoop house, we now have a fully functional year-round Greenhouse, equipped with windows, doors, rollup sides, blower, exhaust fan and louver door, lighting and electrical outlets. We are growing our first starts and breaking it in and it will be used to support our Permaculture Homestead, Produce Market and Community Nursery. We feel so grateful and blessed for all of the support we have received. 
• In addition, we successfully made it through our first year of Beekeeping and will be splitting our hives and adding a few more hives in the coming months.  Our plan is to not harvest until 2022 to allow the hives to become nice and strong. Our high-vibrational honey will be offered with our IWC branding along with our medicinal products, produce and plants; so we are extremely excited about our little bee friends and how they will add to the overall homestead.
• And yes, in February of this year we completed our Produce Safety and Growers training through the University of Delaware Ag and the Delaware Conservation. And in April of this year, we officially received our certification as an Urban Farm, which will allow us to sell our produce and other edibles. This is huge for us and is in direct alignment with the original vision of the center. We are now InnerSource Wellness Center and Urban Farm.  Phew!!!
• Our New YouTube Channel just went live this weekend and again, this has been a significant journey and a huge process. Gaby Fernandes and our new video guru, Matteo did their thing and again the essence of IWC has been completely captured.  As I am writing about all of this, I’m sitting with ‘wow…we have accomplished quite a bit with the Universe’s and the Community’s support….so very grateful.’  We are turning the corner. 
• The next project will be the formation of our Patreon Channel, but we may take a little break and start the engine up later in the year😊

So, what else is happening in my world…

As IWC continues to grow, expand, and move more and more into its purpose, I too am transforming to align to what is manifesting and aligning more and more with my Soul purpose.  My interest of social justice, food sovereignty and sustainability, the collective, inclusion and teaching all are merging.  This past March I was accepted into Prescott College’s PhD in Sustainability Education program. The school is as excited to have me as I am to be accepted into their program. They love the work I am doing with the center as well as teaching and are completely aligned to everything I am doing. It will be an opportunity to broaden community; form new connections and share what I learn with our community. Speaking of teaching, I am now teaching at my alma mater Goldey Beacom College in both Supply Chain Management and Data Analytics in their Doctoral Program with hopes of adding sustainability courses to their Master’s Program. I also am participating in bringing community-relative offerings to the school.   In addition, this time last year I started working for a minority and woman-women owned management consulting company as a Principal Consultant. We are growing and providing consultative support across many silos of which some are Sustainability, Education, Supply Chain and Technology. We are small but mighty and are representing a new paradigm in the business world. If someone had told me all of this was going to happen, I would say no way😊…but I know the Universe has a plan and I, We continue to put one foot in front of the other…being the vessel to receive.

Highlights coming up

IWC PDC Program – Permaculture with a Purpose – Begins July 28^th.  Ensure you register by July 28^th, 2021 to save your seat

Community Garden Volunteer Days – Every Saturday – 9am to 5pm.  There is Plenty to do (Check the schedule on our website or Facebook page as some Saturdays will change once our PDC starts)

Shamanic Healing Journey Circle – June 19^th, 2021.  Limited Spots, please ensure you register by sending an email to InnerSourceWellnessCenter@gmail.com

IWC Fall Harvest Holistic Wellness Festival – Yes, we do plan to have this year and the planning has begun!  If you would like to participate as a musician, artistic, sustainable organic service or goods provider, please utilize the form on our site to submit interest.  The festival will be held October 16^th, 2021 this year.

Accessible Yoga – We are looking to bring Accessible Yoga back to the center every Saturday and Sunday.  So, if you are interested and would like to offer a class, please send an email to innersourcewellnesscenter@gmail.com.

As we continue to slowly open the center back up with some of our service offerings, we still intend to be mindful, limiting the number in attendance, practicing social distancing and wearing masks.  We look forward to seeing you!

Our June Blog will feature the subject matter of “Staying Present While our New Earth is Being Created”

Love, Riue and Kia