THE ACTION DAY
The 2017 Permaculture Action Day at Seven Circles Heritage Center began at 10am and lasted until dusk with passion and excitement from the community buzzing the entire day. Continuing with the design from the previous year, we tended to the swales that were dug on contour and planted. We took inventory of the plants that had survived and we started creating a master plant inventory for the center.
We spent some time in the herb garden outside the community kitchen that continues into a memorial garden for community members that have passed. With care, we reinforced the edging and uncovered pavers that had been buried with time. Even the local news showed up!
THE STORY
The Seven Circles Heritage Center is a cultural center that celebrates heritage from all backgrounds but, more specifically, local native tribes of the Peoria, Illinois region. There are many sacred cultural ceremonies and events that take place at Seven Circles. This is a unique place where the Native American song, dance and language are still alive.
In May 2016, the Permaculture Action Network (PAN) opened up dialogue with the tribal board of Seven Circles and started a long-term proposal to support them on an annual basis by bringing energy and life into their community space.
The overall goal is to be able to hold permaculture action days as a platform for community members to feel confident in volunteering time and energy into these community spaces.
This relationship blossomed in 2017. This year the plant medicine wheel was a central garden installation for all to see and utilize. A class from Illinois Wesleyan University showed up the week prior and gave their entire attention to this sacred garden. The perfection of their work was beautiful, finished with colored mulch in the sacred colors in the four directions. Many thanks to Dr. Gearhart and her class for stepping up and taking action!
TAKE ACTION
For more information on Seven Circles Heritage Center, please visit their website > www.7circles.org
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(Written by Natalie Lindsay. Edited for web by Zac Fabian. Permaculture Action Network 2017)
