Food Justice & Sovereignty Program
Announcing
Sowing the Seeds of Change is Back
Remedios Refrescantes: Bebidas Elaboradas con Hierbas Tradicionales
Remedios Refrescantes: Bebidas Elaboradas con Hierbas Tradicionales
Remedios Refrescantes: Bebidas Elaboradas con Hierbas Tradicionales
**Este taller se impartirá completamente en español. Habrá interpretación de español a inglés disponible para las personas que no hablen español.
**This workshop will be provided entirely in Spanish. Spanish to English interpretation will be available to non-Spanish speakers.
Fecha y hora: Martes 21 de julio, de 5:30 a 7:00 PM.
Lugar: Growing Gardens (dentro del granero), 1630 Hawthorn Ave, Boulder, CO 80304
¡Se ofrecerán botanas ligeras!
Descripcion de la Clase: En esta clase aprenderas sobre diferentes yerbas que se puede usar para hacer bebidas refrescantes y saludables para todo el cuerpo sin el uso de azucar. Tendras la oportunidad de probar y crear estas bebidas con el uso de recetas y fórmulas para recrear en casa.
Biografia de la Instructora: Aracely Navarro es una chicana de primera generación e hija de inmigrantes mexicanos y guatemaltecos. Su trabajo se centra en la justicia ambiental, la justicia reproductiva y la sanación de su comunidad y de la Madre Tierra. Tiene una Maestría en Salud Pública con énfasis en Salud Ambiental de la Universidad Emory y una Licenciatura en Ciencias Ambientales de Colorado College. Le apasiona aprender sobre la herbolaria, el acompañamiento en el parto y las prácticas de agricultura regenerativa. Aracely recibe a cada persona con el corazón abierto y el compromiso de contribuir a la sanación de las comunidades y la protección de la Madre Tierra para las generaciones presentes y futuras.
Nopal for Health and Hydration
Nopal for Health and Hydration
Nopal for Health and Hydration
Fecha y hora: Wed, August 5th, 5:30-7PM
Lugar: Growing Gardens (dentro del granero), 1630 Hawthorn Ave, Boulder, CO 80304
Light snacks will be provided!
Class Description: Join Mandy Medrano for a flavorful exploration of cactus as food, culture, and tradition. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to prepare Mandy's signature Cactus Pasta Salad, featuring nopal cactus and fresh ingredients that highlight the versatility and nutritional benefits of this traditional food. Participants will also discover how Agua de Tuna is a refreshing beverage made from prickly pear fruit. Through a demonstration and tasting, Mandy will share the history, cultural significance, and contemporary uses of both nopal and tuna, while exploring how cactus has nourished communities across the Americas for generations. This interactive experience blends food, storytelling, and cultural knowledge, inviting participants to connect with the rich traditions surrounding one of the region's most resilient and celebrated plants.
Instructor Bio: Mandy Medrano is a Colorado-based cultural educator, community practitioner, arts facilitator, and founder of Yolotl Rising. A descendant of Apache, Comanche, Mexican, and Andean peoples, she has dedicated more than 30 years to creating community-centered programs that connect culture, creativity, wellness, and tradition. Through her work, Mandy brings people together through storytelling, foodways, arts, and intergenerational learning, helping communities celebrate cultural knowledge and build meaningful connections. She is passionate about creating spaces where people can learn, share, and honor the traditions that shape who they are.
Food is Medicine: Three Sisters and Infused Vinegars
Food is Medicine: Three Sisters and Infused Vinegars
Food is Medicine: Three Sisters and Infused Vinegars
Fecha y hora: Wed, Sept 16, 5:30-7PM
Lugar: Growing Gardens (dentro del granero), 1630 Hawthorn Ave, Boulder, CO 80304
Light snacks will be provided!
Class Description: The Three Sisters (corn, beans, and squash) are sacred foods that have sustained Indigenous communities across Turtle Island for generations. In this hands-on workshop, participants will prepare a Three Sisters Salad with a healthy dressing using local and organic ingredients. The class will explore how simple, whole-food dressings can replace highly processed store-bought options and support everyday wellness. Participants will also create an infused herbal vinegar to take home and use in homemade dressings. Through food preparation and storytelling, the workshop invites participants to reconnect with ancestral food knowledge and food as medicine.
Instructor Bio: Amy Barcenas is an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Nation and founder of Yellowtail Lactation Consultants and the Bitterroot Doula Collective. She serves Indigenous and underserved families across the Denver metro area as an Indigenous Lactation Counselor, full-spectrum doula, and community health worker. Amy weaves together ancestral knowledge and modern health practices in homes, schools, and community spaces. A proud grandmother of four with deep ties to Montana and a lineage tracing to Chief Little Bear, she is passionate about Indigenous food sovereignty and traditional healing. Her work centers community wellness, cultural preservation, and reconnecting people to ancestral practices.
Our Core Activities
The FJS program is built on engaging, hands-on experiences within our urban gardens and farms. We empower our community through a variety of educational and collaborative activities.
Hands-on Workshops
Learn practical skills in organic gardening, seed saving, composting, and sustainable farming methods. Our workshops are designed for all experience levels.
Knowledge Sharing & Education
Participate in sessions focused on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), nutrition, and the cultural significance of food within Indigenous communities.
Community Harvests & Celebrations
Join us for vibrant community gatherings, harvest festivals, and shared meals that strengthen local bonds and celebrate our collective efforts.
Volunteering Opportunities
Contribute to our urban gardens, assist with workshops, or help organize community events. Your time and effort make a real difference!
Food Justice & Sovereignty Gathering series:
Sowing the Seeds of Change
Is a transformative gathering series bridging ecological and social justice, cultivating equitable community spaces while cultivating biodiverse gardens
Our Moments in Action
