Goodness Weekly 10.28.2024
“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come.”
—Anne Lamott
What’s Good
Sarah from Talking Tree Farms educating attendees about Sunset Ridge Farmer’s Market.
We are growing in all the ways we imagined, and then some.
The Charis Park Grand Opening this weekend was a beautiful expression of our vibrant community, and we want to extend a special thank you to all of our partners who made this weekend possible.
Sprouts School
NYX Wellness
Artist Mark Menjivar
Coral Studio
Sunset Ridge Farmers Market
A Look at November
The Sunset Ridge Farmers Market will launch Saturday, November 9th from 9am-1pm in Charis Park! Shop weekly and sustainably from local farmers and ranchers. Follow @sunsetridgefarmersmarket on Instagram to learn more.
For frequent updates of One Another Coffee, Charis Park, Scott’s Pizza, and NYX Wellness, please feel free to check our calendar and follow us on Instagram for any updates.
An Island in Terrell Heights
Taylor Bates, Deputy Director, Sunset Ridge Collective
At the Grand Opening for Charis Park this past weekend Jess and I shared in our remarks about how Charis Park was created from a shared dream within this community. When we envisioned this space, we also imagined it becoming a 'seed' for something bigger.
I recently learned about how biologists are now using biomimicry, or nature-inspired design, to restore forests. Rather than planting rows of trees in uniform patterns, they’re planting 'tree islands' – small clusters that mimic how forests naturally grow. These islands encourage grasses and shrubs to fill in, stabilizing the soil and creating favorable conditions for other plants. Gradually, seeds from nearby trees take root, larger trees sprout, and eventually, an entire ecosystem flourishes, all born from these small beginnings.
We envision Charis Park as one of those tree islands – an acre of hope and inspiration, a space that promotes both human connection and environmental resilience. Our vision is not only for this park to bring joy and flourishing to our neighborhood, but for it to begin a process of re-seeding other vacant areas around San Antonio.
With the guidance of our friends at Good Acres and the sustainable creativity of Coral Studio and Agave Design Studio, we’ve reimagined this former asphalt parking lot into a place that seeks to mimic nature’s divine intelligence.
Every material from the former parking lot was repurposed with intention, staying onsite to avoid landfills. The asphalt was buried to form the berms around us; concrete curbs and logs from damaged trees were transformed into art installations. The dry creek bed and rain garden capture stormwater, and native plants help conserve water, reduce heat, and anchor biodiversity, making the park more resilient.
As Charis Park is now officially open, I hope this little island reminds us of the power in small beginnings. May it be a source of joy, a catalyst for community, and a seed for sustainable growth, here and beyond.
Inhale:
May I trust that the seed of goodness I plant today
Exhale:
Has infinite potential
