VenturaVie celebrates community in all ways!

One recent happening in our community was when our friend Stacee needed some support.

Stacee works next door to VBoutique at the Bike Shop in the Cannery. She has been such a gift to the shop and the community. One time she even attempted to chase down a shoplifter! Her toughness is only matched by her gentle heart and sweet spirit. Stacee has had some (big life decisions to consider). We all came together as a community to show support for her decision and her pivoting through the changing tides. Sometimes just standing next to one another and witnessing the ebb and flow allows us all to grow and share.

VenturaVie’s VBoutique project is open again in the Cannery on weekends. VBoutique not only offers beautiful clothing and gifts but is back providing a safe place to gather and support the community.

If you would like to learn more about our mission or our HiVe book which is the culmination of our 2020 HiVe virtual community meeting’s art and projects go to www.venturavie.org

You can also receive a hardcover copy of our HiVe book for a minimum donation.

We Are So Proud of Cierra!

VenturaVie would like to highlight one of our interns who is working hard to overcome the obstacles life has presented to her. Cierra, one of our sweet (and special) interns was working at V Boutique when the virus hit. She was a junior in high school. With schools and businesses closed, Cierra joined in the HiVe meetings and as we all learned about each other, she shared her poems. Using her sensitivity to express the pain and challenges she has had to face, her poetry amazed us.

Cierra graduated valedictorian from her high school this year and we took her out to celebrate her accomplishment! She hopes to travel and see the world and we look forward to watching her soar!

Dealing with the many challenges of the pandemic has been difficult for each and every one of us in many different ways. With VBoutique closed from the shutdown, Ventura Vie started the HiVe virtual meetings twice a week so there would still be a safe place to gather and support the community.

If you would like to read Cierra’s poems you can go to VenturaVie.org and see a virtual copy of our HiVe book which is the culmination of our 2020 meeting’s art and projects.

You can also receive a hardcover copy of our HiVe book for a minimum donation. See VenturaVie.org for details and to donate.

Guest VenturaVie Blogger

My name is Renee, and I am a VenturaVie board member and volunteer. I live In Atlanta, Georgia. Sometimes I get to travel to the “Mothership”/VenturaVie headquarters to help with larger events, but during the pandemic, I have been resigned to remote volunteering. The VenturaVie programs being developed and carried out during this time of change and uncertainty have enabled many women and youth to experience some grounding, normalcy, and a safe place for self-expression so needed. I knew I had to make the trip and help out in person. It was wonderful this past week to come to San Francisco and volunteer with the VenturaVie and Zinc House Farm collaboration that we have been sharing about all summer. I thought I would give you all my impressions of the day at the farm.

As the time approaches for the kids and their parents or guardians to arrive, volunteers are busy collecting some eggs for tempura paint making, table setting for art, gardens readied for Korean melon hunts, and setting up the welcome table for children to draw on and express what they thought about the day. We are all excited about the children arriving.

As everyone trickles in, the children, parents, and volunteers gather in the clover field to set intentions for the day. On this day, nature provides a neutral setting for all to focus on the farm, the art, and all there is to learn. There is stretching involved and with their intentions set, the kids set off to learn, smell and feel the farm.

Brandon, the Head Gardener from Zinc House Farm, in his wonderful way, got everyone excited about how things grow, the variety of plants in the garden including that some plants are used as medicine. The children were able to pick and taste melons, tomatoes, peppers, and their favorite flowers along the way. On this day Brandon even got to show off his gopher catching technique to the interested attendees (mostly boys) and why it is important to have no gophers in the garden.

After the farm tour, our fearless leader Victoria led all to the grapevine-covered pergola where tables were ready with snacks from the garden, the flowers they picked, and for the kids to start using the tempera paint made from the eggs collected from the coop. Victoria taught them about how tempura paint has been used in history. In the end, she showed them that their imagination was enough to create something beautiful with what they had collected from the farm. When the children were done painting they proudly hung their art up to dry in the farm’s open-air gallery.

What I learned from this experience is the programs VenturaVie supports and promotes have profound effects on their recipients. This VenturaVie /Zinc House Farm program in particular showed children how much there is to learn when you slow down; what can be seen when you are quiet and what can be created and transformed from what is right around you. These are worthy lessons.