Events at the PLOT 2024
Surrey Art Gallery and The PLOT — Two Summer Events!
July 6, at the gallery, 6:30pm
PLOT pop-up performance and installation. Follows the opening celebration of the exhibit ‘Future Memoria’ at the Surrey Art Gallery.
July 27, at the gallery, 2-4
A short presentation of the history of the PLOT, followed by an interactive community art making session.
At 4 we move to the PLOT Sharing Garden for installation of the community art piece and potluck dinner.
Mother Tongue Tree Initiative
Choose a ribbon and write a couple of words of kind intention for the environment, for peace, for the animals, the oceans, for the children; whatever calls your heart in this moment. Then tie your ribbon onto the ‘Mother Tongue Peace Tree’ located near the 71 Avenue Entrance to the PLOT.
Summer Solstice Observation and Potluck — Sunday, June 23, 12-4
This observation will include a ‘MOTHER TONGUE’ sounding, letting the land and the hearts of those gathered hear the language of lineage, of your lineage. Write a few words in a language that is from your family lineage line reflecting care, respect and love for the land and all the earths sentient beings. If you wish, speak your words into the circle during ceremony, then after the ceremony tie your ribbon into the “PEACE TREE” , a public art engagement piece (bring your own ribbon, or use ribbon that will be available at the Medicine Wheel)
Food, music, celebration of summer and garden walks to follow the ceremony.
Come early to write on a ribbon, help set up, and to prepare for the ceremony.
Music Day, Saturday, May 25, 1-4
Despite the cool day of mixed showers and cloud cover, folks came out from the community to the dig weeds and the music!
Song, food and garden care were shared with playfulness and kindred heart.
Mothers Day Weekend Event, Saturday, May 11, 10-4
The weather gave a playful summer feel as we celebrated Mother’s Day weekend with feasting, crafting and visiting with neighbours. Elder Candace Brown Bear Woman circled with the community around the Medicine Wheel for a special Mothers day blessings and Zena Tees supplied a magical fairy-like musical performance on the guzheng as we gathered under the shade of one of the sentinel cedar trees.
Red Dress Day
The cool and damp as we circled at the Medicine Wheel for an observation of Red Dress Day reflected the tenderness of the gathering. After our time together at the Medicine Wheel, we carried the collection of flowering plants that had been brought for planting to two newly established flower beds to honour and bring awareness to the thousands of MMIWG2+, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People.
Our Beautiful Raised Planter Boxes
THANK YOU Vern Haubrich (in front of sign with Teresa Klein) of Lambent Community Services for your incredibly generous donation of 4 raised planters, complete with the delivery of soil, tool kits and 4 $100 gift certificates from Home Depot! These planters will allow seniors and those with differing abilities to participate in the growing of food. We are super excited to have this addition to the community shared garden and are grateful for this kindness in expanding our community.
Earth Day and PLOT Work Party
Our Earth Day and PLOT work party was amazing with several volunteers offering a variety of assistance. Some with good muscle wheelbarrowed 7 or 8 yards of manure to the garden beds, others planted baby seedlings, others cleared out the weeds and grass. Some tended the planters and beds around the Medicine Wheel, then offered songs and prayers for the earth on Earth Day.
A feeling of deep community connection, completed with sunshine, samosas and lots of good will.
Our Sunday April 7 Big Work Party brought out about 25 volunteers from the community throughout the day! It was a perfect day for working, no rain, not too hot, laced with little kisses of sunshine!
We made great strides toward getting the garden ready and the feelings of spring rising in hearts and spirits was palpable. Pizza, samosas, fruit and chocolate eggs helped boost the energy.
Looking forward to continuing these restorative efforts next Saturday April 13 from 11am to 4 pm. Planting has begun where possible.
Planter Fronts
The beautiful Planter Fronts, for the PLOT Generation Gardens planters, have been refurbished and re-installed.
They were created in a Community Art Engagement Project that was facilitated by South Surrey artist Claire Moore.
Stop by to say hi and take a look!
The sun was out to bless the planting of the Gardens of Generations.
Metis Cree grandmother and granddaughter planted white sage seeds into the top planter.
Spring Equinox / Festival of Holi
Spring Equinox at the PLOT Sharing Garden and Newton Medicine Wheel. Sun, circling in community, Indigenous teachings, Holi blessings, sharing food, stories, laughter, tears and the sweet songs of spring.
With gratitude; Surprise Henna designers, beading, poetry and the playfulness of children and the child at heart.
Flowers were brought and planted at the Medicine Wheel in honour of the Medicine Wheel founder Grandma Amy Eustergurling Wuttunee, Eagle Tail Feather. Her birthday is March 19.
Medicine Wheel Rejuvenation
Sunday March 10 officially launched the 2024 season for the PLOT Sharing Garden. The Medicine Wheel was refreshed with crushed granite, starting in the east as Grandma Amy taught us. Welcomed with a Smudge, the stone was placed with much love. Potluck and sharing with the community was a gift and we even saw the sun try to break through. Grateful for all the helping hands and hearts, and despite the forecast the rain held off until the last tool was put away.
Looking forward to our Spring Equinox Celebration next weekend Sunday March 17 @ noon!
