a wild rest retreat for black women and femmes

                                                                                                  

Black women + femmes, those who culturally and historically have been held, regarded and marginalised for their intuitive knowledge,  have always self-authorized our relationship with the earth, we hold visions for our lives that need time and space to grow.  Acts of resting and radical collective care are intimately bound up with how we relate our planet in the grip of the climate crisis.

Across the globe women of colour have been disproportionately affected by the effects of climate breakdown.  Choosing to rest is an act of resistance - a rejection of grind culture and the colonial capitalist narrative that views the natural world as a resource to be plundered.  We choose to be in nature - to experience it with the fullness of our senses, we choose care and co-liberation.

We are a collaborative team comprising creator/writers Zoe Palmer  + Jennifer Farmer ,  afrofuturist visual artist Kookie Blu and composer and sound designer Nina Perry .  In partnership with producers Hatch Ideas  we are co-creating a sanctuary for rest, joy, communal care and nature connection.

Image Credit: Humphrey Muleba @ Unsplash

We are offering a series of 3 online workshops at no cost which will focus on cultivating a safe, sensory and experiential meeting place that supports rest, collective-care and joy for black women + femmes.

In June we will gather for a 3 day retreat - fully funded for participants and in which they  will take an active role in co-creating.  Drawing inspiration from the radical Black imagination and afro-futurist movements, participants will also be invited to explore what they would like to gift others from their communities in the form of a tangible field kit, be it recipes, affirmations, directives, or wellness strategies.

Your donation will enhance our digital and rural retreat offerings by enabling us to provide additional funds supporting access, childcare, an on site massage therapist and materials for use in practises that support emotional and physical wellbeing.  After a prolonged period of lockdown and, for many, lack of access to natural spaces we want to create a place for women to rest, connect with each other and the natural world  and reflect on their relationship with the land- we need your help to make this the most nourishing experience it can be.

As a thank you for your generosity all supporters will be acknowledged by name in our pamphlet (unless requested otherwise).  And in addition will receive:


£10      An invite to our sharing + afterparty in London in July 

£50      A hand-crafted sanctuary seed pack + visioning soil

£100   A 1 hr online communal writing workshop on climate + radical imagination

£250   An online communal sensory rest experience  


Please help us spread the word by sharing this with your networks and anyone you think might like to get involved.


Thanks for your support.


Zoe, Jennifer + the dream(ing) field lab team

the dream(ing) field lab is a Common Ground commission by Season for Change, a nationwide programme of artistic and cultural events that celebrate the environment and inspire urgent climate action.  Led by Julie's Bicycle and Artsadimn, and supported by Arts Council England and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.