The Project
The ENDLESS ATLAS: Urban Farms & Gardens.
In the last few months I have been inspired by a project introduced to me by Professor Josh Singer at San Francisco State University. Our class researched and documented the area of San Francisco designated by the Islais Creek Watershed, the city's largest body of water. Each student approached the project from a different perspective and we compiled a muli-volume atlas. The project led me to explore the many
different community farms and gardens that San Francisco has to offer.
I primarily focused on the 4-acre Alemany Farm, located at the
heart of the city's Islais Creek Watershed. But I was fascinated
by the unique stories that accompanied each farm and garden
scattered throughout the city, and how Each Urban Ecosystem provides a unique value to the community where it resided.
(You can view the preliminary design of
ENDLESS
ATLAS: VOL ONE here!)
(You can view a selection of photos from Alemany
Farm here!)
During the process of creating my atlas I found myself wanting more;
more information about the community that worked the land, more
photos of the plants and animals that made up the urban ecosystem,
and more time to really develop the process and discover the beauty
of what a community can accomplish when they tend to the Earth,
together.
This next year I will be creating a comprehensive atlas
of community farms and gardens located within urban cityscapes. During this time I will also be attending Brunel
University in West London, to study in their school of
design. I plan to use my time outside of class discovering the urban farms and gardens hidden within the historic cities of Europe. I will talk to the stewards of the land,
photograph the landscapes, structures, and document the thriving
practice of urban agriculture. I will feature a new farm or garden
from each of my stops in Europe, including (but not limited to)
England, Ireland, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain. I will continue
to design and develop The ENDLESS ATLAS Project, completing Volume
One: Alemany Farm, which is already underway, then moving onto the
subsequent volumes inspired by the farms and gardens I encounter during my travels.
My Pledge
- The ENDLESS ATLAS
Project will develop throughout the next year as we gather
information, listen to stories, take photographs, create maps, design graphics and document it all along the way.
- We will collaborate with the volunteers that help to sustain each farm or garden.
- We will script a visual and informative narrative documenting the urban green spaces that are being cultivated by communities worldwide.
- From these experiences we
will share photo galleries, blog postings, interviews, and other
yet-to-be discovered perks.
- We pledge to use our skills and ability to create a living network between community farms and gardens in a respectful and environmentally sensitive manner.
Earth+Community=Grow
To Give, To
Get & To Help Grow
My request: I ask for your sponsorship to make this project succeed and prosper. Listed below are my anticipated costs, which I hope to offset by providing my funders with unique screenprinted material, campaign clothing, limited edition artwork, photography and hand-bound books.
Shipping - $500
- I leave for
London on August 30th and with a great number of travel costs
mounting, I need funds for shipping my tools and supplies. As a
designer my tools are my trade, and shipping costs are high. To
effectively document, store, catalog, design and write I will need to send my
computers, hard drives, monitors, and photography equipment via freight.
Supplies &
Material - $1000
- When I arrive in
Europe I will need to purchase additional supplies and materials in
order to create prints, posters, shirts, and other
promotional items. These will be used to raise awareness about The
ENDLESS ATLAS Project and the featured community farms and gardens
that I will be visiting. From these limited edition prints, posters,
shirts, and books, contributors will receive hand numbered, and
signed copies as stipulated by the different levels of financial
contributions.
Transportation -
$500
- After I settle
into London and have my office set up, the next step is to go out and
explore these urban gardens. I need to make my way to as many venues
as possible throughout the year so as to obtain enough material to
compile a comprehensive documentation of farms and gardens around
Europe.
Design Process -
$1000
- Finally, I need
TIME! Time to discover, time to document, and most importantly, time
to design. I will be doing freelance design work to fund whatever
costs I cannot raise through this campaign, and the less I have to
work for other clients, the more energy I get to devote to this project. So, please
help me make this beautiful, inspiring, informative and innovative
project a reality, and together we can share it with the world and
encourage new gardens to grow
Total=$3000
If you just dont
have the funds
In these
financially restrictive times, I know that it is hard to let go of
even the smallest amount of your hard earned cash. And if you find
yourself in this position, no worries, I understand! But if you find
my project compelling, I would ask if you would please forward this
campaign to someone that you know that might want to contribute.
Spread the word through your social network, who knows who is out
there that would want to support a project like this!
Thank you for
your consideration and support,
Jesse Smith
***If you do decide to help by contributing to the campaign, please remember to submit your mailing address so we can send you your Perks!!!***
