Sarah Bahr
Community Joy Garden

What brings me joy?
Soft buzzing of bees pollinating. 
Fresh smell from tomato plant stems. 
Picking rich dirt from under my fingernails. 
Sweet and earthy taste of homegrown vegetables. 
Colorful flower blooms surprising me every morning.
What brings you joy?

Nature Scavenger Hunt:

Discover the native animals that help pollinate, fertilize, and take care of flower and vegetable plants.
How many monarch butterflies?
How many bumblebees?
How many earthworms?

Sarah’s story:

I felt a huge sense of loss, mentally and physically, after the cancellations of theater performances, rehearsals, and design processes starting in mid-March. My typical busy days, weeks, and months turned into binge watching home improvement shows, making masks, and patiently waiting for positive news. I found little joy. 

After George Floyd’s unlawful murder and seeing my city burn, my body and mind hurt. I could not find joy. 

I donated homemade masks to to those in need, helped paint murals on Lake Street with Alliance for Latinx Minnesota Artists, and volunteered at Mixed Blood Theatre’s food drives. I know I was doing positive things, but I felt agitated and frustrated by why this was now my daily routine. There was no joy. 

One morning I watched garden beds being built in my neighborhood park. I inquired if there were any unclaimed garden plots. I was assigned a plot and immediately went into planning mode, researched which vegetables and herbs would grow best, and purchased seedlings from my local farmers market. I had purpose, a project, and an unexpected spark of joy. Little did I know how planting a few peppers, tomatoes, and green beans would help me meet my West Bank neighbors and give me a stronger sense of community than I ever have experienced. We connected on watering strategies, excitedly identifying what we planted, and shared excess produce. COVID 19 and a racial justice uprising, two things that isolated and tore me apart, eventually brought me closer to my neighbors.  I found my joy and want to share it with you.

Planting a Vegetable Garden: 
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/planting-vegetable-garden

Minnesota Pollinators: 
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/pollinators/index.html

Twin Cities Mutual Aid Map: 
https://twin-cities-mutual-aid.org/?fbclid=IwAR20eXUeljPEStTWL5Xi6GfSyHt5ays3dQgizqtm_p79-mSijQNeiKn0Wwc

Sarah’s Garden Progress:

About Sarah

I am a theater designer, educator, and advocate. My work focuses on costume and scenic design for theater, opera, and dance. Though every project varies greatly, I approach each one with the enthusiasm to collaborate with my team, empower voices, and take on the responsibility to tell meaningful stories. I seek projects that are unique and uplifting, ignite a spark inside me, and challenge me. My design process carries me through intense research and communication with my fellow artists to make the best choices to represent each individual story. I care deeply about our theater community and am an advocate for best practices, support, and respect in our institutions.

Artistic Response from Eric Sharp

Exploring the many ways collaborations occur and listening to the vital voices of our artists, the Jungle's SHINE A LIGHT event is pairing participating designers with area artists to create thoughtful responses to the installations. These audio commentaries will be available online throughout the event and add depth for the viewer's experience to help spark expansive conversation.

About Eric

Eric Sharp is an actor, writer and teaching artist, based in Minneapolis.