Library Takeover: Full Circle Food Usage

This event is full. You can join the waitlist by emailing meadowridge@madisonpubliclibrary.org or calling the location at 608-288-6160.

Join a full day of learning how to grow, blend, cook and eat affordable, healthy and delicious foods for yourself and your family at Meadowridge Library! Through the Library Takeover process, a team of four Black and Indigenous women came together to share their knowledge about sustainable food pathways that don't break the bank, but help your feel nourished. This event is family-friendly, and will include four hands-on sessions where adults and kids can learn to prepare several different kinds of meals.

Registration is requested, and those who register in advance are automatically entered into a giveaway. You could take home a grocery store gift card, cooking utensils, or even a cold press juicer!

When you sign up, you are registering for all four of the sessions listed below. All ages welcome, but please be sure to sign up any members of your family who plan to attend

Event Schedule:

11-11:15: Intro and Welcome
11:15am - 12pm: We Got Food at Home: A Meal Prepping Workshop led by Ciara Hartzog
This session will focus on easy, nutritious and affordable meals for the whole family. Participants will have an opportunity to build their own spring rolls using fresh, tasty ingredients that are easily accessible. During this session we will also cover the nutritional value of the ingredients used and create recipe cards to take home.
12-12:45pm: Easy Herbal Tea-Making led by Ciera Carter
This session will explore the advantages and applications of plant-based medicine. Ciera will provide a simple formula guide for crafting delightful and beneficial herbal tea blends. We'll concentrate on family-friendly medicinal herbs that thrive in our area, aid in boosting the body's immunity, promote relaxation, and improve digestion. Each participant will walk away with their own custom blend of herbs for tea.
12:45-1:30pm: You Got the Juice: A Juicing 101 Workshop led by Adwoa Asentu
This session will cover everything you need to know to begin your home-juicing journey. You'll learn how to choose the right juicer for your needs, prep and pair foods, and the many health benefits of juicing, as well as how to make more than just juice with your juicer! All participants will have an opportunity to make their own 16oz juice using a combination of fresh fruits and herbs of their choosing.
1:30-2:15pm: Seed Starting led by Shyelle Aikens
Understand that tiny seeds grow mighty trees or even simple blooms that attract bees. Dive into the basics of how these seeds turn into the plants we eat every day. This hands-on workshop explores the world of agriculture and direct food sources, showing you how simple it is to kickstart your own garden right in your kitchen. Learn to start and nurture seeds, understand germination, and grow seedlings to the point of transplanting. Each participant will leave with a starter plant.
2:15-3pm: Social time, Q&A, and catered food from The Walking Jerk!

This event is part of the Library Takeover program and was made possible thanks to funding from TruStage and the Madison Public Library Foundation.

Meet the Team

Adwoa Asentu (also known as Britney Woods) is a Mother, Interdisciplinary and Multimedia Artist, Poet, Yoga Instructor, Community-Centered Educator, Communication Strategist, Revolutionary Peacemaker, and Holistic Health Advocate. Her brands, Asentu Art and Asentu Alternative Medicine, focus on the power of expression, holistic healthcare approaches, and making art and wellness tools accessible to all. She has a B.A. in Communication with a minor in Ethnic Studies and Community-Based Learning and is now on the path of receiving her Master’s in Art Therapy. She is the daughter of Tifene Brown and the granddaughter of Barbara Joyce and Willie Lee Brown. She is the walking manifestation of their legacy and honors that legacy by sharing her inherited gifts with the world, loving on her loved ones, and uplifting aspects of her culture in the work that she does. Outside of pursuing her passions, she loves spending time with her son, family, & friends. She enjoys relaxing in nature, going on spontaneous adventures, binge watching 90’s sitcoms, listening to good music, and eating good food.

Ciara Hartzog, AKA Cici, is a Racine native with a deep passion for improving the quality of life of others by providing resources and equitable access to nutritious food sources. Cici has been in the kitchen for as long as she can remember cooking and exploring culture with the matriarchs of her family. As a former business owner of a prepared meal delivery service, Cici places a high value on feeding her community and healing their bodies with food. She is a proud supporter of libraries and has previously served as Friends of the Racine Public Library Public Relations board member and general board member of the Wild Root Market Co-Op. Cici lives with her husband, Davi, and daughter, Hazel. In her free time she enjoys cooking, of course, crocheting and watching documentaries.

Ciera Carter is a wellness consultant and herbalist at The Natural Food Shop, an herbal apothecary that has served the Milwaukee area since 1962. Continuing her passion for holistic wellness and community empowerment, she has dedicated her time and expertise to various endeavors such as leading workshops on herbalism and natural remedies at local community centers, organizing nature-based activities for youth, and collaborating with local organizations to create opportunities for Black entrepreneurs to thrive.

Shyelle Aikens is a generational green thumb and seasoned gardener/farmer. She has made it her mission to educate others about agriculture, food and cultural influence on our eating habits to help make people feel good while making healthier decisions. Born and raised on the west side of Madison, she's happy to be bringing seeds, soil and pots to show others how easy it is to grow their own food.