Our Vision~
Sweet River Bamboo’s emerging partnership with newly developing Nourishing Earth Institute (NEI) will enrich our collective experience of connection to nature in community through ritual and creativity. 

What is Emerging~
Nourishing Earth Institute is a newly emerging organization envisioning to offer nature-based interfaith festivals, ceremonial events, gathering space, guidance, classes, and services to support family and community wellness in the greater Portland area. Located in Northeast Portland, Nourishing Earth is the lifelong vision of Sahra Alizadeh and is currently in the conception phase of development. This vision is a response to the immediate need of families and individuals for a cultural and spiritual support system built around practices that reconnect us to our innate ecological awareness and the biorhythms of our planet.

Hearing the Call~
Driven by an awareness of the urgent environmental and social crises of our time, Nourishing Earth’s mission is to address these issues in the most powerful way possible: on the scale of local culture and community interrelationship. The organization recognizes “community” as a complex living network including not only a human group but also the animals, plants, minerals, natural processes, and forces of the native ecosystem. NEI is a community of members rich with diversity, a collection of folks in various stages of their life journey. 

Taking Action~
Nourishing Earth seeks to connect individuals and families to their place in this community web, and to strengthen the integrity of the whole system by bringing a reverent and celebratory consciousness into the rhythms of everyday life. To this end, Nourishing Earth endeavors offerings of services, festivals and events blending ancient traditions with creative innovation informed by a strong sense of place. These offerings will mark natural turning points in the month, the year, and-upon request-in the life of community members and families. Components of these events hope to include dance, therapeutic movement, singing, and visual art, which will also be offered to the community via classes, social gatherings and performances.

Supporting Sweet River Bamboo~
As this organization forms, it is Nourishing Earth Institute’s intention to offer classes and trainings to SRB staff, parents and the larger Portland community. This relationship will strive to offer community and support to staff members and families who have children enrolled in SRB programs. Participation is not required but is a grand opportunity for shared fun, connection and celebration.

Does NEI speak to you? Contact Us!

If this vision resonates with you and speaks to your desire to participate in the creation of a community focused on reconnecting to the natural rhythms of our earth in a non-dogmatic container, please contact us to explore the possibilities!