plant matter 9.15
hey pals,
we’re getting back into the swing of this newsletter! i think i’ve said this in every issue, but thank you so much for reading / participating. nothing makes me happier than hearing that something in the letter resonated or brought you joy :)
and if you’re new here, welcome! plant matter is a weekly-ish email to share things i’m loving and learning lately—plant related and beyond 🌱.
i’d love it if you forwarded this to a friend or two, or your mom, or your mail carrier, if you think they might enjoy it.
if you haven’t subscribed already, here’s a button so you can do so:
filling my cup right now:
sitting in the sunshine until my muscles feel languid and my mind settled
picking cucumbers, green beans, tomatoes, carrots, and squash from my backyard garden
walking with a good podcast in my ears
voice notes from friends
bike riding down pretty streets in my neighborhood
if you’ve got something you think i should include in the next issue, reply to this email and let me know!
yoga
schedule switch up at coconut—i’m now teaching ‘spa yoga’ wednesdays at 6pm cst. the format is similar to ‘flow slow’ (which i was previously teaching on tuesday mornings), but we’ll stay in poses a little longer, move a little more gently, and hopefully connect to a sense of deep relaxation by the end of the hour. sign up here.
i get one free guest pass every week for any student who is new to coconut so let me know if you’d like to take advantage of that!
i’m still teaching my 45-min all levels flow on sundays at 11am cst. we’ve been getting into some fun strengthening and functional movement exploration lately. this is a more energetic class, and i’ll always offer plenty of modifications and options so your practice feels good in your body.
send me an email or dm if you’d like a recorded version of the class, and same for if you’ve got a request for anything you’d like to work on in a future flow.
i offer this class on a sliding scale $5-$25, pay through venmo (@maia-welbel) or paypal (maiazw@gmail.com).
the link for class is on my website. if you’d like to get on the list to receive it via email each week you can also reply here to let me know.
things i’ve written lately
an interview about permaculture, education, and so much more with designer and activist pandora thomas.
two interviews with seriously inspiring farmers and sustainable food activists: food sovereignty with one love garden and future farming with smarter by nature.
a roundup of 10 wonderful cookbooks by bipoc plant lovers.
a sweet conversation with the dazzling jasmine cho: cookie activism meets bake therapy.
a recipe for vegan challah.
a recipe for 30-minute sweet potato brownies.
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links
shouting out a fellow coconut yoga teacher—april falcon has some GREAT classes up on her youtube channel. she balances challenging flows with super helpful and clear alignment cues. her practice is also gorgeous, and she has the most soothing voice!
in love with dreamy sustainable fashion brand, miakoda. their clothes are made with eco-friendly plant fibers by people who are paid fairly for their labor, and shipped in 100% recycled packaging. the brand is committed to representation and inclusivity across all sizes, genders, and ethnicities—something that should be standard but is woefully lacking in much of the sustainable fashion industry. their high waisted joggers are the most comfortable pants i own.
las culturistas has been in my ears all week. i just love the hosts bowen and matt—their friendship is so heartwarming and i literally lol through every ep. the ‘rule of culture’ thing they do gets me every time.
also in my earbuds: big friendship by ann friedman and aminatou sow. listened to the audiobook start to finish over the course of 24 hours, and it was a delight. podcast royalty ann and aminatou narrate it themselves, and they bring in friends and experts who are quoted to read their own lines. this book presents a refreshingly concrete framework for examining female friendship—a topic on which i have many thoughts. have you read it? let’s discuss!
stealing this one from my contribution to friday’s clc weekly: the love fridge is a mutual aid initiative working to keep communities fed and nourished across chicago by placing refrigerators throughout the city for anyone to donate and / or take food from. local artists paint each fridge to reflect the community it lives in. the love fridge is always seeking volunteers, and there are tons of ways to get involved. chicago folks, head out there and donate plant-based food, volunteer for pickup / delivery, or connect the organization with any businesses you know (grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, etc.) who might be able to donate on a regular basis.
arq is donating all proceeds from their organic cotton scrunchie sales this month to the body: a home for love, a nonprofit shifting culture around how black women heal from sexual trauma through wellness, art, and storytelling.
special thanks to all the moms and mail carriers,
<3 maia