Alchemy Juice Bar Cafe
Address:
36 Fairfield Ave, Hartford, CT 06114
Phone:
(860) 246-5700
Other Details:
Imani & John, the owners of Alchemy, met when Imani approached John at his place of business ( a four generation stone business ) about opening a juice bar there. His curiosity piqued, John pursued Imani's vision of raising her family ( three daughters at the time ) by creating an interactive learning environment where she could run a business with her children by her side. Together, they blended their families, six kids in all now seven to eighteen, in a community setting where values of sustainable living, zero-waste and conscious consumerism are not only practiced, but a way of life. Imani's recently published book, The Absence of Soil, is a personal look at how one family has been able to successfully follow a sustainable path. The cafe has transformed from a tiny store front in the Southend of Hartford to various expansions over the years. Today it now houses a Living Arts Studio & Workspace for moms running businesses ( while their children attend The Sustainable Academy for Kids ' classes on eco-activism focusing on the arts, recycling, real food & gardening ). The family stone business still supports the overall operations and sits in between the cafe and the latest addition, The Growing Green Wellness Center where fitness classes such as yoga, Zumba & bellydance are held on a weekly basis. Workshops, meditations, drum circles, live music & film nights are held regularly. Click her for our calendar of events www.growinggreenevents.com In addition, recycled bikes and repairs are available through John's Bike Shoppe housed in the co-op basement. The oldest of the tribe can often be found working in the kitchen ( in between homeschooling activities & adventures ) as well as other community volunteers. Artists, Gardeners, Raw Foodists, Healers and those interested in all aspects of sustainable living can be found hanging around the cafe. Our current passion and interest is to grow an Urban Permadise in the middle of the city as a model for what is possible. Recycled objects such as stones from the family business, food storage containers & bicycle parts have been used to construct eclectic urban gardens. Our cafe compost is turned into black gold with our red wigglers and kale grows in gutters on the roof. We are also helping out on a long time organic local farm ( Udderly Woolly Acres in Glastonbury ) to learn how to grow our own food. Currently we are launching a farmraiser to raise the money needed to facilitate a transition takeover of the farm to maintain it as a working farm here in CT. The farm will not only serve as a sister site to the cafe but also as an educational center where others can witness how to grow the most mineral & nutrient-dense foods. ( www.alchemyacresfarm.com ) Keep an eye out for the Alchemy Acres Raw food Line coming soon! For more information about the farm, to volunteer on a committee or to help out in the gardens contact Imani@thegreenvibration.com
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