Kick Off: Saturday, September 29 from 4-6pm @ 1020 King Street

COME IN! COME IN!

 

 

Butterfly Book Nook offers a colorful, free community space to the neighborhood to share stories, dance, read, sing, share stories, and so much more.

Butterfly Book Nook, 1020 King Street, was the brainchild of Kim Williams Odom, former librarian at the John L. Dart Library, and Reverend Tyrone Dash of First African. They approached their friends at Enough Pie with the idea to create a community gathering place for the children of First African and DART to enjoy books and reading outside. With this core goal, the group began meeting over supper to discuss what this might look like.Over the past two years, with the support of a Steering Circle (see below) made up of neighbors, non-profits, First African, John L. Dart Library and facilitated by Enough Pie, BUTTERFLY BOOK NOOK came into creation.

But what inspired Kim? The seed for Butterfly Book Nook grew from the storied work of librarian Cynthia Graham Hurd, a lifelong resident of the North Central community whose died in the Mother Emanuel 9 tragedy, who lived, educated, and dreamed in this neighborhood. A dear friend of Kim’s, this garden has bloomed under her divine guidance.

After stripping away the barbed wire surrounding the site, the ground was leveled and the hard work began. First, a brand new fence was constructed by EP Board Member Meg Goettsches and friends. With help from Professor Dave Pastre & Clemon Design.Build students, a beautiful butterfly-inspired pavilion was designed and built in the Spring of 2018. Gardener Celie Daily, with help from REMARK Landscape friends JR & Holly, selected the native plants and designed the garden to attract pollinators. Celie is the Book Nook gardener, and she facilitates the planting, purchasing and runs GARDEN WORK DAYS. Artists from REDUX, led by Mia Liox, have created a colorful mural featuring an inviting poem — over 150 kids in the neighborhood helped paint the mural. Step by step, day by day, a garden grew….

Now, this free space serves as a creative garden to learn about plants, pollinators such as bees, birds, and butterflies, encourage inquiry, and engage in storytelling and book sharing. The Butterfly Book Nook will continue to need everyone’s support to blossom. Garden work days happen every other Saturday (see our EVENTS) so please come out and roll up your sleeves!

SOUP & STORYTELLING will take place in the garden every Tuesday during Autumn, 2018 from 5:30-7pm. The event, like every EP event, is free and open to everyone.

OUR STEERING COMMITTEE IS HERE TO ROCK THIS PROJECT!

 

 

 

 

 

Organizations Involved: Enough Pie, Historic Charleston Foundation, Cynthia Graham Hurd Foundation for Literacy and Civic Engagement, Celie Dailey, Artist & Craftsman, REDUX Contemporary Art Center, Keep Charleston Beautiful, John L. Dart Library, REMARK, and The Boeing Company