Goodness Weekly 10.13.25
“The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man”
― T.S. Eliot
WHAT’S GOOD
Urban Farming Workshop
Sunset Ridge Farmers Markets hosts workshops every 3rd Saturday, and this weekend we’ll be hearing from James of Clarke’s Greens. Saturday’s workshop is all about urban farming—with a focus on bio-intensive methods, minimal to no-till practices, and chemical-free market gardening. Whether you’re dreaming of starting your own backyard plot or want to deepen your knowledge of sustainable food production, this session is for you! Come join us to learn techniques that build soil health, increase yields, and bring fresh, nourishing food closer to home.
Sign up for this donation-based workshop here.
A Love for Libraries
Amy Lynn Johnson, Communications Manager, Sunset Ridge Collective
I am a travel- and library-loving nerd. So it’s only natural that I would combine the two whenever possible. There’s something about stepping into a library, anywhere in the world, that makes me feel at home. They take me back to my childhood, when I could leave with a stack of books and pour through them for hours—my world expanding with every flip of a page.
The Alpine Public Library was one of the first I sought out during my travels, filled with towering plants and corners that invite you to stay and escape the West Texas heat. The Austin Central Library has become another favorite with its incredible architecture—and a used bookstore where I can still support the library without a library card.
On trips to New York City, Seattle, and Mexico City, I started visiting more renowned libraries. Biblioteca Vasconcelos in Mexico City might be my favorite so far; it’s a sci-fi dream of floating shelves. And the fact that it is strategically designed without an HVAC system is awe inspiring.
These places remind me that libraries aren’t just about books. Free community community spaces like these make an impact on the surrounding community, creating third spaces that bring people together. You can’t help but feel lifted when you enter and leave spaces like these.
Bibioteca Vasconcelos in Mexico City
But my fondness for libraries isn’t limited to the grand and impressive. One of my favorite travel rituals is seeking out Little Free Libraries—those small wooden cabinets where neighbors leave books for others to adopt and enjoy. My kids and I have been visiting them for years here in San Antonio, but now I make it a point to find them when I travel, too.
One of my favorite finds was a Little Free Library down the block from Beverly Cleary’s childhood home in Portland. I took a book as a memento, reminiscing on the hours I would listen to the Ramona Quimby series with my own kids on road trips. I even found a few during a solo trip through Germany for my 40th birthday. Finding them tethers me to the familiar back home, but also connects me to the communities I’m visiting. To strangers who, like me, love words and the quiet generosity of sharing them.
When I first walked the grounds of Charis Park, I was delighted to see our own Little Free library here on campus. I imagine a mother walking hand in hand with her child on the way to the park, peeking in to see what treasures they can find inside. The simple exchange of books, curiosity, and care for others makes the world feel smaller and interconnected in a way the internet could never quite do.
Seeking out the good in life can feel like an impossible feat when the world is swirling around us. But when we look for it, goodness always makes its way to the surface. Sometimes in a soaring library of glass and steel. Other times, it’s in a tiny wooden box in a neighborhood park.
—Amy
Coming Up…
Daily, NYX Yoga & Fitness
Daily, One Another Coffee
Wednesdays, 11 AM - 1:30 PM, Open Studio Painting, The Art Room
Wednesdays, Mission Compost Pick Up
Wednesday, Oct. 15th, 6:30 PM, Sarah’s Heart Remembrance Service, Sunset Ridge Church
Wednesday, Oct. 15th, 7:30 - 9 PM, Illuman Council Meeting, Charis Park
Thursdays-Sundays, Scott’s Pizza, Charis Park
Every Saturday, 9 AM - 1 PM, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, Charis Park
Every Sunday, Worship at 9 AM and 11 AM, Sunset Ridge Church
Saturday, Oct. 25th, 9 AM - 1 PM, El Mercado + Anniversary Gathering for Charis Park
Event Rentals - Interested in hosting your event at Charis Park or in our facilities? Please email rentals@sunset-ridge.org
Community Partners: For updated schedules and events please follow One Another Coffee, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, NYX Wellness, Scott’s Pizza, Mission Compost, Sprouts School, Good Acres, and Community First Food Pantry.
Inhale: Here, I receive goodness.
Exhale: Here, I share goodness.
