When I began doing this work, I didn’t expect it to grow so organically. From the outside, it didn’t make sense: the timing was off, the conditions weren’t right, it kind of cropped up out of nowhere. But yet, it flourished.

Growing up, my family didn’t have the nicest of yards by any means. But we had TONS of clover patches. And year, after year, after year, despite being trampled by kids and dogs, having it’s flowers plucked at to build makeshift bouquets for mom, and being mowed down mercilessly by dad on humid Saturday mornings: the clover always came back. According to the internet, that’s because it’s “invasive”. A “weed”. A “nuisance”.

But clover serves a purpose. It’s a source of nectar and pollen for pollinators, like honeybees and butterflies. It attracts rabbits and other small herbivores who eat the leaves. It’s small white and pink buds make for the most dainty of bouquets. During a late night Wikipedia deep-dive, I learned clover lawns are recommended to help replenish soil nutrients.

Undiscovered. Resilient. Abundant. Delicate. Fruitful. Nourishing.

Those words describe the clover plant. Those words describe what I hope to emulate through my work with Clover Communities. But most importantly: those words describe so many of our communities who, despite all the obstacles life has thrown at them, despite their circumstances, and despite the systemic injustices they face daily, continue to flourish.

And apparently, I’m in the business of growing '“clover”.

- Liz Freeman, Founder/Principal Consultant