March 20, 2025 | 6PM ‘til the embers fade
(Weather pending – bring a blanket and your appetite)

Spring is returning—and we’re calling in the light together.

Join The Joy Project for our Annual Spring Equinox Fundraiser, an evening of warmth, food, and community around the bonfire. As always, we’ll be serving up a family-style meal centered on chicken, honoring the tradition of the “spring chicken” as a symbol of tenderness, vitality, and new beginnings.

This isn’t just a meal—it’s a moment to gather, give thanks, and support the work we do all year: seed library kits, storytelling circles, community healing spaces, and Black agrarian joy.

Can’t make it to the fire? You can still feed the work.

We welcome your presence—but if you can’t join us in person, you can still support this fundraiser by making a donation. Every dollar helps us cultivate abundance and liberation, one seed and story at a time.

🐣 What does “spring chicken” mean, and where does it come from?

The phrase “spring chicken” originally referred, quite literally, to young chickens born in the springtime. Before refrigeration and industrial farming, poultry was seasonal. Chickens born in spring were prized for their tenderness and signified the return of warmth, abundance, and fresh beginnings.

Older, tougher birds were equally valuable—perfect for the rich stews and broths that sustained families through colder months.

Over time, “spring chicken” became slang for someone youthful and full of energy. The phrase “no spring chicken”emerged in the 18th–19th century as a playful way of saying someone was no longer young—but perhaps still full of spirit.

Culturally, the phrase connects age, vitality, and the turning of the seasons. It’s tied to food, freshness, and the joy of renewal—making it the perfect centerpiece for a springtime gathering.