Colored By the Land

The logo design for Fresher Together began, for me, with a day on the land. That afternoon we were weeding and creating new beds for mid-season planting. During a break Fresh gave an impromptu foraging and plant identification lesson from the "weeds" we had been removing. Two in particular were flourishing along the beds and paths, catching our attention with their vibrant greens and deep red tones: lamb's quarters and amaranth. By then, Fresh and I had spoken in passing about the design needs for Fresher Together but hadn't made any strides towards a draft yet. It was the colors of those plants, captivating us while we chatted about ways to cook them that planted the seed for what became the Fresher Together logo. All of us together on the land learning about what grows around us, imagining new ways to nourish our bodies, building relationships with each other and the living creatures around us - it was a moment where what Fresher Together is here for was felt by everyone present. I snapped photos of the lamb's quarter and amaranth that day and those photos gave me the color palette for the design.

The Chef's Influence

Chef Fresh came to the design discussion with powerful and rooted concepts from the beginning. Fresh already had her own logo for her catering work - designed by JJ Ueunten. This became the foundation for the grow, build, cook, & heal fists, the mighty arms of Fresher Together's work. The influences didn't end there though: Fresh also asked to incorporate ujima and mycelium into the primary logo for the design. Mycelium is the underground network of fungi providing nutrients, communication channels - a major life force that sustains the natural world. Ujima, Kiswahili for collective work and responsibility, paired so well with the mycelium that the two came together in the design. The mycelium framing the lettering is shaped after the symbol representing ujima, reflecting our connection and collective force, not only with each other but with the living world around us. When I think about the impact Fresher together has had in the short time it's been operating, I imagine each arm of the ujima mycelium radiating out, growing deeper and wider with each person this work touches, transforming our food systems towards justice with every new connection.”