As The Rotunda was exiting Wild Things, we saw two actual Wild Things strolling down the street, hand in hand, exploring their new neighbourhood. Welcome!
NAMES:
Jaclyn Keoh and River Roberts
WHERE HAVE YOU JUST MOVED FROM?
River: Southside (Elwood). The North side’s way more fun!
THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE TO HEAR.
THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE HOOD?
Community, wild, eclectic.
WHO ARE YOU WEARING?
River: Wild Things Onesies. It’s Jaclyn’s birthday today so we’re celebrating in style by dressing up as Wild Things to go to Wild Things.
Oh, wow, Happy Birthday!
WITH COFFEE, WHICH IS MOST IMPORTANT: THE BEAN, THE BARRISTA OR THE VIBE?
River: The barrista. I used to be a barrista so I have to say that. The barista should make the vibe
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR COFFEE?
Jaclyn: Uncle Drew’s in Clifton Hill.
ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE YOUR CURRENT STATE OF MIND:
River: Melan - hold the choly.
WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU HAPPIEST?
River: Island hopping and Scuba Diving in West Papua about 5 years ago.
IF YOU COULD BE STANDING ANYWHERE A YEAR FROM NOW, WHERE WOULD IT BE?
River: On a floating city that travels the world slowly.
IF YOU COULD INTRODUCE ONE THING TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
River: A Micro Forest. (https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/07/tiny-urban-forests-miyawaki-biodiversity-carbon-capture/)
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Jaclyn: I’m studying Chinese Medicine. I’m going to Indonesia as soon as I can to start a multi-modality. A clinic for alternative therapy practitioners to practice their craft… alternative energies. There are lots of expats who want Western style alternative therapies there…. I just suddenly felt like I could do it!
River: I’ve been designing urban farms in New York City.
INTERESTING! WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
River: Working on how to grow and provide the best fresh food where people actually live. We created high-end herb farms for Michelin star restaurants and farmed in shipping containers, in basements, rooftops, carparks and on construction sites for local neighbourhoods. We taught people how to farm…
AMAZING! WHO PAID YOU?
Mostly the communities.
DID YOU STUDY HORTICULTURE?
No, I decide what I want to do and then I do it and if I need a particular knowledge or skill I find people who have it.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING PHILOSOPHY.
I find the most exciting work is bringing ideas to life. Rather than spending time and money on ´education´ just find awesome people to collaborate with. A current example: I'm exploring is, what would happen if you invited a cruise ship builder and greenhouse designer to collaborate?
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
New York, Hong Kong but more recently in Lisbon, Portugal. I was starting an agrihood - neighbourhood of small footprint homes among farms and food forests. But my mum had a stroke and now I’m here and caring for her.
RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE WWW?
Really love longnow.org and teamhuman.fm
ANYTHING ELSE?
My mother lost the use of her hand when she had a stroke. There were lots of people in her ward who also had that issue, so we took in a bunch of sock puppets for them.