COMING SOON: QUEEN OF THE PRAIRIE ALMANAC

Written by Melissa H Potter with illustrations by Victoria Mak

Welcome to the first almanac of the Feminist Seed Bank, rooted in the prairies, swamps, and wetlands of the Midwest. Less than one percent of the Midwestern prairie biome remains today. This almanac is born out of a passion for native plants—celebrating their resilience and cultural histories, which have been erased during the biological loss of the last century.

Many people, especially those in cities, may not have the time or space to grow their own plants. Yet there are many other ways to nurture both cultural and ecological health—through art, research, storytelling, and attentive viewing.

Here, we invite you to encounter these plants through an alternative lens: one that engages forgotten feminist histories, folklore and mythology, and moments of reflection on the subtle power and enduring importance of plants.

Illustrator extraordinaire: Victoria Mak is an artist and illustrator from Chicago. Their practice explores the intimacy of personal mythology, seeking to bridge the disconnection between self and the collective. Primarily working with watercolor and scent, Mak moves from observing the sacredness of the mundane to indulging in sentimental desires, creating reflective moments in their work. Intertwined with the natural world, she utilizes the organic materials at hand to focus on storytelling and share the slivers of love in their life. 

While uncovering the mystical aspects of flora and fauna within and around the garden, Mak reflects on nature’s reaction to human presence and the reciprocal relationships that connect all living beings. Through observing subtle rhythms and patterns found in leaves and organic forms, they embrace how these sacred designs mirror human design, gestures, and evolutions. The synchronicities between humans and the ecosystem reveal how deeply we are bound through cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. 

Feminist Seed Bank is a “bank of knowledge”– not unlike a literal seed bank – that locates, interprets, preserves and celebrates plants and the practices germinating from them performed by women. Historically women have created and passed down these traditions central to their cultural identity and sovereignty. This work is now at risk of being lost due to the climate crises, as well as to industrialization, war and gender bias. Through gardens, publications, exhibitions, conversations, an open-source archive and DIY kits, the Feminist Seed Bank amplifies and monumentalizes this information before it is too late.