The No Waste Man part 2

This is a continuation of the 123 Jubilee post on The No Waste Man

Now that Davd Fraile manages the operations of Eastern Market he can blend together several projects, thus reducing waste in still another way! By combining the efforts of The Really Really Free Market, the Lancaster Skill Share Collective and other like minded community projects a synergy is produced, accelerating progress in reducing waste and creating community resources. Fraile's own efforts and that of many others will be maximized!

Way to go "No Waste Man"!

The rest of this article comes from the website www.historiceasternmarket.org, which announces:

" an ongoing series of free workshops on self-sufficiency and sustainability skills for the 2011 season. In partnership with local organizations such as The Lancaster Skill Share Collective, LIVE Green, Transition Lancaster and The Alley Garden, Eastern Market will offer weekly workshops on money and resource saving skills such as urban gardening, native tree planting, composting, food preservation, homemade baby food, bike maintenance, sewing, printmaking and more. We are currently scheduling workshops and are interested in hearing from anyone that has a skill to share. Please send all inquiries to lancasterskillshare@gmail.com

Really, Really Free Market

Beginning May 28th 2011, Eastern Market will be the proud host of Lancaster's Really, Really Free Market. Since 2007, The Really, Really Free Market has collected donations of clothing, appliances, kitchen items, books, movies, art supplies, tools, and many other useful goods from Lancaster residents. On the second Saturday of every month, volunteers have set up in Penn Square and distributed these items for free to city residents, offering items of need to neighbors while reducing waste and promoting environmental awareness. By providing storage space and a lively public venue for The Free Market, Eastern Market will allow this heretofore monthly event to begin taking place every week. To volunteer or donate, please contact lancasterfreemarket@gmail.com

The No Waste Man part 1

When David Fraile returned to Lancaster County in 2006 after studying at The New School in New York City, he wasted no time in helping to launch a series of projects for the common good.

I call David "The No Waste Man" because of the nature of those service projects.

First, he became involved in "The Lancaster Really Really Free Market" (LRRFM) at its beginning. Every 2nd Saturday for almost 5 years now, LRRFM sets up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Penn Square at the corner of King and Queen. Donated items such as clothing, CDs and computers are given away. Free! No waste!

In 2007 a group of Millersville University students began a local chapter of Food Not Bombs. Fraile joined in this endeavor within the first month and became very actively involved. For two and a half years, his efforts insured that it's weekly free meals would be served in Lancaster Square (across the street from Binn's Park) every Monday from 11 a.m. 2 p.m.

Lancaster Food Not Bombs collects organic food that is surplus or no longer sellable but yet is still usable. No waste! Volunteers pick up the donated food from several local retailers, prepare the meals, serve it and then clean up (Lancasterfnb.wordpress.com).

In November, 2009 Fraile began The Lancaster Skill Share Collective, dedicated to teaching a wide range of selfsuffiency skills in free community workshops. The collective's objectives are "to help our neighbors reduce waste, save money and adopt more labor conscious lifestyles" (thelancasterskillsharescollective.wordpress.com).

In late 2010 David Fraile attained a dream of his: to direct a nonprofit organization. He has taken over as manager of Lancaster's Eastern Market. Through this position, he plans to continue addressing community need by reducing waste and creating shared community resources (historiceasternmarket.org). See "The No Waste Man" Part 2 for Fraile's partnership plan between The Lancaster Skill Share Collective, Lancaster Really Really Free Market and Eastern Market.

The Right Path Part 2

(This is a continuation of the last post at 123 Jubilee)

When the stand space next to Green Circle Organics became available in early 2011, Laura knew it was time to expand. Things had gotten congested with the products she had added in the past year.

Now there's space for a larger refrigerated unit to display the locally produced cheeses, eggs, milk and meats.

What else may be in the future for Green Circle?
"I would love to have more canned goods to sell ... from people who are preserving local organic produce from their gardens or farms.
I would love to have homemade locally sourced tomato sauce and salsa throughout the winter or chow chow, kim chee and sauerkrauts or the like," Laura hopes.

Looking at community possibilities, Laura applauds those who contribute. " There are so many people in the community doing such good work for their neighbors." But ever the pioneer, she observes "I would love to see a composting project started at market! There is so much unsellable produce that just gets tossed in the trash out of a sheer lack of anywhere to go with it.
Much of what is still edible gets generously donated to those in need. But I'm talking about the produce I wouldn't feel comfortable donating.

"I think this could be a good business opportunity for someone as well. The composted finished product could then be resold to home gardeners.
"Mostly though I would like the amount of trash reduced at market. The Central Market Trust is working on this issue so we'll see what transpires in the coming year. Composting, though an ambitious project, just makes sense at market!"

AMBITIOUS PROJECTS

Talking with Laura Stauffer inspired me to consider the idea of ambitious projects. She mentioned the possibility of a composting business for someone. That might just be the right path for one of my readers: if not composting, then starting some other small business which serves the common good.

What ideas do you have? I'd like to hear them.

Ambitious projects which serve the common good could also be educational in nature. What could you teach someone? For some the right path may be an artistic endeavor such as music or sculpture. Maybe it's organizing people to help each other or to get to know each other. For instance, does your neighborhood need someone to organize a block party or a neighborhood watch?

Tell someone what you see or think. Talking together is often how things begin!

Remember, when Laura heard that a Central Market stand was coming up for sale, she decided to take the risk. Now Green Circle Organics is 8 years old!

It could be your turn to get started on the right path!

"Why not?"