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?"

The Right Path, part 1

"Your life takes you directions you don't expect." So says Laura Stauffer, owner of Green Circle Organics at Lancaster's Central Market.

Life seemed to prepare Laura for her role as a Lancaster pioneer in the marketing of organic produce. In late 2002, a friend of a friend told her that a business at the market was coming up for sale. Laura, who then worked at Rhubarb's Market, had already done organic farming in upstate New York.

"I really wanted to be in business for myself and it fit in with my past experiences and my interests" she explains. So Laura bought the business, becoming one of the 1st retailers of organic produce in Lancaster County. Later when Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative formed, Green Circle Organics became their 1st retail account in the county.

This March 9th Green Circle will celebrate it's 8 year anniversary!

I asked Laura what advice she would give to others wanting to start a local business.

Here's what she advises:

" It definitely had it's challenges, but if you're on the right path things just kind of happen. Take that leap. For me, at the time, getting a small business loan and doing things on my own was a big deal ! Now I'm so glad I did it! I say take that risk. As long as it's a calculated risk, I think 'Why not?'

If you're doing something good for the community and you believe in what you're doing and you treat people well and you stand behind your product, it'll work."

Next: Some of Laura's hopes for future

Warm Feet In A Cold Month

I'm desperate for the answer.
I'm hungry for the cause.
I really want my mommy
And good old Santy Claus.

I'm certain my uncertainty
Is sure to entertain
Those clutching their security
While standing in the rain.

All those things that I have lost
Between my birth and death;
Like February's endless frost,
Before Spring's warming breath,
Are teaching me some paradox
About life's deeper rhyme.
So I'll keep putting on my socks
Just one foot at a time.

Yes, I'll keep putting on my socks
Just one foot at a time.

Asking The 2nd Question

I have a neighbor with a snow blower. This morning he didn't stop after he blew the 4-5 inches of snow off his driveway and sidewalks. He continued on to our driveway and sidewalk, a most neighborly gesture!

So I went out to say "Thank you!" and to engage in a little neighborly conversation.

"How's all your family doing this winter?" I asked.

"OH, we're making out." He answered.

"So everyone's healthy?" I continued the querying.

"Healthy? No, not healthy. The wife is having problems. Her hands are burning all the time and she hasn't been able to go back to work. The carpal tunnel surgery was supposed to end her problems, but it seems like it only made matters worse!"

I already knew that HE'D been laid off from a good job 2 years ago. Although he has been working since then , it's been at unsatisfactory positions and bad hours. "You gotta do what you gotta do," he's told me on different occasions. And now SHE is not physically able to work.

These are trying times for our neighbors!

I was sorry to hear about their difficulties, but glad I asked the 2nd question.

That got me to thinking: I wonder how often we miss making real connections with people because we stop after the obligatory "How are you? Fine. Thank you."

Neighborliness can grow into relationship and then community building. But only if someone is willing to take the time to ask the 2nd and 3rd questions. And after asking to listen!

Now the ball's in my court. How will I let my neighbors know we're here for them?

The Beat of A Jubilant Drummer

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

I know someone who embodies that wonderful Howard Thurman quote: my friend, Paul Montigny.
Paul comes alive when he plays the drums! Although he's already quite alive doing other things, especially for a man of his years. But when my friend drums he's ageless! "Jubilant!" is how one person described Paul's drumming.

Paul puts it this way: "I'm real when I play and dance!"


Many times I've seen Paul jump off the ground while he's playing the congas! And he really loves it when people dance to his jubilant beat!

I once introduced Paul as a local treasure because he has initiated so many people into the joys of cooperative music making through the numerous drum circles he's led the last 2 decades. For 5 years,the city of Lancaster employed him to lead a New Year's Eve drum circle for their city wide celebration. He's also known for the circles he's led at Lancaster's Long's Park, for playing at local churches and for many other organizations.

Currently Paul plays in a band called Streetbeets.* Streetbeets can be heard playing most 1st and 3rd Fridays each month at their favorite street location on the 100 block of E. Orange St across from the Prince St Parking Garage. On Friday, June 17th they'll be playing in the cafe at Ten Thousand Villages, Ephrata,PA between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

What Paul Montigny is so good at is engaging people of all ages with his drumbeat and then inviting them to discover rhythm making for themselves. I can think of few things that build connections between people faster than drum circles. Yes, my friend is a community treasure.

Most of us are too used to being entertained; of being an audience. But the real joy and meaning in life comes when we join a circle of action, make our own music, design our own clothes, grow our own food, start a cooperative endeavor of some kind or even create our own local currency.
We can move from being consumers to being creators and energized citizens! We can come alive and inspire others to come alive. We can dance to the beat of a jubilant drummer!

If you're not yet part of such an endeavor, look for one to join. Or think about what you want to begin. Just get started!

It's how we build community. It's how we find the energy to overcome the inertia that keeps us chained to the life robbing forces of corporatism and globalization. It sets our imaginations free to envision a different world, the world of The New Jubilee!



*Full Disclosure: I also play in Streetbeets.