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?"

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.

Howie,Wally and Junior:A Backyard Parable About Predatory Behavior

Everyone wants to eat;even the hawk who was on our bird feeder this morning. I'll call him Howie.
Howie wanted to eat the little junco(Junior) who had somehow managed to get caught inside the feeder. How Junior got inside,I have no idea. Inside the feeder, this little bird was in a cage. Hungry Howie the hawk could not get in and terrified Junior the junco could not get out.

I love those little birds who come to our feeders in the winter;the juncos,blue jays, cardinals and mourning doves. I want them to be safe when they come. I want my backyard to be their sanctuary,where they can eat but not be eaten!

I love Howie the hawk, too. I just don't want him eating the birds I'm trying to protect. When I went outside and yelled at him, he just sat there on top of the feeder. So I told him, "I understand that you are a carnivore. I know you need to eat to live." He flew up a few feet into the weeping cherry tree.
"But", I said,"I don't want you eating here!"
As I moved quickly toward him, he flew off.
Arriving at the feeder, I opened the top flap, turned it upside down and gently shook. The junco
fell out and took off flying. I can imagine hearing little Junior shouting out: "Free at last!" I then filled up the bird feeder with nourishing seeds for Junior and all his buddies who feed there every day.

Howie the hawk is a predator by nature. Helpless smaller birds who can't get away look like a godsend to him. He's programed that way by the Creator. So, I can't really blame him for trying to stay alive.
Human beings seem a little different to me. Some humans, maybe Wally the Wall Street banker guy for example, appear to feed on all of us smaller birds in order to get fatter and fatter. I'm believing that they could change if they'd wake up to the damage they are doing. I don't think they have to act in a predatory or destructive manner.

Until all the Wally guys do wake up, we could use some tougher regulations to prevent them from fattening up on us Juniors. Each individual Wally may believe "Greed is good and I'm entitled to make all I can off of the system." But Wally, Obesity is a killer!

What the rest of us could do is refuse to play the game. We don't have to take the role of prey. We can build our local communities by buying locally, investing locally and accelerating the development of our local economies every way we can. We can put our life energies into real wealth creation. We can treasure our land, our water, our neighborhoods,our schools,communities of faith, and work to release those who are trapped in cages of poverty.