Sharp Knives, Brass Tacks

A confession: I've never previously paid that much attention to the changing of the calendar year. It seemed to me an arbitrary reference point, and compared to the astronomical beauty of the equinox or the solstice, January 1st just seemed pretty silly. But I've gradually realized I live in a world of people (whoa!), and many choose this date to do some sort of soul searching, slate cleaning, and resolution making. Sometimes it seems our society is on auto-pilot, so I'm grateful for the contemplative mood New Years inspires, even if it happens on a day established in 153 B.C.E. by the Roman Senate as the beginning of the calendar year simply to correct a previously out-of-synch calendar. I'll keep my musings co-op specific, since most people don't read the CGFC board blog for musings on architecture, design, keeping the water from freezing in the chicken coop, or intersections thereof. 2007 was, frankly, stellar. Jacqueline and her staff have done an amazing job. Membership is up, sales are up, waste is down, and we have a better selection of locally grown and produced, fair trade, and organic products in the store than ever before. What's more, the vibe is incredibly positive. People are bustling in, taking part, asking questions, learning, and growing. That vibe is a precious thing. I believe that when people are feeling positive about the community they are a part of, they can accomplish anything...and we've got a lot to accomplish. 2008 will see the co-op open it's doors in a new location. On some hopefully-beautiful day this summer, with the sunlight streaming in our windows and co-op members old and new gathered together, we'll mark a new era of our own. It has taken an incredible amount of work to reach this point, it's going to take even more work to reach that sunny gathering, and according to those that have gone before us, the work begins in earnest once our doors open. Fortunately, this work is a joyful effort, because the energy, money, and time we put into this endeavor are not frittered away. We'll have something to show for it! The food on our plate will be better for it, as will the soil under our feet and the air we breathe. In the next month or so the members of our co-op our going to be inundated with relocation-related details, strategic visioning plans, and calls for help. So I'll keep this short. My resolution for 2008 is to work hard to keep you informed and gather your input as much as possible as we move forward. It's going to come down to brass tacks of raising money pretty soon. But that doesn't mean it has to hurt.

"Learn to handle hot things. Keep your knives sharp. And above all, have a good time." -- Julia Child

Peace, -Clint Popetz CGFC Board Chair P.S. The New Oxford American Dictionary declared "Locavore" to be the 2007 word of the year. How cool is that?