THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING. 

It seems impossible that any words we could string together would ever appropriately convey what this past weekend means to those of us that lived it. We're almost reluctant to try, for fear that our description will somehow diminish the significance. But we must follow our own advice, and plow forward.

We spent the past four days with 14 Good Food Jobs users (+ a dozen volunteers / staff / performers / farmers / foragers / family members / and one 2-year-old). We began as relative strangers. Each of us left with the unspoken knowledge that this experience changes everything. 

In our prevailing sound bite culture, many of those present (us included, obviously) are at a loss for how to explain the magnitude of the gathering. Nestled in the forested hills of Sullivan County, NY we experienced the good food equivalent of Woodstock (an appropriate analogy given that the epic music festival transpired at Bethel Woods, just down the road from our campsite).

We gastronomes honor several ideologies of the so-called hippies that came before us - namely embracing elements of altruism, mysticism, honesty, and joy. Fundamentally, we came together to share an interest in the tenants of ecological justice, through a shared passion for food, the culture that surrounds food, and a desire to live a life aligned with our beliefs.

Our bizarro modern-day version of the well-known 1969 music festival was at once identical and opposite in its execution and impact. We convened to celebrate and practice peace, music, and harmonious living, but traded in an abundance of drugs for our substance of choice: ridiculously good food. While our numbers were microscopic in comparison, we estimate that the impact of our collective participation made it every bit as epic as the experience of Woodstock. The long term impact of the weekend is TBD, but we're certain that the ripple effects will be evolving over the decades to come.

More than anything, we upheld a common intention, punctuated and peppered by our unique perspectives and individual abilities and interests. Here's the proof, in their own words:

• To be placed into an environment (camp) that is reminiscent (for me, at least) of adolescent struggle - feeling isolated, ostracized, self-loathing - and then encountering nothing but genuine caring and acceptance is a revelation of sorts. Just knowing that so many of my people - our people - are out there and that we're all rooting for each other. Tears in my eyes and gratitude in my heart.
   
• Sometimes the best indicator is not What did I get out of it? but instead What did we all put into it? A couple of interactions stand out, whether it was in speaking to another participant; in validating their experiences, dreams, or fears; in sharing what power and light and potential I / we see in them; and in watching that spark come alive (the "aha" moment) . . . That is the real magic I take with me. I'm not unique in this; we all did that for someone this weekend. We all helped ignite fires within each other.
   
• It's an amazing thing to feel communed by the work / sounds / bonfires of others - not competitive, jealous, or self-judging. I think it's abundance that allows us to be lit by each other's light. There was and is enough for everyone to be everything they want to be / do / see / give. 
   
• We hosted a brilliant stone soup feast. We brought with us our most treasured ingredients -- dreams and hopes and that special blend of spices that makes us unique. We cleaned out our pantries. And we put it all into our collective pot. We warmed it up, gave it a hearty stir, let the flavors marinate, and we nourished ourselves. But full as we felt, we couldn't possibly eat it all. No, we had plenty of leftovers. And with them, we went back home, to feed our loved ones and our communities and even save a little for a rainy (soup-perfect) day. Let the record state that we throw one bomb-ass potluck.

When something means so much to you, how can you let it out into the world for others to judge? Perhaps the only way we can is to stop talking about it and continue to recreate more of these experiences. And to continue to share those efforts with the world. That is the most and best that any of us can do.

May you all get and give the level of participation, honesty, energy, gratitude, and support that we experienced this weekend with these people. And may you reach your own inner peace by finding your people, determining your place, and sharing your special gifts with the world. Sometimes the only way to do this is to unplug, open up, and stop looking for the path. Only when you soften your focus does the route become clear. 

So much more to share next week as we continue to ruminate and digest our experience. In the meantime meet one of our Eco Practicum participants turned what is sure to be life-long friend on our blog this week. 

Cheers,
 

   Taylor & Dorothy
   Co-Founders, Good Food Jobs