Earth Day observed
This year for Earth Day (a Day I don’t usually…observe), I gave a talk on small-scale organic farming for an audience of three in the airy designer meeting room in the Upstairs at Loblaws zone. Here’s the view from…upstairs (this is the same super-sized supermarket mentioned from another recent trip to town). It was fun! To be more accurate, though, this wasn’t actually an Earth Day event, it just happened to fall on it, as part of an on-going series of talks and cooking classes and stuff that happen all the time, an effort of the giant Loblaws chain to be more community-oriented, engaging, one-stop. A veggie customer at the farmers’ market had suggested me for one of the slots way back last September or so, they called me up, I said OK, and a few months later… Yesterday, the coordinator called to say there were only six sign-ups (it’s free registration), so I could cancel if I wanted. Apparently, at least at this location, attendance can be low, with as little as one or two sign-ups for some, and 15 is a crowd. Since I had no expectations in the first place, I made my I-don’t-drive transportation arrangements and there I was. It was actually really interesting, talking to people who weren’t as predisposed to organic food and…greenness as most everyone who tends to shop at the stand at the farmers’ market or sign-up for CSA. I’d decided no presentation, just questions. It only took a minute to get things rolling: I asked everyone (all three), why they’d come and what they were expecting (”to learn more about organic food…”) and took it from there. It was a non-stop extended conversation, lasted 90 minutes without a pause or signs that any of us had had enough, until I took a natural exit point and casually wrapped it up. It was kind of a live, concentrated version of this blog: explaining what I do, giving what larger contextual background on agriculture I have—all directed by the flow of questions. The cool part was seeing another first-hand example of how people don’t seem so much PROGRAMMED to be driven consumers, as not given any CONVENIENT alternatives, like cheerful, enthusiastic, interesting-sounding, first-hand info, delivered to them live and direct (I had briefly considered bringing in a bag of partially composted cow manure to provide a bit of…flavor)! At one point, talking about how tiny farming and local food seem quite workable, and also ENJOYABLE for everyone involved, all people have to do is try, I said it’s like the audience in a movie theater: everybody watches the screen, it’s the easiest thing to turn around and look elsewhere, but even when the movie’s terrible, no-one bothers to look away because there’s usually nothing better to see… Does that mean that good tiny farming is at least one part entertainment?! I guess so… ;)
Somewhat related posts: • CSA shares… • Virtual local? • Au revoir to the farmers’ market! • Broccoli vs cauliflower • Potatoes from next door
alan said,
April 25, 2008 @ 11:26 am
Yes! Part of what we do is build connections with people. Entertainment is the best way to do that. That’s why the most well known micro-farmers are all characters. It’s part of the show.