 |
| My Sunday baby-bouquet: Yarrow and scented geranium |
Why are rural areas notorious for being 'a great place to raise a family'? Aside from the lower crime rates and slower pace of life, I would think the ubiquity of mothers is one prime reason. I've come to realize this talking to others who are from the area or aren't and decided to settle here. The Planning Commission is no exception. My co-worker told me that being a mom wasn't difficult there because most of the other women had children of their own at some point, so working around daycare, appointments, extracurricular activities, and the like is not a big deal. The schedule is flexible as long as you get your work done. I absolutely love that mentality. I also realize that it is very hard to find companies to work for in urban centers that understand the obligations of motherhood and are willing to 'make exceptions' to work around the chaos that is childhood. There's just a different kind of mentality around productivity. Knowing this, if I ever start run a company or start a business I will be sure to prioritize family as a core value. If you can't rest assured that your family is safe and healthy, what in the world makes me think you would be able to concentrate on your job? Anyways...just one more benefit of rural living to add to the list--for those that actually want kids, of course. :)
 |
| Cooking up lunch at the Kid's Cafe with my hilarious co-workers |
A few posts back I mentioned this idea of the state of Kansas needing an agricultural specialist. Many farmers I've met as part of my internship love to farm. That makes sense. But when it comes to marketing, branding, using social media to promote their farm and farm products, there is a complete disconnect, lack of interest in taking the time to pursue those opportunities, or a sense that any time spent on it won't be worth it in the long-run. I'm sure this situation is representative of hundreds of farmers everywhere. But what exactly is being done to help these farmers, when all they want to do is grow food? There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that something should be done, especially with how much hype there is about investing in local food systems. I just received a link in my inbox this week in fact, summarizing the work and ideas generated at Harvesting Opportunity in Lawrence earlier this summer. It reminded me that there are indeed hopeful Kansans out there who want to get shit done. Some of the comments even echoed the thought I had about there not being enough technical assistance with marketing.
When I thought about all the possible gigs out there, an agricultural marketing specialist sounded like a pretty viable option, considering my background and, well, ability to understand the preferences of millennial shoppers, being one myself and all. Not to say that millennials are the only target market out there. But even with my experience conducting this community food survey for the North Central Kansas Food Council, I find myself learning more about the market than I ever anticipated. It would be a great chance to learn about different farming models, which businesses are doing well and aren't, and the ultimate networking opportunity. Anyways, if you hear of someone hiring, let me know!
Lastly, just wanted to reflect on the quality of food that's available around here and the sometimes laughable expectations of the locals. I feel like a food snob a lot of times, but it's just because my expectations are high, and always have been. I am forever grateful for the meals at home where I was critiqued for every little thing that could have been improved. It made me a pretty decent cook. At least decent enough to feel more confident in what I can whip up at home than what I'll get at the cafe for twice the money down the street.
 |
| Hella good falafel! |
Among the many concoctions I slaved over this weekend (salivated is probably a more accurate adjective to use), falafel and bread and butter pickles top the list of favorites. This week's menu includes pomodoro fresco alla romana, more falafel, cauliflower bites, roasted beet salad, and probably homemade granola with yogurt. I swear one of the best perks about working in the field of local foods is surrounding yourself with fresh produce. One of the gardeners at the community garden shared some of his sweet corn with me just because I stroke up a conversation with him to see what he was growing. And the friends of my co-worker gave me a jar of honey from their hives when I came to see their operation. My goal this week is to pay it forward some way...just have to figure out what that will be.
 |
| That me. In a bee suit. |
The recipe I used for falafel
Tzatiki sauce
Hummus
Bread and butter pickles
Lastly...Less than two weeks away from moving day. I'm trying not to think about the end of my time here. I have a feeling there are going to be more tears of sadness than joy.
Comments
Post a Comment