Welcome cracks appearing on the surface of things

I've been talking with friends a lot lately about the ability to be vulnerable. What does that really mean? Let's see, according to dictionary.com: Susceptible to physical or emotional injury; open to censure or criticism; assailable. Yup, that sounds pretty unappealing. But as I think more about this word and the particular defensive emotion that goes along with not wanting to be vulnerable - for me that is to erect a wall of strength - I realize that the defense makes it hard for people to get in. In a culture that prizes individuality, strength, and the ability to take care of yourself (all by yourself) - at what cost are we insulating and isolating ourselves to make things appear seamless on the surface of things?

What are your thoughts on vulnerability and strength? Do you think they're polar opposites or is there strength in vulnerability?

Volunteer experience at Waltham Fields Community Farm

So we arrived at the farm at exactly 9am this morning (2 adults, including me, and 1 child in our group). There was a nice cool breeze but the sun was quickly heating things up. We lingered under the tent for a minute before walking out to the fields and finding someone to tell us what to do. I forgot to bring water (good one on what would be a 90-degree day!) but never fear, there was a kitchen inside the building and spigots across different parts of the field. The farm fields are located behind the UMASS Field Station building and the fields are just beautiful (the above pic is from their website/unfortunately, my camera is done for and I need a new one so I can post my pics)... they grow vegetables and herbs like pepper, eggplant, tomato, fava beans, green beans, cilantro, thai basil, mint... we picked raspberries right off the bushes by the greenhouse for a snack after we were done (the berries were so good my daughter saved the last few in her hat so she could savor them on the car ride back). We ended up helping to weed the beds of eggplant and peppers while others helped harvest some of the eggplant that were big enough to pick. The smell of the peppers was especially pungent and delicious. Bees, various kinds of beetles, inch worms, spiders, and ladybugs were all around us as we worked. The sun was hot and we took lots of breaks to drink water; the kids in the field found shade when they needed to get out of the sun. We talked to each other as we worked and really enjoyed being out in the open air and communing with the insects (in a way that we don't do when the bugs are in our houses!). The time passed by really quickly and we could see the difference our work made when we were done. It felt incredibly productive and satisfying and the whole experience gave us motivation to come back and volunteer again and again.

Last thought: I was thinking to myself how much of a privilege it was to spend the day working on the farm and getting back in touch with food. I then thought of my ancestors and how when they came to this country this was one of the types of labor that they were *allowed* to do. In fact, we live in a time when many of us are grateful to have more options and mobility than those who came before us. I think this is where the sense of privilege came in for me. That I could choose to spend my time doing whatever it is I want... that I allow myself the luxury to follow my interests. Hmm. Just food for thought.

Classes and Events - More Food Education!

Some classes/tastings to educate yourself about what to do with those new foods you're discovering:

Whole Foods Market
115 Prospect St
Cambridge, MA 02139
617.492.0070
617.492.5953 fax

Every Thursday
Storewide Samplings
5:00–7:00 p.m. Free
Stop by every Thursday night and sample delicious items in every department of our store. Amy, our talented demo chef, will be on hand with delicious recipes for quick and simple meals.

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Whole Foods Market
200 Alewife Brook Pkwy
Cambridge, MA 02138
617.491.0040
617.497.9469 fax

Thursday, July 24
Storewide Sampling Event: "Outdoor Table" 4:00–7:00 p.m. Free
Enjoy summer with a good old-fashioned picnic or simply take a meal outside at home to enjoy the fresh air and flavors of the season. Picnicking has always been a great summertime tradition, from sandwiches at the beach to a gourmet picnic basket with champagne. Join us at our Fresh Pond store as we sample delicious recipe ideas for your summer dining pleasure!

Tuesday, July 29th
Local Night 4:00–7:00 p.m. Free
Come by to meet some of our great local vendors and sample their delicious products.

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Whole Foods Market
340 River St
Cambridge, MA 02139
617.876.6990
617.876.6694 fax

Thursday, July 17th
Summer Discussion Series: Summer Sugar Cravings 6:30–8:00 p.m. Free
Each Thursday in June and July, we will host a Summer Discussion Series covering various topics related to Eating and Diet. Tonight’s discussion is being led by Roselee Wayman, Certified Nutrition Counselor.

Tuesday, July 22nd
Local Vendor Night! 4:00–8:00 p.m. Free
Local farmers and producers supply us with wonderful products all year around. Stop in and meet the "face" behind the products in your own backyard and help reduce the impact on the environment of transporting products across the country.

Thursday, July 24th
Summer Discussion Series: Diet and Cleansing 6:30–8:00 p.m. Free
Each Thursday in June and July, we will host a Summer Discussion Series covering various topics related to Eating and Diet. Tonight’s discussion is being led by Jess Glasser, Certified Health Counselor.

Thursday, July 31st
Summer Discussion Series: Fish Oils and Omegas 6:30–8:00 p.m. Free
Each Thursday in June and July, we will host a Summer Discussion Series covering various topics related to Eating and Diet. Tonight’s discussion is being led by Kristin Jorgenson, Nutrition Educator.

Get in touch with your food...

We're taking a field trip to volunteer at a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm in Waltham. www.communityfarms.org

First date: Thursday, July 17 @ 9am

I'd like this to become a regular event for a group of us, either weekly or every other week. The mission is for us to learn how food is grown locally and to participate directly in helping out - in addition to selling shares of the harvest to community members, the farm is dedicated to distributing shares to local hunger relief organizations.

Here's some info about volunteering from the site:

Individual and Family Volunteers
Drop in hours for farm work vary by the season. Individual volunteers are welcome to meet our staff at the Gathering Spot - a big white tent, located behind the red brick building at the Field Station, at the times below to help plant, transplant, weed, harvest or participate in other farm related tasks. Children of any age are welcome with adult supervision.
Summer Volunteer Drop-In Hours for Families and Individuals are currently...
Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Please arrive promptly at 9 am. You may stay up to until noon (it's ok to leave early but we need you to arrive at the beginning for directions). Meet at the "gathering spot - the big white tent" and be ready to work!