Black Joy. That’s something that my circle talks about a lot. Yesterday, I dropped a carload of fresh produce from Bellair CSA at our drop off home on Ridge St. The front yard of the rancher was filled with Black Elders (and a few youngers), visiting, talking produce, and catching up on the weeks highs and lows. It was so casual, so homey, so… nice. So much like moments I often experienced growing up in rural-ish VA. It felt quietly joyous. We tend to think that joy is all fireworks and street festivals. Joy can be quiet too. Getting to select your own produce from a box of abundance. Sitting on the stoop of your own home with friends and neighbors visiting. Having purpose and connecting. Discovering new foods. Anticipating the meal that you’re going to serve up, and to whom. Biting into the spicy radish right then and there– roughly cleaned off on your shirt. Living.
In my mental logic model for food distribution, the flow goes $$-> to vegetables -> to community -> sustenance, surviving, thriving, joy. I come straight to you, my community, bypassing bureaucratic grants and agencies, to give that ever-important money so that our community can experience joy. It’s not just the food– which is critically important– it’s how we do it too. We’re all working together to feel good and joyous about how we are growing individually and as a community.
Your money goes to food purchases– wholesale from Standard Produce– and seasonal local produce from Bellair CSA– and monthly stipends to our neighborhood distributors.
Please give if you are able.
