In the early 1970’s my family lived in a ramshackle old house on a small farming property. Our playground was a magical overgrown orchard, a creek full of reeds thick enough to lay across and sheds filled with rusty old tractors and ploughs. While my Dad went to work as a stock and station agent, my Mum tended to her brood of four kids. Our means were meagre but our spirits were high. It was the happiest of times.
When it came to food, we were fully self-sufficient. We had a cow for milk, chickens for eggs, sheep for meat and an abundant veggie garden. Mum didn’t need to write a shopping list, drive to the supermarket, fill a trolley, bring the food home and then store it. She’d just stroll out to the backyard, pick the evening meal and then cook it with love. There was no food mileage, no carbon footprint and no food insecurity.
Today, most of us have no idea where our food comes from or how far it’s travelled and we are completely dependent on the ‘big guys’ like Woolworths and Coles for our very survival. It’s never been more obvious as people are panic buying and stockpiling preparing for lockdown again here in Melbourne.
There has to be a better way for this brave new world we’re entering. I believe local food co-operatives are the answer. Imagine a world of sustainable food supplies where communities grow food together, swap produce, buy direct from farmers and where food packaging and waste are eliminated. Wouldn’t that be something?
Last week I shared that we’ve already kick started our food co-op project by buying eggs from Tom. I’m now taking some small thoughtful steps forward. I’ve been talking to co-op experts, researching existing food co-ops and considering how to gather our egg lovers (via zoom of course) to get the co-op party started.
I have no big plans, no big expectations and no definitive idea of what this food co-op should or shouldn’t be. That will be up to the community to co-create. All I can do is be a catalyst.
Which brings me to my point. If you have a vision of a better world, whether that’s food security, gender equality or the end to domestic violence, start small and then just take the next step forward, then the next and the next. You don’t need to see the big picture in technicolour to get started. You just need to care enough to do something then let it unfold in the perfect way that it’s meant to.
As a thank you for following me, I’m offering The Purpose Project online course for just $97 (RRP $297) today. Use the coupon code ‘Purpose2020’.
As always, if I can be of service reach out. I’m here. I care.
With love
PS If you missed my recent podcast Conversations on The Coronation. Listen here
About me: I’m a Purpose Educator and author of The Purpose Project. I help leaders attract and retain the best people by harnessing the power of deep purpose and storytelling. I do this through The Purpose Project for Companies, a customised consultative process for co-creating a new purpose statement and The Purpose Project Course, a 7-step online course to help employees bring their own why to work.