by Janice Lloyd
We are approaching the manifestation of some new innovations here at the Plainfield Co-op and in the Village. Plainfield has a history of being radical and provocative of the alternative anything- be that of political, philosophical, sexual, ecological, academic, or artistic background… In times when self-reliance and sustainability are pressing issues, we need to rejuvenate the independent, go-ahead spirit which developed that radical reputation that Plainfield has been known for. This could be accomplished through an increase of efforts toward establishing new projects and programs that shift our dependence on distant corporations to the hands of our neighbors, and develop appropriate ecological alternatives. A look at the existing elements of the town tell us where these opportunities lie. The co-op, and upstairs community center, can function as a hub of the community, a central meeting ground or incubator for these conversations to happen—a place where people connect, and where new knowledge, ideas and concepts are conveyed. We are currently building a website that will offer a way for the co-op to convey ideas and connect with people who are interested in being a part of some new innovations.

As we think about being agents of action in our community, there are many important questions to ask about our life place, such as: How can this community live more sustainably? What does the community support in terms of these types of business that come in? How can we aim toward local self-reliance? One of the amazing benefits of Plainfield is its “strategic” location, not only in relation to Route 2 and the neighboring cities of Barre and Montpelier, but with respect to the Winooski, Spruce Mountain, and the gentle hills. A variety of folks live in these hills: artist, craftsman, skilled laborer, and computer techno-geek alike. What is needed is away to connect the talented and willing in the community, to form a resource database of mutually beneficial relationships. In response to this need, our town is getting involved in the creation of a Plainfield area skill directory, a project started by a couple local kids, and now backed by the newly created Plainfield Area Community Association (PACA). This inventory would be a valuable resource that would be available in physical volume as well as online database. We recognize that there is a wealth of skills, crafts, and other resources (human as well as natural) available within our bioregion—making them accessible to everyone is a major step toward self-reliance, autonomy, and solidarity. To get involved or to join the directory list, email Janice at janice.lloyd@goddard.edu.

The Plainfield Co-op will now be offering Saturday workshops. These workshops will focus on topics such as herbalism, gardening, permaculture, nutrition and food, health, wellness, arts/crafts, and sustainable living—to name a few. The workshops will be open to everyone, fostering accessible education that support locals in sharing their knowledge with others. Workshops will be by donation, which will go to the facilitator. Anyone can offer a workshop—so if you have something to share, give us a call! Come join us!

Janice Lloyd
Community Outreach
Plainfield Co-op
802-454-8579
janice.lloyd@goddard.edu

This entry was posted on Friday, April 13th, 2007 at 4:48 am and is filed under News, Uncategorized. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site. Your comments will be moderated but will appear as soon as humanly possible.