When someone sends you an invite to something called 'The Strolling of the Heifers Slow Living Summit' that's an email I am going to open. And let's face it, with all the electronic junk flying our way every day, we have to choose what gets opened and warrants our attention. Attending this 'food, mindfully summit' in the quintessential Vermont town of Brattleboro this week was a blast. I got to hang with goat farmers, visionary entrepreneurs, medicinal healers, Masshole bikers and my mom. It was awesome.
So what is the concept behind Slow Living?
“Slow is the opposite of ‘fast’ - fast food, fast money, fast living - and all of the negative consequences ‘fast’ has had for the environment and for the health of people and societies. ‘Slow’ embodies cooperation, respect, sustainability, gratitude and resilience.
When we Live Slow, we give back and become more strongly connected to the Earth, to our communities, to our neighbors and to ourselves. A Slow Life is one that seeks the right balance between spirituality, sensuality, introspection and community.”
Taking a break for a few days from the fast-paced, computer-focused, intensive way I live my life from 9-5 was really a welcome change. I was surrounded by hundreds of people interested in seeing a change in the way we are in this world. A more intentional way of being, making informed choices and inspiring others to do the same. The opening remarks at this conference left two impressions ~ coal is dead and Vermont is #1 in the country leading the local food movement. Hell yeah, there is momentum towards change and I am living in the place.
I have to admit, for as many positive statistics about the progress we have made in the last five years, I heard just as many daunting stories. Climate change is affecting our farming operations and we have to stay resilient and adaptive to changing weather patterns in order to ensure we have a stable food system. The cool thing is that these changes in our weather have forced farmers into creating some pretty incredible systems. One farmer in Washington has coined the phrase 'cover crop cocktail' where he mixes between 8 and 20 different species, which ultimately enhance the soil quality. Five years ago his soil was able to absorb a 1/2" of rain and last growing season his soil was so rich that it absorbed 8" before running off into streams and lakes. This not only helps with potential flooding, but also provides great water reserves for the plants in times of dryer weather.
One of the breakout sessions was for food entrepreneurs ~ you have the big idea, so now what? I was the first to arrive, sporting my 'Can't Beet It' canvas bag with all of my conference swag inside; I wanted a seat at that table. Well what a small table the panel speakers must have expected. There were about seven chairs pulled into a circle with a panel of three at the front of the room. The first thing that popped into my head is "these people must be from out of state, how could they expect only seven people to arrive with a 'big idea and wonder what is next?' The room topped out at around 30 by the start of the discussion. People have big food ideas and are ready to take the leap, it was amazing to feel that energy in the room.
So I didn't actually stay to watch the heifers stroll, which they do down Main Street as part of an intensely hippie attended parade each year. I was in it for the inspiration and the knowledge that so many talented and dedicated people gave me over the course of three days. Eat more kale, grow more beets, slow down often, put down the screen and talk to people, make more love and take that risk you have been too scared to take. It won't be easy and you'll have some lessons to learn along the way, but you are going to learn those lessons in this life anyway. Wouldn't you rather learn them doing something you love?