I am settling in to my new work home, trying to remember people’s names and failing to quite get where it is that everyone fits into this project.  There is a farm component at The Plant as well an accounting office, a sustainable energy/local food focused foundation, and, of course, a million gallon a year biodiesel production facility.

Inside that facility there are also plenty of other components such as R&D, an analytics lab and a design/build team that works on making new facilities and fuel reactors.  Oh, and add to that a new piece that will do glycerin refining.  Wait, and the reactor that makes bug spray our of rue.  And the hydroponic greenhouse.  And the giant vermicomposter.

With all these components comes plenty of people and personalities, running past each other as they work or play or occasionally do both at the same time.  At most points in my day, the length of time I could have a conversation if I wanted to is minimal (and those who know me know that I am not a talker).

In this hectic environment, the folks around here came up with a nice speed-bump called Local Lunch Friday.  The idea is for teams of people – involved with The Plant on some level – to cook lunch for everyone else.  Once a week, everyone comes together to share a space and a meal made from as much local content as possible.

This past Friday was my first Local Lunch.  It was also ECO’s turn to make food, so I got to cook for thirty people in my first week on the job and without knowing many of those same people.

We made pepper slaw with peppers from Green Dreams Farm in Pittsboro, Baba ghanoush, flatbread and crackers.

There was also apple crisp out of Caroline Red June apples from one of our farmers in the mountains.

My contribution was a chunky squash and tomato soup seasoned only with honey.

A crowder pea pie made with spaghetti squash and potatoes served as the main dish.

Farmers, fuel makers, interns, friends and guests; all turned out for a great lunch where the food disappeared in minutes.  It was a good exposure to the people populating The Plant.  Hopefully I can get over myself and start to talk to folks more, get over my stand-offish outer appearance and spread more of the “hey, come talk to me” spores into the wind around me.

You thought that since I moved away from Wilmington that all would be forgotten?  In the news again -

Tidal Creek Co-op produce manager Trace Ramsey bills himself as an anarchist, but his desire to pull up stakes and help build a self-sustaining farm with four friends is part of an organized plan.

Ramsey left his Tidal Creek position last week to the dismay of customers who, for the past five years, relied on him to keep the cooperative stocked with fresh local fruit and vegetables. Now, on 12 acres in Chatham County, he’ll raise animals and grow organic vegetables, working the land without mechanical tools.

- Continued -