Community Invovement + Me

I finished reading Food Not Lawns by H.C. Flores (Chelsea Green, 2006) for the second time last night, and the main idea I got out of it was the need for community. (I will review it here soon, I promise!)

It was a real epiphany for me to think that we live in a subdivision of 80+ houses and I've met exactly 3 of my neighbors.

The other epiphany for me was the fact that we have had a couple occasions in which we've really needed an extension ladder, yet do not own one. Yet I bet 10 people within shouting distance of our house have one we could borrow, but most people would rather just go out and buy one for their own use. To me, this seems like an incredibly silly concept.

So I'm calling this the "Community Ladder Project" - just one of my many many projects that I seem to create.

I'm hoping to establish a Yahoo Group or the like in which ice cream socials, weekend house and pet sitting, and stuff swapping become the norm, and people actually get out and talk to their neighbors. And then I can sweep them off their feet with my front yard garden and persuade more people to do the same.

No small feat for a neighborhood that rarely waves to one another. Wish me luck!

In other community news, my friend Bruce from a past life contacted me and told me that there is an Obama supporter potluck here in Folsom next Saturday. I'm always complaining about how hard it is to meet like-minded people around here, but here is our perfect opportunity! And I get to see my friend Bruce and his family. A sweet bonus.

For more information about the Obama potluck in Folsom on Saturday 6/28, click here.