Still Struggling to Remain Relevant
A couple of things are currently going on in Davenport that have the potential of striking a blow against our sustainability. With a population of 300, Daveport is blessed with a clinic. Although it is only staffed 2 days a week, the medical staff is from the hospital in Hebron. The building that houses the clinic is in an estate, now seeking to sell the property. If the property is purchased to remain as a clinic, it will require remodeling – costing an additional $50,000 or more. Some say it is not worth the cost – there are other services outside of the community that can take up the slack. Losing a health clinic in Davenport will be one more loss that this town does not need. If we lose the clinic it will never get one back.
A second problem impacting Davenport is the Postal Service budget. Although the Post Office is not funded by tax-payers dollars, and is a profitable business, under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA) – Congress is requiring the Postal Service to “prefund its future health care benefit payments to retirees for the next 75 years in a …ten-year time span” unlike any other agency, or business in the US. If the Post Office was not under the requirements of the PAEA. It would actually be seeing a $1.5 billion surplus today.
It is one thing to find waste in agencies, but when a law is created that handicaps a profitable and essential service for the sake of shrinking government – it sacrifices those who need it the most to the whims of political gamesmanship.
Following a mail-in preference survey of possible changes in service the Omaha regional office came to Davenport to discuss the outcome for the future of service to our community. The Post Office is a cultural and social center of this and other small towns, and any change will directly impact our lives. Our post office is open 6 hours a day as it is – and with the required reductions made necessary by the PAEA, as of November the 2nd, the postoffice will be reduced to 4 hours – only open in the morning.
The interest in this issue was seen by the turnout of the town to attend the meeting. More than 10% of the town came to hear what the plan would be. Ten percent may seem like an insignificant number, but numbers this great converged to discuss the postal service in cities, there would be no messing with our post office for political intrigue.
Davenport Post Office Meeting
Creating The Presence
The sun came up at 7:30 – and with it, a cold 25 mile-an-hour wind out of the west. Regardless how I try to be in the present, all summer has been spent with this day in the back of my mind. I love the farmers market, and all of the activity that brings us to that point – planning what to plant, starting the plants in the basement, getting them in the ground and nurturing them to produce. But, today is, more or less, the official “putting the garden to bed” – which then leads to the next phase of our business plan.
Tomato and Pepper Plants Completing the “”Whole Food System” Cycle – Returning As Compost to Feed Next Years’ Plants
The Indoor Farmers Market
I suppose our activities are no different from other gardeners. You eat what you can and “put-up” the rest. We planted with the intent of canning. We constructed the kitchen with the same intention. As the weather cools and begins to drive us indoors, we have begun to bring with us the best of the harvest – preserved in jars, frozen into meals, or dried to spice-up a dish.
Some of the Canned Goods To Be Sold In the Winter Farmers Market
It reminds me of some of my fondest memories as a child – Granddaddy’s garden behind his shop – taking a mid-day break from replacing the bearings on a corn wagon. A turnip tucked in massive hands, a well-worn Barlow knife peeling back its skin to slice the white flesh of a fresh raw turnip snack. Picking blackberries all the way home from school so that Grandmommie could make a big cobbler – or the breakfast table with plump fig preserves on a hot biscuit – oozing with melted butter.
Reflecting on Biscuits Of My Youth
It reminds me of my time as a Fulbright Scholar in Crimea, and the family of Crimean Tatars who adopted me – and showed me that these same activities, though flavored with other histories, are universal. Food – it production, preparation and preservation is a language all its own, and translates goodwill with the seasoning that is the salt of the earth. Sitting around a table with a cup of hot teas on a cold day, fogged windows from the baked breads and soups that restore well-being on a cold day.
A Kitchen In Winter Slows Deliberation, Lightens Hearts, and Offers Refuge From The Cold
It was love that was expressed in these places – and it is in that same sense that we have worked all summer to bring a small comfort to the community. It is for the love of these places – and the comfort of similar experiences in the hearts of all people that we prepare to open the next phase of the “Stones Thoreau” brand.
The South Maple Street Winter Farmers Market will open on Thursday, November the 7th to provide fresh produce (when available) pickles, preserves, baked goods, herbs, and gift items to our customers. Like the summer Davenport Farmers Market, local vendors will be invited to bring in their goods each Thursday afternoon.
Some Of The Produce Still To Be Processed For Sale In The Farmers Market
Depending on the interest expressed, it is our desire to grow this business to meet the growing needs of the community. With the now fully operational commercial kitchen we have the ability to extend hours, increase our offerings (perhaps breakfast), and provide business opportunities to those who have considered even a tentative step into their own food based business.
A Business Funding Opportunity
To build on these successes and to positively impact the economy of the larger community, we are seeking people who are considering starting their own food-based business. Whether it is to bake, to preserve, to serve breakfast, create heat and serve meals for sale to the public, or some other innovative product – we have the space and resources available to help bring your idea to fruition.
The process of opening any business is not something that you just decide one day and open the doors the next. It was more than three years ago that Barbara and I walked hand-in-hand through Davenport and began to see the potential of a business here.
We developed a strategy of food and economic development, and each step of the resulting business plan has, thus far, been fulfilled. We have restored a historic building, created a fully equipped commercial kitchen, and planted extensive gardens to sell fresh produce to the community. Now we want to provide a place for others to realize their dream of a business of their own.
If you, or someone you know would be interested in beginning a food-based business please contact me to talk about your ideas and how we can help you make your dream a reality. Call or write me at haroldstone@gmail.com or 202-236-8730.
