Monthly Membership Update

February got away from us without having a full membership meeting, but that certainly does not mean we have been on vacation. To the contrary, we are running wide open and gaining members, attracting support, and accomplishing significant milestones toward our stated objectives.

As everyone should know, President Travis presented our plans for a local marketplace and a garden plot program to the Glasgow City Council in January. The report and request for support drew unanimous support from the City Council and that put us on the way toward our vision for the Bounty of the Barrens Market. The next stop for the realization of this dream was a meeting with the South Central Kentucky Cultural Center Board, since we feel that the property surrounding this community asset is the perfect place to bring local producers and consumers together for commerce.

Once again President Travis presented the Sustainable Glasgow story and our proposed partnership with the Cultural Center to bring the Bounty of the Barrens Market into being, and, once again, the proposal was accepted by the Board. Now we are working with them to establish the ground rules under which the market will operate. Soon we should have the skeleton for a contractual agreement among the Cultural Center Board, Sustainable Glasgow, Inc., and the City of Glasgow, which will confirm our agreements and put us officially on the road to the late May or early June opening of the market.

At the same time, we have also been meeting with representatives of the very successful St. Andrews Farmers Market to get their advice and, hopefully, their agreement to partner with us in the Bounty of the Barrens Market. One thing we are all aware of is that we have this dream, but no real experience at creating or operating a local market. So, we are quite hopeful that the team from St. Andrews will join us so that we can concentrate on marketing and infrastructure development at the Cultural Center site, while the BOTB Market committee, hopefully under the direction of the St. Andrews team, works to secure vendors and work out the rules under which the market will operate. Meetings toward this goal are happening every day.

Meanwhile, Lauren is working with a number of organizations like Kentucky Proud, Kentucky Farmers Market Association, Kentucky Department of Agriculture and others who can help us navigate the many rules and regulations which will apply to our market. She is also working with Rhonda Trautman to apply for grants to help capitalize Sustainable Glasgow with sufficient funds to get us through our 2009 program of work.

We are also very lucky to have Chris Radus volunteer to chair the Garden Plot Project. He is researching similar projects in other communities and meeting with our Glasgow Parks and Recreation Department to find suitable land to get this project activated for the upcoming growing season. Our hope is to provide suitable garden plots on public property for those interested in raising a vegetable garden but without access to suitable land. This could be a great example of how we can help each other feed ourselves in this time of economic strife. If you want to be a part of this project, please let Lauren or Chis know!

For an idea that was born only about six months ago, Sustainable Glasgow is growing like crazy. Thanks to each and every one of you who are supporting this initiative with your membership, your words, and your actions. We also need to thank all of the local media, and especially Jeff Jobe of Jobe Publishing, for helping us get the word out about Sustainable Glasgow and the restorative power of localism.