Our last monthly newsletter was sent July 19, after the July 10 flood that devastated many towns across the state, but two weeks before the August 3 storm that hit
Middlebury, dumping 6 inches in 3 hours. ๐ง๏ธ
An email bookended by floods. ๐
Many of y'all reached out, inquiring about local farms, or the
ACORN Food Hub, after seeing the images of destruction so close to Exchange Street. ๐ฅน
Fortunately, the Food Hub was spared, but we found out a few days later than our trusty little Food Hub van was not. The van's engine was completely submerged in stormwater, rendering it a total loss by insurance. ๐ญ
We are so grateful to have insurance that covers the van, but it feels like a loss nonetheless. Gifted to us just last December by a generous community member who believes in the Food Hub's vision to increase access to local food across the community, losing our 2019 Dodge ProMaster just eight months later feels like a setback, and another reminder of the
intersecting layers of the continued climate crisis. We also know we're not alone. Farms, food businesses and food hubs across the state were similarly impacted. The Vermont Foodbank lost a gleaning truck in the July flood, and we've all seen the season ending photos from the
Intervale Community Farm, just to name a few. ๐ซฅ
The ACORN Food Hub van transported Farmacy CSA shares full of local organic vegetables to folks with limited transportation. The van delivered thousands of pounds of local food ordered through our online market to businesses and schools that are looking beyond their bottom line to truly support local farmers. The van symbolized more than just the food it moved. ๐ ๐ฅ
It symbolized interconnection. It symbolized empowerment. It symbolized community
resilience. ๐๐ฝโโ๏ธ
The van was a small solution to the lack of rural public transportation. The van was a small solution to the globalized consolidated food supply chain. ๐
But it was big for us. ๐
The irony of the Food Hub van, working to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis, ending up flooded due to the climate crisis, is not lost on me. ๐
While we wait to hear the assessed value from our insurance agent, we'll use a mix of staff vehicles and a rental van to return to "business as usual." (Are we beginning to loathe than term yet?) Stay tuned: we may need to fundraise to fill the gap between when our insurance policy ends for a rental and when we're able to find the right van for us, but we're covered for now! ๐
We know
business as usual won't remain usual for too long, and we'll be ready for the next iteration. Because, as
adrienne maree brown reminds us, this work is iterative.
In the meantime, please continue to support our local foodshed by purchasing from local growers and producers either from
our online market, at your
local farm stand, at your local co-op, at the farmers market, or wherever it is you can nab that sweet, sweet juicy summer corn! ๐ฝ
Every pound of local food purchased makes us all more resilient. ๐ชข
In solidarity and with gratitude,
Lindsey โ๏ธ
