Are you the type of person that has a lot of “AHA!” moments? Those little bursts of brilliance and creativity you are certain will change the world? Well, maybe not the world, but at least the everyday lives of millions of your fellow Americans. I don’t want to burst your bubble; however, it is the sad truth that some of the most creative, brilliant ideas will unfortunately never come to fruition and not through any fault of their own. We live in a complex society where it’s not always the effectiveness or usefulness of idea. It’s who you know and the money, you know?
That’s why it is so important to create and support venues that allow us to share those wild ideas that may actually change the world! I think TED talks and crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter are so popular because they provide that type of service. They draw our attention because they call attention to real life-changing concepts and solutions. They are also carefully curated, unique, and most of all, focused on creating a community whose collective power can get things done.
This lofty proposition – inspiring a community to transform these wild ideas into reality – is the impetus behind Triangle Land Conservancy’s new Wild Ideas series. Like many organizations, communities, and people around the Triangle, TLC has worked for a long time (30+ years) to create a place we’re all proud to call home as we continue to grow and develop as a region. Yet, there’s still a lot more work to be done to ensure everyone in the Triangle has access to what we consider basic necessities – local food, clean water, and open space. Thus, it was time to try something new, something wild.
Wild Ideas will be a forum for experts to share their wildest ideas for safeguarding clean water, protecting natural habitats, supporting local farms and food, and connecting people with nature. They’ll start by sharing why they are passionate about the issue at hand and follow by laying out their ideas for finding a path forward to a healthier, more vibrant Triangle. Then, it’s your turn.
Our farm and food experts, from left to right: Chef Amy Tornquist (Watts Grocery, Hummingbird Bakery, Sage & Swift Gourmet Catering), farmer Alex Hitt (Peregrine Farm), and Community Mobilizer Jared Cates (Carolina Farm Stewardship Association)
That’s right! It’s not all fun and food and beer (though we’ll have those things too). We want, nay, need you to ask tough questions and propose your own wild ideas in order to move the conversation forward and spur action. New to the conversation and not yet brimming with your own wild ideas? No problem! Taking the time to learn about an issue and how you can make a difference is just as great an achievement. I’m a big believer in Aristotle’s assertion that the whole is often greater than the sum of its parts, and truly, we can all play a part in making the Triangle a great place to live, work, and play.
You can help us hit the ground running by attending our first event, Wild Ideas for Feeding the Triangle: Increasing access to fresh food and farms. Starting at 5:30 pm on October 22 at the Research Triangle Park Headquarters (12 Davis Drive), we’re bringing together experts and the community to talk about issues such as food insecurity, access to fresh food, young farmer land access, connecting farmers with consumers, sustainable food systems, and more! I’m especially looking forward to our exciting trio of panelists – Chef Amy Tornquist of Watts Grocery, Alex Hitt of Peregrine Farm, and Jared Cates of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. Oh, and did I mention the free food and beer? We’ve got food from Chef Tornquist’s own Sage & Swift Gourmet Catering and beer donated by Lonerider Brewing Company.
Free food by Sage & Swift Gourmet Catering and free beer donated by Lonerider Brewing Company!
Seriously, don’t miss this event. The event is free, but space is limited so please register at http://www.triangleland.org/news-and-events/page/wildideas. Help us get the word out too by sharing the event on Facebook and Twitter as well as with your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, milkman, etc.
See you Wednesday!
–Diana Hackenburg, TLC Communications Manager
