Friday, November 12, 2010

Inspiration Avenue: Community challenge

Today is Friday, the day I post my Inspiration Avenue challenge. Unfortunately, I'm not here, but I've scheduled this post so I wouldn't miss the challenge. This week the theme Community was provided by Magpie. She asked that we focus on food in relation to community and gave examples of community gardens, local food and drink establishments, and farmers' markets. All great examples, none of which are in my city, except a few struggling food and drink establishments.

When I think of Community in relation to food, I think of Food Banks. I think of how fortunate we are as a nation, and even so, many of our citizens, like those in every corner of the world this year, are going hungry.


Even though our grocery stores (some of you call them markets) are limited to 2 chains,

lovely produce is everywhere. The choices for apples alone are endless,


as are pears. There is no shortage of colorful produce.


Signs that Thanksgiving is coming is evident in the selections found in this produce department,


as well as this one.


You can even choose organic in most stores.

But what are WE as those who "have" doing for the "have nots?" I know we think about it at Christmas, maybe even Thanksgiving, but do we ever consider these people on, say June 24th? That's why Community Food Banks are so important to me and why I became part of the Penny Experiment back in January of this year.

The idea, created by Jeffery Strain, was simple: turn a penny into a million dollars worth of food. The first 100 pennies would be donated by persons making a piece of art to be auctioned when they were all completed and in Jeffery's hands. Please click on the photo above to see all the details in the contribution I sent. It is also on Jeffery's blog banner right above the categories "Penny Art Gallery" and "Participate." If you want to learn the details of this piece, please see my blog post. And I hope this week, while contemplating what community means to you, that you donate a bag of food to your Community Food Bank.

I want to thank Magpie for this thought-provoking challenge. To show my appreciation, I am featuring her blog, The Magpie's Nest today. She also has another blog, On the House, in which she offers free downloads, all of which are super, especially for any altered artist. Her generosity is genuine and much appreciated. Her art is always stunning. She is an occasional WOYWW participant, as well as a participant in the Sketchbook Project, 3 Muses challenges, and The Butterfly Effect. Magpie lives in Pennsylvania in the US. Please visit her this week and show her how much you like her art. I know I sure do!

15 thoughtful remarks:

Halle said...

Wonderful post. We are so fortunate to have an abundance of food. It's shameful to see all the grocery stores throw away because its not so perfect anymore. At least I assume they are throwing it away. Hopefully they are at least feeding it to some farm animals which in turn can feed people. Now I'm going to have to ask next time!!

Unknown said...

Excellent post Elizabeth- and SO thought provoking! I think it's kind of funny that your first pictures are of apples, as I cannot keep enough in my house- the minute I buy them, my kids gobble them down! I'm off to check out the penny experiment.....

~*~Patty S said...

Very thoughtful challenge ... the thought of children going to bed hungry breaks my heart ... food banks are something we support whenever we can...you are so right E not just around the holiday!
Hope you're off having a grand time
I'm off to check out The Magpie's Nest...you know I like her already ;)
oxo

Terri Kahrs said...

Awesome post, Elizabeth. There's always a dire need for food - not only around the holidays - but every day. Hugs, Terri xoxo

voodoo vixen said...

Lovely post Elizabeth, very thought provoking. When I think of the food thrown away each day because the date on it has passed... when we were kids we ate stuff until it grew fur or walked out of the pantry on it's own... and it didn't seem to do us any harm!! ;)

Darla said...

So much truth in your community post. I hate to see food wasted and support food banks and various organizations that distribute "holiday baskets" as well.

Darla

Caterina Giglio said...

wonderful post E as usual, I love shopping at Whole Foods here and I regularly give money there to feed the poor too as well as donating my bag credits to give to our local schools, so important. great program and I will check out your link!

Robin Norgren, M.A, R-YT, Spiritual Director said...

This post is so beautiful. The introduction to the new blog as well as the time you took to commend Maggie for challenging us all to take our thoughts deeper through food-the ONE THING that says connection wherever we are..

Maggie said...

Elizabeth, thank you so much for this wonderful entry in the Community challenge, AND for featuring my blog! I'm so far behind in my blog visits, I am just getting here today, Saturday.

Your collage is beautiful and illustrates more than words can say the importance of giving back to the community with such a necessity as food. It's just what I had in mind when I thought of the challenge!

Thank you again for the feature, you are so kind!!

Maggie
xoxo

Maggie said...

Oh, I had to add: I just went over to read about the Penny Experiment. It's all so wonderful, and your artwork is amazing! I especially love the flowers growing in the yogurt cups among the houses! Like a community garden!

Carola Bartz said...

Elizabeth, such a beautiful post! Like so many before me, I also hate wasting food and it makes me sick to the stomach. The most I hate about it is the thoughtlessness that it is done with. We have a strict "don't waste food" rule in our family and I think my daughter understands what food really means.
Your collage is fabulous. Yogurts with tiaras, that gave me a good laugh!

Unknown said...

What a great piece of art. I agree that every penny counts. I will check out the link you have included, it sounds wonderful. When we share and connect with each other, I do believe a greater good is achieved. Wonderful post.

gma said...

This is awesome. A great idea to use in a classroom as well. Love the art and ideas.

Kim Collister Studio said...

I love your post. It is important to think about community that goes beyond your own family and the contributions that you can make that really makes a difference in the lives of others. Food and WATER are the two things we should never take for granted. Thanks for sharing the information in your post.

Priti Lisa said...

You nailed the challenge! A thoughtful post and a pretty piece of art...I wish I would have heard about the Penny Experiment...
Xo