issue no. 774

THE WORLD DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY . . .

It warrants repeating:

the world does not have to be this way

the world does not have to be this way

the world does not have to be this way

‘It is what it is’ lives in the collective lexicon, but benefits those that profit from the way it is. ‘It is what it is’ lets people off the hook, as if there is nothing that we can do about it. A verbal shrug, offered in defeat, as if there is no other option.

And while we cannot stop the wholly destructive systems on Earth on our own, or with any single action, the phrase ‘It is what we allow’ represents a more accurate depiction of the truth. If we do not abstain, the status quo systems have us participating in harmful destruction .

And even if we do not have ‘the answer,’ it’s important to take the first step, which is looking inside of us, steadying our voices and saying with a deep knowing:

THIS is NOT okay.

Try it right now. Wherever you are, say it out loud (even if it is just a whisper):

This is not okay.

This behavior is not okay. Using billions of dollars from our collective labor and life force to hurt humans and the environment is not okay. Bombing schools and hospitals is not okay. Killing, injuring, and traumatizing children is not okay. Blowing up fuel facilities in ways that cause acid rain to pour over entire cities is not okay. Kidnapping people off the street and detaining them without due process is not okay. Forcibly displacing masses of people is not okay. Pretending everything is fine is not okay. Avoiding the work it takes to heal and repair the damage you caused is not okay.

We understand the pressures constraining us all - financial pressures, societal pressures, wounds and traumas. And still, the first step is to open your eyes, then your heart, then your mouth and say with clarity:

THIS is NOT okay.

There are a billion better ways this world could operate.The transitions needed to get there may be uncomfortable or inconvenient. They might require your time, energy, vulnerability, willingness, cooperation, and / or your trust. But they hold the promise of a more grounded, secure, loving, abundant, supportive world. They are worth it.

Once you say it out loud, it becomes easier to find each other, to support each other, to create resources, to build together. Anyone that abstains from the work will eventually be drawn in once they see the benefits, once they feel the undeniable energy.

Part of moving our newsletter to Substack was expressly so that we could experiment with using some of their existing tools to bring this like-minded community of 80,000 GFJ subscribers together.

Each week, for over 770 editions, we’ve heard from at least a handful (and sometimes a few hundred) of you with wise words, affirmations, encouragement and gratitude. This newsletter has always been an experiment and an exercise in showing that we are not alone.

Just last week, I was working at the small brewery that I also shepherd in NY state, and when a friendly customer asked my name and I responded, ‘Taylor,’ They immediately lit up and said ‘You’re Taylor from Good Food Jobs!’ It turns out they’ve been using the site for over a decade, while working at a farm on Long Island. They were actually in the area on that very day interviewing with folks from a local farm that had posted an opportunity for the upcoming season. GFJ continues to provide proof that we can use technology as a tool for offline connection. That brief interaction literally lifted my spirits and opened my heart in such a profound way. Every day there are so many opportunities to make this kind of difference if we are open to it. If we participate.

We are not alone.

We are not alone in our desires to contribute our time and energy to the world in meaningful ways. We are not alone in believing that a better world is possible and being willing to work toward it. We are not alone in using our time, energy, and effort to create positive change, in ways little and big, over and over and over again.

We hope, we love, we learn, we grow, we create, we connect, we care.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for being a part of this rich and supportive web.

Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll be sharing the types of resources and hosting the type of gatherings that have inspired us in real life / in our local communities. Our intention is always to use technology as a tool to bring people together, create meaningful connections, and inspire the energetic ripples that quite literally build the type of world we want to live in. The kind of world we know is possible.

To building it together,

Tay + Dor

tidbits...

resources on anti-racism, environmentalism and food culture AKA stuff we’re reading / listening to / watching / noticing / thinking about / captivated by this Tuesday . . .

Do One Small Thing . . . Head to our Substack chat and - after saying aloud ‘this is not okay’ - close your eyes and dream up one small vision for the world and offer it in the chat, i.e. ‘more people holding hands at sunset’ or ‘neighbors trading making meals for each other instead of both racing to get dinner on their table each night’ or ‘surrounding myself with people who are willing to wade into conflict in ways that will make our bond stronger’. There are no right or wrong answers. Just participation, inspiration, and the invitation to imagine a more beautiful world together.

Nikki Blak chiming in with truth: couplehood can never replace community . Her Find Your People tool gives you a solid starting point to build yours.

In Julia Moskin’s latest reporting on the widespread abuse inflicted by Rene Redzepi at NOMA (and reinforced by the accolades afforded to him and the restaurant hospitality industry at large), she gave dozens of former employees a platform to say very loudly and clearly: this is not okay . What’s been even more heartening is seeing the ways that people are actively building better worlds . May the men (and everyone) who profit off of other peoples’ work and pain truly repair the damage and transform.

Let the music move you. Join Priya Parker tomorrow (Wednesday March 11th) for a digital workshop about how to use music to transform a gathering .

Pinch me: the new Gourmet Magazine dives deep with the original Gourmet Magazine’s final editor Ruth Reichl . For anyone whose heart ached when Conde Nast pulled the plug on the original, this full circle article feels healing and hopeful for the future we can all co-create.

Building on Ruth’s work at Gourmet, which was incredible inspiration to Tay in her formative teen / early 20’s years, Alicia Kennedy ’s work continues to remind us how to expand the lens from cooking to food culture in critical ways. This week’s edition on Food Culture in Wartime is on our must digest list.

Feeling inspired by the writing of one of our readers Ryan Rose Weaver , whose Substack In Tending feels aligned with the world building that draws us. Beyond the writing, things like her building of a monthly caregiving circle bring us so much hope.

The publication date of Dor's first book is drawing ever closer. You can read all the details, and learn about the stories that inspired the book, through her newsletter, What the Wolf Wore ( psst : this week’s issue includes a cover reveal ).

View and share this free guide to How to Write a More Equitable Job Post , and stay tuned for new resources to deepen this work.

" Plenty has been written about the economic impact of the pandemic on the food industry, but not enough about its lingering effects on the bodies of people whose mission is to nourish us. " Read the latest GFJ Story on the creator behind Anjali's Cup, with words by Nicole J. Caruth and photos by Christine Han.

got a tidbit? drop it here for us and we’ll share it in next week’s newsletter.