Hello to all!

I have started work this week after an introductory chat over coffee with the market manager. He was very interested in my experience as a manager as this market just opened in September! So they are looking for any tips, suggestions and guidance, although i visited again on Sunday and what an impressive community effort! There were musicians, educational tables on home-growing, child care through the Samoan Baptist church that also uses the Grey Lynn Community center. This all to accompany the table of fresh produce, honeys and jam, fresh bread and pasta, eggs and even a sausage stand! It felt really good to be among the vendors and customers and live music, meeting people and helping out where i could. As a newcomer, i like to just contribute in the most straight forward way, which meant that i gathered trash, folded up chairs and tables and mopped at the close of the market. I am attending a committee meeting tomorrow evening, and working at the twilight market on thursday, and have already had a very receptive welcome from all those involved!

Recently, i have adopted an attitude towards working with established organizations and committees. When you are seeking work, to contribute to an organization, a cause that you believe in, i believe it is best to adapt yourself, mold yourself to the need of the organization. For example, after graduating, i have often thought that i would find an organization that i felt was doing the best work possible, and then ask them what kind of people they needed. Then i may go on to seek further education to meet their need instead of trying to find something that best fit the skills i already had.

Having said this, and still believing in it to a certain extent, this experience has already shown me how this attitude is not always the only route to take. Everyone who i have talked to have insisted that i do projects for the market that i would like to do. This came as a surprise to me since i kept insisting "i would like to help in whatever area you need". However, when i mentioned some of the projects Lots to Gardens has been doing through the market, such as featuring local restaurants and cafes and hosting community dinners, they have been very enthusiastic and are looking to start similar things in this community! Again, having only been here a month, i dont feel i am in a position to do outreach or connect people through the market. I would expect to do more manual labor, putting out fliers, setting up vendors, clean up. However, the manager has been keen on getting me onto some of these more conceptual and communicative projects!

well see how it goes!