The March Hare: Summer '05
Issue 45

Caring for ourselves* DR on TV* What and Where* Food Choices* Ask a Rabbit* Endometriosis* Nature Corner* Tasty Tidbit

You are what (and where) you eat
by Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer's daughter, cynder, picking wild mulberries

Everyone has heard the saying, ''You are what you eat.'' Before coming to Dancing Rabbit, images of dancing broccoli and napping noodles would flash in my head. Now, the old adage has an entirely new meaning

Our family came to DR as green communards, meaning that we had no other community experience prior to arriving. Our only image of dining at DR was from our visit a year and a half ago. At that time, most community members were part of the Cattail eating co-op. Cattail has since dissolved, and a variety of eating scenes have taken its place.

Returning to DR as an omnivorous family has had an enormous impact not only on our food scene, but also on our social scene. At DR, the two are intimately linked. People who are otherwise too busy building, growing, and working must still take the time to eat. The gathering of people together in food co-ops creates both rotational cooking shifts and regular social opportunities. What may have started as an efficient way to provide meals has evolved as an important venue for making close personal connections with others.

When we arrived here in May, adjusting our eating habits so drastically while also adjusting to life in community seemed overwhelming. We each have our comfort foods and meal items that would be outside the scope of any of the currently available eating co-ops. Conversely, adding a family of five must have seemed overwhelming to the already packed dining tables of the two main shared food scenes here.

One might say that our family could be considered a co-op. In a way, Tim and I rotate between cooking individually and cooking together. Each child has a favorite task in the kitchen, too. Meals are generally eaten at the dining table, and we enjoy the feeling of companionship that we gain while sitting being together.

Social bonds are strengthened with consistent efforts, and the recurring demands of growling stomachs provide strong incentive. A leisurely dinner and lively conversation does wonders for both our minds and our bodies. Though we are able to exchange this fellowship within our own family, we haven't been successful in connecting with others this way. In fact, finding a way to plug in to this aspect of community has been our main challenge since arriving to DR.

And so, the Johnson family is about to embark on a bold new adventure. Developing close bonds with others is essential for us to feel truly a part of this community. For this reason, we will be opening our home and table to others who live here. We will be learning new cooking and eating styles, sharing stories and laughter, and integrating ourselves more completely in our new home. At Dancing Rabbit, food does more than nourish our bodies; it nourishes our souls as well.

Caring for ourselves* DR on TV* What and Where* Food Choices* Ask a Rabbit* Endometriosis* Nature Corner* Tasty Tidbit