Gingerbread Cake (Happy Birthday Ames Food Swap!)

A year ago, the Ames Food Swap met for the first time

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As I sit this evening, looking out the front window of my favorite coffee shop, I can't help but look back and reflect

I remember the cold day in January 2013, when a few of us brought our favorite lunches and gave it a test run.  Having no idea really, what we were doing, which seemed to make it all the more fun

Fast-forward to this afternoon, our favorite recipes of Food From Around the World.  A wonderful mix of veterans and newcomers as well, one swapper surprising us all by traveling from Minneapolis with authentic Ethiopian fare!

Has it been a success?

Like most things in life, it depends on who you ask.  For me, the definition coming after much soul-searching.  A long and winding journey to find my center

Our first event came and went.  A group photo is one of the natural by-products, and people counted

Our second swap produced a similar picture, and more people counted.  This time, the difference being, there was something to compare against. “Wow!  How cool is that?  You doubled in size.”

A spring in my step, “Yep.”

March rolled around, “Huh, you only grew by two.  Better luck next time.”

April was our black swan, with the number of people equaling that of January. “Uh, what happened?

I quickly sprang into action.  If numbers were going to determine our success, I tell you what; there were going to be a LOT of bodies in the picture.

Days were spent putting flyers up all over town, offering give-aways if new people came.  I talked to everyone I could, sent out surveys asking for input, and baked treats to give away.

And then, one day, a casual conversation with a friend.  The words rolling off their tongue. “Nobody ever comes anyway.”

Ouch

Double

I'm sure they don't even remember the comment, but just like that ..

I stopped, took stock, and asked myself some questions.  Was it worth continuing?  Was it good for those of us that came every month? What was the tone I wanted to set?

Most importantly, what was the gift of service the swap could offer to the community?

Because at the end of the day, it was the spirit of serving others that reminded me why I'd started.  A place where my gut felt ok again

Drawing the definition of success, not from the popularity contest of a Facebook like, or a random web-site photo without proper context.  But instead, what is better found in life's quiet, more ordinary moments

Maybe someone

Comes home after a long day, not to an empty fridge, but instead to a nutritious meal

Has a snack at the ready as they drive home in the dark, with only talk radio to keep them company

Enjoys the company of others for a few hours on a random Sunday afternoon

Discovers a new cooking idea or technique

Or

A husband and wife spend a day together, with a bottle of wine, cooking in preparation for the swap

Two friends have a beautiful excuse to get together, at least once a month

Sisters enjoy an evening because one journeyed to attend

A mom introduces the world of cooking and community to one of her kids when he or she tags along

Two people, who might not travel in the same circles, share a glass of wine

A wonderful recipe is shared

A memory is made

So as the swap quietly turns one

I couldn't think of something more appropriate than cake, gingerbread, in fact.

Something simple, almost boring to look at, but to those who get close enough to give it a try, like most good things in life, it's surprisingly delicious on the inside, with a few surprises in store

A heartfelt Thank you to all who have helped write the story of the Ames Food Swap this past year.  We hope to see you again in 2014

Enjoy!

xoxo

~ Adapted from Good to the Grain by Kim Boyce