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A bouquet of colorful hellos springing forth-
Thanks to a lovely response in April, I'll be continuing on with the mid-monthly Community Bulletin email as well as this top-o-the-month one for events. If you know of events/community science/volunteer opportunities you think this community of biophilic folks would want to know about, feel free to send them to me through the month and I'll include as much as I'm able!
This month we celebrate ⊹₊✧FOUR YEARS✧₊⊹ in this, our brick-and-mortar bower on the banks of the Rondout Creek. This time of year as lilacs pop and sweaters are shed my heart can't help but swell with gratitude for the many gifts and alignments that brought Chicory Naturalist to root here and to grow: ✧ Our landlords Jay & Hadas -- fellow local business owners and parents and neighbors -- who offered the space initially and continue to be a keystone that makes the whole thing feasible. ✧ The two grant administrators, also mothers, Kate & Sam, who fought and won for childcare to be included in the ARPA small business award that was my seed funding for the space. I could never have dared climb out on this limb without their insistent advocacy against the inertial forces of patriarchy. ✧ Our tiny, mighty team of star players (Izzy, Courtney, Carolyn, Elyse) and pinch hitters (you know who you are!) who have so lovingly tended this place through some true tribulations. ✧ My sweetest fam, who have risked and endured and supported and made Chicory their dream as well as mine.
And then, of course, our most essential, irreplacable blessing -- all of YOU! When we first opened I was often asked if there was a big enough community (usually phrased as "market") for this kind of stuff. I wanted to say, Well yes, I staked my livelihood on it... obviously I do! I don't get asked that much anymore, which I dearly hope to mean that we are watching the cultural needle shift. If I'm wildly fortunate enough to be standing at this counter four years hence, may having a naturalist passion (or two...) be every bit as normalized as having a favorite band or sports team. I can root for the mushrooms and you can root for the frogs and together we'll all root for the "home team," our beautiful, pivotal web of relations.
If you'd want to be a sweetie and give us a little anniversary gift, I hear four years is the Google Review anniversary. Silly as it sounds, it really helps new people find us! And if you're into this kind of thing, you can also vote for us in the Chronogrammies. (Apparently we're finalists in the bookstore, toy store, AND gift shop categories this year, which is honestly sweet and very surprising to learn since I haven't solicited nominations in years.) More than anything though I think y'all just telling all your wonderful, earth-loving friends about Chicory is what has buoyed us along so far, so thank you again and always for making this dream a waking one.
In gratitude,
Chris
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