It’s that time again!

Time for a new year, new beginnings, resolutions, goals.

It’s not just a new year, it’s a new decade - the twenties! What are you hoping for as we go enter into 2020? Have you made your resolutions? Set out an agenda? Decided on a game plan that will move you forward toward your goals?

I stopped making new year resolutions a few years ago, having never really experienced much success with the custom. 

But I did start a new tradition that I have found to be much more effective.

Instead of coming up with a list of things I plan to do or not do in the coming year, I choose a word. Just one word for the year that helps me focus on making positive changes. Past words have included: “proactive” and “collaboration”. 

For 2020, my word is “investment”. 

Since they say that hindsight is 20/20, I want my future self to look back at the 2020 me and be grateful for the choices I make this year. 

The great thing about choosing a word to encapsulate your goals for the year is that it can be applied to personal and professional decisions.

I hope this year will be one in which many seeds are planted into our local food system. I want to see communities come together to build a better infrastructure for sustainable food production. I hope to see consumers buying into their local farms and businesses supporting one another, creating stronger local economies. That’s an investment worth making. 

When we invest in local food, we invest in a cleaner environment, healthier bodies, stronger communities and wealthier economies. Let’s make wise investments in animal welfare. Let’s invest in a safer future with fewer diseases. 

Let’s dare to imagine the significant impact of our combined investments into our local sustainable food systems!!! 

Thank you for being a part of this community in 2019 and let’s keep growing together in 2020!

Happy New Year!