Sunday, October 28, 2012

HENNY PENNY





"The sky is falling!  The sky is falling! I must go and tell the King!"

Some of us grew up with the title Henny Penny, some with Chicken Little, but the story is the same. You remember: the acorn falls on her head and she's off,  thinking the world is coming to an end, gathering up a whole gang of followers who believe her dire predictions based on some very skimpy evidence.



Turkey Lurkey, Goosey Loosey, Duckey Wuckey... we have all been Henny Pennys and we've all been followers who listened to the cries of "the sky is falling!" Usually, it didn't do a whole lot of good. Fear mongering is not my chosen mode for leadership, parenting, or life.

It is probably pretty evident that "Henny Penny" would NOT be a good choice for a name for a cafe! But it is easy to worry when starting a business or enterprise. It takes time, and a whole lot of faith and trust. Even when you have a vision and a great place like Springfield, and a wonderful, warm, supportive community who have helped you immensely.. it is VERY CHALLENGING! There are lots of days when I want to be a Henny Penny. I wonder how long it will take for us to get the word out about our Bed and Breakfast, so that most weekends are filled with happy travelers. I wonder whether enough people ARE committed to a local food economy to help keep the Little Red Hen Cafe open. I worry!

I grew up with a lot of negativity and a lot of sky-is-falling talk, and for the most part, I choose people, places and ways of going about my day that are positive and hopeful and joyful and peaceful. I am grateful to have met so many wonderful new friends in this town who seem to have the same philosophy. Our sky's not falling!


 Here's a little clip of the Golden Girls doing "Henny Penny" for you to enjoy!

Click Here:

Saturday, October 20, 2012

So THAT'S what the story means...

If you are reading this, you have probably visited the Little Red Hen Cafe in Springfield, Kentucky, or...


...you know that our family has started this cafe on a very small scale. Since both Eric and Cynthia have more-than-full time careers (at least until Spring 2013 when Cyn will leave the parish ministry), and since we also have our darling Seth who has recently been diagnosed with Autism.. so much for us to learn and absorb... the "Hen" is very part-time. We'd rather do it well and small than big and badly.

That's what this blog is here to talk about. The vision, the meaning, and the idea of community, partnership, cooperation, and sustainability behind what we do and who we are.

Why we chose Springfield and what we are all about.

I'll try to post once a week or so. You can read it if you choose, and I welcome your input!

First, the name. My adult kids think I chose this famous children's story to lay a guilt trip on them: "WHO will help me?"  "Not you?" "Fine! I'll do it myself!"

Here's a great version of the story from Gutenberg press you can enjoy right now:


http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18735/18735-h/18735-h.htm




Really, if you take the story at face value, both meanings that arise are kind of... creepy.

One moral mentioned by interpreters is the biblical idea that those who don't work don't get to eat.  (Thessalonians 3:10) That's not my interpretation of scripture. I think everyone should get to eat! And I think everyone everywhere should eat well, and, by the way, everyone could. It's the greed and short-sightedness of the factory-farming, industrialized-agriculture economy that is helping to create a world where those of us in the West are over-nourished while millions starve.



I also don't really like the idea of being a big martyr and doing everything myself. I think we all need to learn to ask for help for one another. The Hen did ask for help, but the lazy pig, rat and rooster wouldn't lift a paw or a claw. She had a choice at that point. Maybe that's where the Hen Cafe can be a meeting place here in our community. We can help one another learn, grow, and become more healthy, more honest, and more committed to a local, sustainable economy. It's your choice, too!