Growth and Development,by Adam Saunders
Howdy friends!
The world of botany uses two terms to describe how plants grow: Growth and Development. Growth is the shear change in size, like a root of a beet getting fatter and fatter before harvest. Development denotes a change in complexity, like a tomato plant finally developing flowers which then develop into juicy sweet fruit. I love this comparison as we reflect on the last 13 years of Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, and of course cannot resist a good ag pun…
CCUA had humble beginnings as an all volunteer group in 2008. Starting a non-profit at the height of the economic recession seemed like the most pragmatic thing to do at the time, and had a huge upside possibility of changing how our town and region approached urban agriculture, outdoor education in a K-12 and higher ed setting, and even how our health system approaches wellness. Over the years, I am proud to say that many of the big ideas we envisioned back in the early days have not only germinated, but have gone through major growth and development, and some have even re-seeded and spawned new ideas. Countless hardworking people have leaned into this effort to improve processes and make these programs and partnerships succeed. I am beyond appreciative of the fertile soil that is the Columbia, MO community, and the generous people who helped tend, water and fertilize these seedlings of ideas into the beautiful tall okra plants they are today.
Through the many years I’ve had the rewarding process of passing my many hats to other folks. Time and time again, I’ve been amazed and humbled at how much better these fine people are at the jobs I had than I was! Due to changes in my life with a growing family and various projects, I now have just a few focused roles at CCUA. As we continue to grow and develop, it is clear that CCUA needs to hire additional help to take these roles and continue its success. I am excited for the forthcoming Development Manager to join our talented team, and look forward to helping to roll out some fun (and delicious) outreach ideas in the season ahead. Stay tuned for more details.
A special thank you to all the many donors and partners who’ve sponsored rows via Planting of the Pantry, supported CCUA’s many programs, and who dug deep to make the Build This Town: Campaign for the Agriculture Park a smashing success. A big thank you for your trust and generosity! I look forward to seeing you over the seasons ahead and continuing to connect you (and your friends) to the amazing team of urban farmers and educators that make up CCUA. The fertile ground has become more rich over the years and many good seeds have been sown for the seasons ahead. I can hardly wait to see how they grow and develop.
Final note, If you are interested in applying for the Development Manager, or volunteering your time to help sustain the work of CCUA, please go to https://www.columbiaurbanag.org/jobs and let us know.
Adam
