Thoughts on the New Year

Letter from our Executive Director, January 2022

We may have struggled over the past few years through a dramatic expansion in facilities and programming, through drastic transition in staffing and leadership, and through a debilitating pandemic, but we sit at the cusp of the most promising year since I started in late 2019.  ​

It’s 2022. Welcome to the Year of Glass!?

Each year the United Nations invites its member states to observe themed International Years in order to raise awareness around various topics which reaffirm, among other things, the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It’s a neat idea, and I can see how it could help spur governmental action to support sustainable development. 2022 is the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture, the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development, the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development, and the International Year of Glass. 

There are suggestions for ways in which member states can celebrate each theme. Please note when it comes to celebrating glass, we’re invited to “to observe the International Year, in an appropriate manner and in accordance with national contexts and priorities, through activities aimed at raising awareness of and directing policy attention to the importance of glass in daily life.” In other words, make sure you keep the funny business to a minimum when it comes to glass, got it? 

It’s 2022. Welcome to the Year of the Tiger!?

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2022 is the Year of the Tiger. The Water Tiger, to be specific. The Tiger is known as the king of all beasts in China and can be a symbol for power and prestige, strength and braveness. The Tiger can also symbolize loneliness, however, because their strong personalities make it difficult to get along with others. Various internet sources say that the Water Tiger of 2022 implies a year of caution, growth, development, challenge, creation, and planning, and that babies born this year are predicted to be smart, humorous, and good at socializing, lucky when it comes to making money, and have a strong ability to adapt to new things. Wow!

It’s 2022. Welcome to the Year of the Learning Center!

Angelic Organics Learning Center is many things to many people. We’re farmer trainers. We’re food and farm educators. We’re urban farmers. We’re integral members of the communities we serve. We may have struggled over the past few years through a dramatic expansion in facilities and programming, through drastic transition in staffing and leadership, and through a debilitating pandemic, but we sit at the cusp of the most promising year since I started in late 2019.  

We have a full calendar of programs ready to teach, charm and captivate, we have a strong and nearly complete staff team, we have a supportive Board of Directors, we have a fine-tuned Covid response and mitigation strategy, and we have a growing community of enthusiastic participants and supporters. Most importantly, we have the most beautiful vision, which we work toward with joy and celebration, every day of the year. 
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At Angelic Organics Learning Center, we envision a dynamic and enduring partnership between farmers and consumers who strive for economies, ecologies, and cultures that respect the land and honor the people who work it, know healthy food as a human right, celebrate the beauty and mysteries of life and the living earth, encourage authenticity and self-reliance and cooperation, and are sustainable over many generations.

It's 2022. Welcome to those of you who recently joined our community via our peer-to-peer fundraising campaign and welcome back to our important, steadfast supporters who’ve walked with us toward our vision for a long time. I wish you all a healthy, prosperous and very happy year.

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Author

Jackie de Batista, Executive Director