Life is like a jar of miso.
This month, I opened a jar that had been tucked away on a shelf in my basement for a full year — soybeans, rice, koji, and a whole lot of microbiology. The jar was from last year’s Rooted Carrot Miso Workshop led by Tomie Sasaki-Hesselink, the owner of Iowa Miso. We sampled over a dozen misos from different regions of Japan and I wondered if my first attempt would turn out. Lucky for me, I was only a small part of the recipe.
Fermentation is patient work. Tiny microorganisms are at work, even though we can’t see them. They don’t rush. They trust the process. Over time, something extraordinary emerges.
The Rooted Carrot Co-op is a lot like that jar of miso!
Every month, volunteers on committees and the board are meeting. Partnerships are forming. Events are filling with neighbors who care about building something together.
Transformation is underway, even if you can’t always see it.
I joined Rooted Carrot the first week I moved to the Cedar Valley five years ago because I believe we need organizations like this that don’t shy away from the hard, sometimes grinding work of building community based on the values of shared ownership, local commitment, and creating a healthier future. After serving two years on the Membership Committee, I’m honored to now serve on the board with a group of people who keep showing up for this shared vision.
You can be part of this brew, too! Join us at an upcoming event our Membership Team is planning — from Worm Bin to Bike Maintenance classes. Each gathering is another reminder that this community is active, engaged, and growing.
Thank you for being part of the fermentation.
Kathryn Gilbery
Board Vice-President