Time flies when you have had so much fun!  It has been a little over a week since RIC 2009 concluded on Sunday, August 2.  We spent the morning with our now traditional "positives and deltas" exercise.  The groups come together--this year we did it by region--to discuss the things we liked and the things we want to change for the next conference.  Then groups reported out to everyone.

Finally, and sadly, it was time to say goodbye, always a poignant moment at RIC.  Old friends who have not seen each other since last year, and new friends who look forward to seeing each other again next year.  Finally The Food Project crew led us through the biggest group hug I have even seen.  Groups left by car, bus and planes.  The Cali crew took the bus to Boston, then the six hour flight back to Oakland.  Amy was right there to drive the Santa Cruz crew home, and Gera and I had a bit of time driving back to North Oakland at midnight to reflect on RIC.

This year is the start of RIC's "teens," our second decade since that first meeting in Lincoln 11 years ago.  We spent time envisioning what we would like to see RIC become at the start of the third decade, 10 years from now.

These first ten years have built such a strong foundation.  We have watched young people grow up--like Marcus and Will from The Food Project and our own Doron.  We have watched programs grow up, like The Food Project, with their extraordinarily gifted interns leading complicated workshops without hesitation.  We have met new programs, like the folks from the Tucson Community Food Bank, who stepped up to offer hosting a RIC Winter meeting (stay tuned for more news on that front!).

We are all learning and growing together.  It always give me pause to hear a RIC youth talk about the wonder of meeting folks just like her or him from all over the country doing this great work with the earth and with community.  Yes, it is inspirational.

So I'm hopeful we can keep this blog going with the writing, photography and creative work of RIC youth and adults.

Thank you once again, Lots to Gardens and Cultivating Community and The Food Project.  So many of you made our time together so special and worthwhile.

For day #4 photos, go to http://bit.ly/2msDBV.  (Day #1 is http://bit.ly/W4FNt.  Day #2 is http://bit.ly/IrpNa.   And day #3 is http://bit.ly/6OveY)

And for a great article in the Portland newspaper, go to http://bit.ly/1afFMY