Thank You Letter to My Stellar First Rubykraut Class

What a beautiful morning!

I can’t thank you enough for coming over last night and being a part of the Lost Barrio Collective as it takes its first steps on wobbly, young legs. I hope that you left with something new to think about and try—I certainly did.

Thank you even more for being a part of my own transformation. We talked about intentionally creating the right environment for growth, and I told you all that the Lost Barrio Collective is one of the ways I am attempting to steep myself in a transformational, sometimes slightly uncomfortable “brine” in which I can continue to learn and mature and become my best self. It is fitting that I get to share with you the changes as they take place.

My hope for last night was to merge two of my passions: transformation and gorgeous food. What could be better than ruby red sauerkraut to illustrate how closely these two ideas are tied? I intended to hear more of your stories and thoughts about transformation, maturing, cultivating change…. and then my idea collided with reality (ideas rarely survive this process). As I was showing you the simple steps for fermenting a cabbage, you were also teaching me how to teach. I woke up fairly overwhelmed with all I learned last night about how to improve the class experience and myself. What a fascinating success!
 
In keeping with trusting our own senses and being fearless about adjusting things within our control to get new and better results, here are some new things that I am excited to try as I adjust the flavor of future classes:

• Structure: I asked you for stories and thoughts, and then I didn’t put enough structure in place to allow space for that to happen. We all left full of pickles and little cakes (fantastic!). I would like to factor in the time and space at the end of class to let myself stop talking and encourage more sharing, so that we can also leave with full hearts and spirits. This could include time after the demo for everyone to shred, salt, and pack their own jar of sauerkraut while sharing thoughts and stories, or time to just eat and talk. 

• Written lesson plan: Since you all were my guinea pigs on this one, I wanted to hear any questions that came up last night so that I could address them in the next lesson – so, thank you for being awake and alive and participating… I now have written materials to go with last night’s class! (Bonus small trivia tidbit about guinea pigs: humans and guinea pigs are the only two mammals that do not synthesize their own vitamin C, and must therefor eat it. Who knew? Just one more reason to love a fermented cabbage; almost nothing compares when it comes to a delicious, low-sugar, real food, gut-friendly, high-vitamin C delivery system.)

• Cupcakes: Bigger, obviously.

In The Art of Possibility, symphony conductor Benjamin Zander calls every musical mistake in a rehearsal an opportunity to look at oneself and one’s work as a beautiful work in progress and exclaim, “How fascinating!”—and move forward having learned something. I am so grateful that we are all a part of the music of each other’s lives, and that you were with me last night to share in my own joy and fascination of learning and growing.

You now have each other’s email addresses. I hope you will share your pickle progress as you ferment, and I hope you will share your own stories and thoughts on transformation, with me, with each other privately, or however feels right for you. I would love for these classes to be the start of excellent conversations.
 
Please let me know what you want to learn or talk about next… I have a request in for grain-free pizza crust. We tried it last night as a hands-on lesson, and Ruth’s 10-year-old son, Ving, says this is a fun class. ;)

Have a glorious week and enjoy your creations!
In love and health,

James