Winnie Mae's is not Home yet!

Hello all,
   Monday is an historic day for Winnie Mae's.  The property owners have shown a tremendous amount of faith in what we are doing.  Everyone is excited about the things that are on the horizon even as it gets cooler outside.  My goals for Monday are to, even though I have dubbed it opening day and that should be a flurry of activity, take a step back and look at how far we have come and how far we have to go.
   I have warned everyone that there are bare walls, empty space, and gravel where there was once parking.  I have spoken to artists and members from all around town and those walls will not be bare for long.  We have commitments from many for materials and equipment so the space will not be empty for long and local growers will soon be bringing product from places all around the area to place on shelves.  The gravel will soon be covered with dirt from raised beds for "Maya's Garden" and soon thereafter things will spring from the ground.  This is really something special, if I do say so myself.  We are not home yet. 
   I know that each of you has a belief in creating a green, healthy, sustainable community here in the upstate.  I know that you would like to see that same environment flourish elsewhere so think about the fact that Winnie Mae's can serve as a beacon and a template for any other community and show that they can get together and create the type of environment we want rather than be at the mercy of others. 
   In the coming weeks not months, there will classes on permaculture, yoga classes, and cooking classes.  In the coming days, not weeks there will be family-strenghtening "date nights", and events where you meet the farmers who grow your food.  We will have tastings and meetings and even a book club and all of those things are on the other side of that door at Winnie Mae's.
   If you are not a member, become one.  Go to http://www.winniemaes.com/, click on "membership" and get involved.  It will pay off.
   If you have not made a donation and would like to, just go to http://www.winniemaes.com/  click on "membership" scroll down to the bottom and make a donation.
   We have a goal to reach and a long way to go before we can open that door and a long way to go once the door is open.
  
Help us make this happen!
Thank you,Eli Montgomery
Winnie Mae's
http://www.winniemaes.com/