Meaningful Employment
Tonight I did a fuel run. I topped up our Moncure location with B100, bought a couple of hundred gallons of petroleum from the Jordan Dam Mini Mart, and filled up Raleigh and Pittsboro with B80-our winter blend.
It was cold, and dark, and rainy-but Tami rode along so the very real threat of dying from lonesomeness was kept at bay.
Ever since Russell went to work for Yes! Solar Solutions over in Cary, I have been running the distribution part of our business. And I’ve noticed something strange about it.
It’s boring. Watching the gallons roll through the meters is tedious. Driving our short truck is challenging-especially since third gear is missing. And with big liquids sloshing around on the back, it is easy to feel like you are being thrown from lane to lane.
And yet, after each run, I am overwhelmed with satisfaction. As if I have accomplished something.
Which means filling up trail locations is the opposite of my normal work life at Piedmont. When I am taking calls in the Control Room, or cleaning out the stall which is my email box, or negotiating financing, or talking to a vendor, I am never bored.
Most days evaporate before I know it, and after making 99 critical decisions I am left with the feeling that I have accomplished very little indeed.
It’s strange. I can be bored filling up the trail-delivering fuel to our members who depend on it-and feel like it is a worthwhile endeavor. Or I can be super stimulated by a giant multi-faceted project which demands a lot and feel I have done nothing.
As I was wrapping up the meter tickets and fuel logs tonight I learned that both EdibleEarthscapes and Piedmont Biofarm were awarded grants from Rural Advancement Foundation International. Very nice bit of news with which to end the week. Strengthening the farms means strengthening the whole.
Surely there is a connection between that and keeping the B100 Community Trail full of fuel?
February 6th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Thanks Lyle for the shout out. Jason and I are ecstatic as I imagine Doug and his crew are too. You don’t know how excited we are to get our new projects underway and we couldn’t do it without the support of everyone at Piedmont Biofuels with you being the cherry on top. You know, with the farmers energized and ready to make more food, that energy becomes fuel for you guys in keeping up the community trail. It’s a wonderful full circle as every time I hear of Piedmont Biofuels accomplishments I feel happy to be making food for the community. THIS BUBBLE ROCKS! Thanks Lyle!!
February 7th, 2010 at 11:04 am
That’s great news about Piedmont Biofarm and Edible Earthscapes recent grants. I’d love to hear more about them, perhaps Doug, Jason and Haruka would like to write about their plans for Sustainable Grub?