Building a Community Garden
Nobody can plant a seed on Friday and expect to eat a tomato on Saturday.
Much like what we are trying to build, a garden asks for time, patience, attention, energy, and commitment. Every so often it also asks for the freedom to take a risk. To put something new in the ground without knowing exactly how it will come up, or to try something new without knowing the outcome.
This weekend, today, October 10th, LivWell Market begins our soft opening at 8 Somersworth Plaza. Consider this as us planting the first seeds.
Allow me an introduction.
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My name is Costa. Greek food, family, and culture have been the pride at the center of my existence for as long as I can remember. My father lives in Greece, and the wild mountain oregano on our shelves that many of you have tried is harvested from the mountainside overlooking his village, Pyli. Several dishes on our menu were inspired by my trips to his village or are things that belong to one of my Yia-Yias, and we make them the way we were taught, weekend after weekend. My passion for food started with what I was taught - that a delicious meal after a challenging day is as much a comfort as anything else.
My amazing wife, Jessica, and our four incredible children are as much a part of this place as they are my reason for tending to it. If you notice a few rambunctious little ones closely inspecting the shelves, blowing bubbles, or drawing on the cement inside the shop, those are probably ours. They have a lot to say and I am delighted for you to know them all.
LivWell is more than anything a family-inspired market and eatery, built on a simple belief: good food, made with care, meant to help people live well, at least in as many moments as possible. My dream is that we create a place to share food, or to teach you how to make it, that makes the people around us - you, our community - stronger.
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Now, the part I would rather tell you than have you discover as an unpleasant surprise. We are far from finished.
The doors are opening, and the kitchen is cooking. The smells are popping, the flavors are mouth-watering. But much of this garden is still focused on sprouting:
🌱 Our team: We are patiently assembling the right people with matching energy and intentions.
🌱 Our processes: Some days we will be slower than we want to be, and we hope that doesn't harm your experience. There is much to learn for all of us as we are building confidence in how to best serve you.
🌱 The grocery room: We are actively building partnerships to bring high-quality and affordable products to all the people around us.
🌱 The full menu: We are practicing, honing, and refining the foods that we have learned from generations of our family that we know you will enjoy. I can’t wait until you can try the marrow from a braised lamb shank recipe my Theo Niko and Thea Maryna perfected!
🌱 The bar: We are working to equip and staff a taverna that will serve you with a frosty beverage, a delectable wine, or a special non-alcoholic drink to enjoy with your meal. Maybe even a few new concepts along the way, like a place to pair a delicious dessert with an equivalent cocktail after you dine at one of Somersworth’s other amazing local eateries.
🌱 The full produce selection: Most importantly, in front of us, we want to bring good, healthy foods that are attainable by all and never wasted. We are working on partnerships with the most thoughtful companies we can find that are within our reach.
So I am l asking three things of you.
Your grace. When the line moves slowly, or we are out of the thing you came for, or we are finding ourselves under-equipped for something our staff hasn’t perfected, we will do our best to keep your experiences delightful.
Your cooperation. As we learn the rhythm of this place together, and the best ways to serve you, we welcome you to help us with your expertise or your perspective.
Your feedback. What worked, what did not, what you wish we carried, and what we could do to maximize your enjoyment of this space that we are proud of. Tell us at the counter or at info@livwellmarket.com. We want to hear everything, and I encourage you to share.
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A garden this size needs more hands.
To open fully, we need to find a few more wonderful people to round out our team. We are looking for people who are confident, reliable, proactive, creative, and not afraid of challenges. People who notice what needs doing before anyone asks, who bring their own ideas to the work, and who are excited to feel proud about what they are building with us outside of work.
At LivWell, leadership is not a title. It is a practice, and I ask it of everyone on every shift. If that sounds like you, or like someone you know, I would love to meet you. Stop in and introduce yourself, or apply to one of our positions at livwellmarket.com/careers.
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There is a phrase in Greek that goes "σιγά σιγά" (siga siga). Slowly, slowly. It is what you say to someone in a hurry. It is what my Yia-Yia and Papou modeled when they would take us up north to fill our bottles of spring water from the mountains, or what they said when I was in a hurry to do something that wasn't urgent. It is also how the most incredible gardens grow.
I am calling this a community garden because we do not intend to grow it alone. We simply can’t grow it alone without your support.
Thank you for planting with us. We have much to do to tend to each other, and I hope to see you soon and often.
With love — from Costa, Jessica, our family, and all of the amazing people who have helped transform this dream into reality.