A Network Speaks . . . of Value

October 25, 2012 Leave a comment

At the second Vermont Farm to Plate Network Convening two weeks ago, my colleague Beth Tener and I facilitated a conversation about the value the nearly 200 people in attendance see the network adding to the food system.  From where they sit, what do they see net work enabling that they have not been able to accomplish in the “old way”?  Here’s a taste:

  • Better conductivity
  • Strength in numbers
  • Quicker learning curve
  • Encouragement to continue
  • Continuing professional development
  • More collaboration than competition
  • Taking different perspectives given the complexity of the system
  • Each of us taking a piece that can blend into solutions
  • Increasing knowledge of valuable resources
  • Having fun while doing hard work
  • No wasted ideas – dynamic equilibrium
  • Telling and sharing the story; ensuring the story travels
  • Conversations about how we evaluate success and we look at evaluation together
  • Mindset shift that we each have a piece of the answer

What else have you seen networks accomplishing and enabling?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *