Adventures can be found in all aspects of life. At times, we venture outward, towards extraordinary treasures. Most often, we’re called to remain in our homes and our communities. We are able to build and grow and share stories. These Ordinary Adventures can teach us how to find value and deepen meaning in even the most mundane acts and experiences.

There is no better place to begin an exploration of Ordinary Adventures than in our kitchens. The act and commitment of procuring, preparing and presenting food to our friends and loved ones is nothing short of magical.

In this two hour workshop we will explore our own Ordinary Adventures while learning useful culinary skills. Incorporating traditional kitchen practices into regular family life can literally and metaphorically deepen our relationships, to ourselves and to one another. Participants will be introduced to narrative storytelling and practice strategies for sharing preferred stories for growth and development.

Making rich stocks and broths is a delicious, economical and easy way to add depth to numerous elements in our cooking repertoire. Yet, many find that it is an overwhelming task. Imagine the soup pot, simmering away, while friends and family gather round; the house smells wonderful, and the air is laden with memories, old and new. This is the power of gathering around food. Soups, stocks and broths are a most basic nourishment; they encourage the sharing of stories. When we share our stories, particularly over shared sustenance, we deepen our connection to others and to our most preferred selves.

We will share our Ordinary Adventures and voice commitments to further adventures. Participants will practice working with storytelling strategies and develop a course for further personal plotline development. Participants will learn basic techniques for making both bone and vegetable stocks. We will share in the creation of a Stone Soup to share, with delicious sourdough bread to dip and fermented vegetables to garnish and complete the meal.

Instructor bio:

Stories create and shape the reality of our lives. For the last twenty years, Jason has had the honor of helping people to re-author preferred stories about themselves, their families and their organizations. In his work as a psychologist, educator and storyteller, Jason’s passion for collaborative story work has grown into a full-time commitment and personal perspective.

Jason S. Frishman, PsyD is a psychologist with a doctorate from William James College (formerly MSPP,) and a Master’s degree in Adventure Therapy from Georgia College and State University. He is a clinician and partner at Networks, Inc., a non-profit mental health organization based in Burlington, VT (www.networksvt.org). He is also an active partner of the VT StoryLab, a project committed to helping Vermont non-profits deepen their impact through storytelling strategies (www.vermontstorylab.org). For almost ten years, Jason and his wife, Shana, co-owned FolkFoods, LLC, where they developed and produced healthy, local food products, sold at farmers’ markets and cafes, and offered food education workshops.