Here's What Happened This Week
Welcome to our Society Friday Field Log #001
Hellooooo my friends and fellow foragers,
Welcome to our first-ever Friday Field Log!
In case you don’t know the story, I have had this society idea tumbling around in my head for years.
Often I thought how fun it would be to have a whimsical version of scouting for adults. A few weeks ago, I shared it on my Facebook page and it captured the imagination of the internet. Almost 3 million of you saw the posts and thousands raised your hands and said, I’m in. And here 👏🏻 we 👏🏻 are.
Going viral is a wild ride. I am still replying to comments. This is 1000% a situation of build the plane while you fly the plane. Thank you for your patience and encouragement and most of all doing this with me. This is one of the most magical things I’ve ever experienced.
A few of you made the comment over on Facebook that you have seen others try this kind of thing but it fizzled and there seemed to be perhaps a lack of follow-through ultimately. While I don’t have an insight on those situations, I want you to know I am all in.
Last time I was this all in I moved alone, sight unseen, to an active conflict zone in South Sudan with a few hundred dollars, bottled water and a camp stove. I was privileged to live locally in the community for seven years.
Even though things have slowed slightly in terms of sharing velocity, I want you to hear from me and be kept in the loop every single week.
But I do not want to inundate your inbox with every detail. (Spoiler: I’m the friend who gives you your gift early and then gets you a second one for the actual day because I can be a little extra.)
Here’s what happened this week so far:
I’m still researching the best badge options and starting to order samples. This is a learning curve for me. As an artist/illustrator/designer I’m used to print, but this is a whole new world.
I’m almost finished with our very first Field Guide designed to be used in one of your first troop meetings. It is gorgeous and comes with a very special introduction. I have taken my time because I want it to be something special. I should finish it this weekend.
I am making plans to turn these PDFs into actual print magazines that can be purchased. It just feels so special to have something on paper. Paper people you get this— not just me, right?
A BIG huge enormous deal is unfolding behind the scenes this coming week. I’m creating an application to submit us to a very special project/grant that might open some massive doors to help me serve y’all better. It’s a longshot and I can’t say much more than that right now, but fingers crossed. 🙏🏻
This space isn’t about me. It’s about YOU. So I’d love to know what questions you have about Frolic and Forage. Or hosting/joining a troop. Or my background. I am planning to do regular ask me anything videos where I answer your questions. Click the button to add as many of yours as you like.
May I ask a favor?
If you are meeting with your troop, snap a few photos:
I’d just love to see your faces! If you are open to sharing them with me, I’d love to see them. Full stop.
It would be a huge help to begin having an archive to pull from to celebrate what is going on with our independent troops and gatherings.
If you are comfortable, you can send photos to frolicandforagesociety@substack.com In the message, let me know if I have permission to share and a little about what the photos represent. If you have selected a troop name include that and your city/state or country.
If you just want me to enjoy seeing your troop in action but not share them, let me know that too.
Our Friday Frolic Weekly Chat
This is new too. I don’t want to overwhelm you. You do not need to do everything. Pick one or two things.
I believe when we follow our intuition instead of the fear of missing out we will find the things that are truly meant for us in this moment.
This is a chat where we share what we’re making and exploring! A little like show-and-tell meets a circle of encouragement.
A Chat Thread to Help You Find One Another
In case you missed it, this is a chat thread to help you find one another while I’m building a directory.
And that’s a wrap. I am so deeply grateful each one of you are here.
With wonder and whimsy,
I know I’d be delighted if you did PDFs for the badge designs and we made our own as part of the badge. I already have ideas involving felt, iron-on interfacing, and my many embroidery and cross stitch supplies…then everyone’s badge would be unique but on a theme 💕
Especially given some of us are international!
FYI- The Ask Me Anything link doesn't seem to be working in either the email or the substack when I use the Safari browser. It is very slow and only loading about halfway before timing out. I tried over on Chrome and it's loading just fine. Just wanted to put the word out there in case anyone else was experiencing this hiccup.