A Letter from Andre: Musings from the Potwash.

In physics, spacetime (also known as the space-time continuum) is a mathematical model that fuses the 3-dimensions of space and the 1 dimension of time into a single 4-dimensional continuum. It allows for the observation that time can pass differently for an object depending on the object’s velocity relative to the observer.

I guess this may be why the last 6 months have been both a rapid blur and an eternity for me at the same time.

In this time we’ve all learned so much. We’ve made loads of mistakes. And we’ve all grown a huge amount.

I hope you’ll all join me in feeling really proud of what we’ve all achieved here. At times I’m really struck by what a rare place Open House is. A special unique space that we’ve all created together.

Open House has grown far beyond the initial concepts that Ab, Pippa, Regine and I dreamt up over a dining table long ago. Now there are over 30 of us, together with a whole community. All living, breathing, connecting and growing together. I believe we’ve really made an impact on people’s lives - both our own and our surrounding community.

I see and hear it every day in the human stories that come from our customers and from our team.

We have become their peaceful escape from the daily grind. Their act of self-care. Their place to connect with family and friends. Their creative outlet. Their refuge. Their first step towards healing. Their place to reflect. Their safe space where they can be accepted for who they are. Their chosen family. And I want to say Thank You - to all of us, for helping to build this delicate little bubble of life. Our own evolving ecosystem.

This has also been a time of firsts for so many of us. For some of you this was your first job. You’ve learned to cook for the first time. Wash pots for the first time. Made coffee for the first time. Served customers for the first time. Held responsibility for the first time. And every time we do something for the first time we have to be brave. We have to step into the discomfort to get through to the other side. To grow.

And you’ve all done so well. Take a minute to reflect on that and acknowledge your growth. Our growth. I’m really proud of us all.

For me it was the first time that I started a business with Regine and our friends. It was the first time that I’ve been in a business in the wholebeing space and in the food and beverage space. It’s the first time that I’ve been in a business where the ultimate goal is not maximum profit, but maximum connection. It’s the first time that I’ve stepped back into the “real world” after my nervous breakdown/breakthrough after which I never thought I’d work again. All of that has been challenging for me personally. It’s been scary. And I’ve had to have faith. And so again - Thank you - for holding my hand through it all :)

And by no means have we figured it all out. So many things have taken us down the path less planned, less traditional, less foreseen. And I’m really proud of our abilities to flex and change depending on what we see, how we feel, and what we’ve learned. I’m proud of all of us for supporting each other. Helping each other. Holding space for each other.

I also know that rapid change like this can also be a challenge, and so again - thank you for learning with us and giving us your trust.

What I’ve Learned…

Some of the things I’ve learned in the last 6 months include:

- You can’t predict customer traffic based on the weather. Things will be as they will be. All we can do is flow with it.

- Domestic coffee machines are not suitable for making 100 coffees a day. No matter how much I try really hard to make them. No matter how much I pray to the coffee gods. Sometimes I just need to let go.

- Potwash is a dark art. Attempted by many, and perfected by few.

- It is really hard to run a small sustainable business. I have so much renewed appreciation and respect for all our neighbours who have been managing to do this for years.

- Life is better if you believe that everyone is just doing the best they can right now. We’re all imperfectly human, and learning how to live in community with you all is both the hardest and most wonderful thing all at the same time.

So here’s to the next 6 months. I look forward to the journey with you all.

Andre