Good Morning Martin

"Major update on the Martin’s Grassroots Soybean Festival!
1. We have secured bleachers, porta potties, security, trash services, and the closure of two roads along Virginia Weldon.
2. Our official name is the Martin’s Grassroots Soybean Festival, and it is now being registered with the state as an official festival so we can secure permitting and insurance.
3. After our site map is approved and insurance is secured for the three day event, we will begin booking local crafters and food vendors.
4. We now have an Operational Director, Music Director, Production Director, and a Faith and Family Director. Their names will be announced very soon.
5. The official logo is being artfully designed by Rachel Melton, the very designer who created the Tennessee Soybean Festival logo many of us have grown to love.
6. We fully intend for this event to be sustainable, which means not operating in the red. We are excited that any remaining funds will be donated to the Friend of a Firefighter campaign to help provide the life saving equipment our firefighters need to safely operate in burning buildings.
There are a lot of positive things forming very quickly.
Before we share the official dates, which we believe will feel very familiar, or begin accepting official vendors and food trucks, we want to confirm our site map and complete festival registration, all of which are currently in the works.
I just wanted to give you a quick update so you know we are working on this.
It is 100% happening, and all the details are coming very soon.
There is an enormous amount of work to do and many more volunteers that we need to pull this off. If you are interested in being part of helping with the grassroots movement of celebrating our community please let us know, I will post a link in the comments! "
- Martin's - Coffee & Bakery

"For better or worse.
The truth is this ceiling was not safe and needed structural work. Many years ago this space had a skylight and was not braced properly. It had been sagging for a long time. Although very expensive, hiring a structural engineer was important to restoring these old buildings and connecting them back together. Just because it wasn’t done right to begin with doesn’t mean we should keep doing it that way.

Part of what gives me so much stress about restoration is uncovering old problems that have to be undone. Honestly, I struggle with staying positive through the process, but my motivation is to build places for communities to gather, and the people who understand that most are the crew at Color Shop, so I do rest knowing it will be done right with intention and care.
Somehow, I have been entrusted to restore these century old buildings so the future integrity of these spaces can last another hundred years after I am gone. I was talking to Dani Poe, an amazing creative, about an upcoming film project and she talked about looking at things in a generational way: “There are trees we have planted that I will not enjoy the fruit of, but my kids will.” This relatively short time of discomfort will be worth the years of serving our community in this space and the potential of my kiddos being able to do the same.

That resonated with me. This will be worth the wait.
Thank you for being with us throughout this process. I am stressed. I know this will be valuable to our community. Courtney is happy, the kids are learning how to use nail guns, which I think is great, but it’s a lot at one time.

I am truly having fun coming up with new ways to make up the difference in the budget, but I think it will be a little longer until we are able to add all the seating."

- Martin's - Coffee & Bakery