How Revive the Table seeks to create creators instead of consumers....

I’ll start this informal essay by reminding readers what Revive the Table is and who it is. It is a publication and brand that seeks to reconnect people to the land through hands-on skills, growing food, forming community, buying local, and eating real whole foods. In short, Revive the Table helps you become a creator in this consumer state.

Who is behind Revive the Table? Me! Shelby Lancaster I wear many hats, but I am incredibly passionate about this brand. It began as an online cohort; I gathered Joel Salatin, AJ Richards, Mollie Englehart, and many more regenerative real food activists.

One of the graphics from that online webinar.

But to my surprise, another online thing was not fulfilling; I wanted more. I wanted to create something impactful. For months, I set up Revive the Table; it was mine, but I was unsure what to do with it. And then, like many nights as I was drifting off to sleep the idea popped into my head: a newspaper!

To my surprise, creating a newspaper became difficult. I reached out to brands to advertise so that I could have enough money to buy an order of printed newspapers AND pay the writers. To my surprise, I couldn’t find any brands willing to advertise.

I was left with an idea, but couldn’t figure out how to make it come to life. I researched more into the physical media world, and I came across ideas: mini magazines, monthly journals, and so forth.

Without much money to truly create a standard publication, I took a chance. I decided I was going to print, edit, and design this with writers. At first, I had an HP printer and quickly found out it would not print double-sided. I needed more cash flow to get things going.

My personal brand sells guides, so I was busy selling those. I created enough to buy an Epson printer. I bought printer paper, a stapler that staples like a magazine, and I found writers. The first month, I sold over 20 copies. Looking back, that first addition sucked, but I learned.

A year later, I invested in a better printer and better-quality paper, yet orders have fluctuated. Unfortunately, changing the writer’s payment model, I have since changed it to an affiliate-based model, but that doesn’t guarantee payment for a writer. A reader-funded publication, or what I have rebranded as the Revive the Table Monthly Guide, has an expensive overhead. I don’t write this drag on; I write to share the realities of Revive the Table.

But, as always, I figure out how to pivot and rise above it. I learn how to be a creator of my little reality. I used to see that quote and roll my eyes; life is too hard to be the creator of my reality! Ahhh, life is hard, but it’s the actions we choose to take that generate change.

Growing a business or any endeavor in life requires you to sink or float. Floating requires you to take actions to keep going, or, as I like to call it, having the grit to keep going.

So, if you are someone who wants to create and make choices to build a better tomorrow, Revive the Table might be a good fit for you.

It’s an incredible way to stop grabbing your phone so much and learn real-life skills.

In the past few issues, I have been sharing how to create food security where you are; other writers have shared about sustainable living, living off-grid, the importance of buying local, relationship building, fermentation, and so much more!

You learn how to create where you are at through intentional choices.

Every guide features 10-15 articles.

In a world full of consumption, learn to create!

Thanks for reading, and I greatly appreciate your support. Rather, that’s simply sharing about Revive the Table, ordering, and leaving a review!