When the darkness envelops our days, sweaters become staple clothing, and cottonwood leaves begin to blow, our beloved barn becomes ever more inviting.

When her big doors are open, twinkle lights glowing, and her soothing, nut-colored wood radiates warmth, she’s like a plump grandmother saying, “Come in, relax. Have you eaten?”

Yet, this barn, this farm, is not here for us. We know this space should be shared with friends.

Enter the Stammtisch

Stammtisch (pronounced shtahm-tish), German for “regulars’ table”, is a concept with deep roots in German culture as a space where a table is always held for the community.

(Stamm means “clan or tribe”, and tisch is a table. Although, stamm can also be a stem or trunk, as in baumstamm (tree trunk), which is serendipitously apt for Good Trouble Grove. Ahem, moving on…)

In practice, it looks like a group of friends or locals who meet casually and regularly at a pub, café, or restaurant, ideally at one long table, where everyone is welcome. It’s a regular set time, weekly or monthly, with no agenda, and is held whether two people or twenty show up.

Because it’s German, they usually drink beer. There’s also traditional snacky foods, folk music, and maybe card or dice games. However, these are all just sidekicks to inspire the main activity: conversation.

At its root, the purpose of the stammtisch is to talk, joke, laugh, and be merry with other folks.

The fact that there is beer does not make it adults only. Actually, the stammtisch is often attended by multiple generations, making it a cherished, screen-free family activity, where kids may even have their own Kindertisch with games and refreshments of their own.

Why we need the Stammtisch

Germans have a great word: Gemütlichkeit (pronounced geh-MYUT-lihk-kyt). It loosely translates as comfort, yet represents a deeper feeling of warmth, friendliness, coziness, and peace, topped with a bow of belonging, well-being, and social harmony.

That’s a lot to pack into one word, hence its greatness.

Gemütlichkeit is what the stammtisch is all about. It’s like bringing your living room out to the corner pub to hang with the neighborhood crew, where, like the TV show Cheers, everyone knows your name.

As one might imagine, many benefits come from the gemütlichkeit that a stammtisch provides. Great stuff like:

• mental health – who doesn’t need more friendliness, warmth, and belonging in their life?
• community – bridging those social divides that seem to be ever-growing these days
• traditions – connecting to shared roots to reduce isolation and provide stability in challenging times

Your Invitation

Rooted, as we are, in community and gemütlichkeit, Good Trouble Grove and this cozy barn of ours are excited to welcome you out to our very first, long-awaited stammtisch.

Please join us on October 8th at 6pm for a long table of good people.

This event is open to all. You do not need to be German, a farmer, or a beer drinker. Just a part of our community.

There are no RSVPs, no expectations to perform, and no dress code. Come as you are, show up when you can, and stay as long as you like.

Provided:

• traditional German finger foods
• water or tea
• beer to purchase
• Knobeln (dice games)
• atmosphere

What to bring:

• merriment or at least a faint desire to experiment with it
• drinks or foods you prefer
• family
• warm clothes, dependent on weather
• small donation, if you’re able, to help us keep the twinkle lights on

The barn is open, the lights are glowing, your seat at the table awaits.