My first and fondest
memories are of times
spent in open spaces,
when I was fortunate enough to
have miles of green landscape
where I could roam. Years later, I
find myself craving a daily dose
of this familiar inspiration, as
inhaling sweet fresh air and con-
necting to a much larger universe instills a welcome serenity.
Recently my cherished morning
runs in the silence of dawn have
been enlivened with scents of a
new season. Lush views here in the
Northeast capture a rich palette of changing seasons and create a perfect backdrop for our region’s history of agriculture, reflecting centuries worth of beliefs and life- styles that are close to the earth, as described in our local feature, p. 22. Taking in these vibrant morning horizons has become a meditation I carry with me into the day, a powerful affirmation to nourish body and soul with wise, life-giving choices.

Speaking of celebrating the land that sustains us, I’m reminded of an energizing experience last September, when the three of us gathered with a massive crowd to enjoy Farm Aid, an annual event that rocked neighboring Hershey in order to raise funds for the preservation of our nation’s farmlands and a future for its independent food growers. A collective understanding of age-old wisdom inherent in the concepts of fresh and local reverberated across generations to the tunes of music legends such as John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Willie Nelson and Neil Young. The sun was bright and the air alive with a rhythm and mindset that supports tradition alongside ongoing change.

Loving this planet is an extension of loving ourselves. “The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy and after all, our most pleasing responsibility,” notes renowned writer and farmer Wendell Berry. “To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope.” We all play a part, and we do not need to own several acres to support the movement. This issue is brimming with examples to nurture and support us along the way. As our Urban Gardening feature on p. 18 shows, opportunities to grow our own food and teach children the joys
of harvest are sprouting up everywhere. And weekly farmers’ markets continue to color the community with abundant and flavorful local options. Understanding the resources and folks that make fresh and seasonal cooking possible is an opportunity to engage in the cycle of life and promote vitality for all.

            Jacqueline

Connecting to nature and lifestyles that reflect simplicity and balance easily creates space for nourishment that is whole and pure. Food consciousness is the opening that provides for our freedom to choose well and to build healthy and harmonious communities.

            Jacqueline Mast, Kendra Campbell & Lois Schultz, Co-publishers