A few weeks ago, I was a chaperon for my 5-year-old’s class field trip to a pumpkin farm, Ticonderoga Farms in Loudoun County, Virginia. After being ushered onto the hayride, we were literally dropped off at a pumpkin patch to choose our jack-o’-lanterns off the vine.  Granted, some of those pumpkins where conveniently placed next to the vine to prevent a shortage of pumpkins and upset kindergartners. But the entire experience made me think how strange it is that I had never seen a baby pumpkin on  a vine before.

I went on to buy freshly picked figs from the farm.  Do I do things like this usually?  No.  Would I like to buy straight from the farm more often? Absolutely. It felt like I was taking my first baby steps into the Slow Food Movement. I am starting to become more in touch with where my food comes from and how it is produced.

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Priorities in life are bound to be different for each one of us. Our environment influences us directly and indirectly, however, our good earth may not always make our daily priority cut-off.  Yet, perhaps it should be part of our concern for life.

When we are able to buy locally grown organic foods we decrease pesticide consumption, the environmental costs and potentially improve our nutrition.

It has been well-documented that on average organic foods have more nutrients; such as magnesium, vitamin C, iron, and phosphorus, compared to conventional crops. In general organic foods are more nutrient-dense then conventionally grown produce.  We also know that organic produce have less pesticide residues and the proof so to speak is in the organic pudding!

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“If you build up the soil with organic material, the plants will do just fine.”
–John Harrison

Can you smell the dirt?

I finally can and that is how I know Springtime is here.  The perennials are starting to push their way past last year’s dead flowers and sticks.  (I should have pruned them back).  But that is what I love about Spring.  No matter what you did or did not do…Spring still comes through.  It really is about new beginnings.

As the grass revives itself and delicate green shoots gingerly grow and eager little buds turn into blossoms, what is at work behind the scene is under-appreciated dirt.  Or should I call it by its proper name, Soil, with a capital S.  After all, it is the soil that nourishes not only the plants but also animals and us.

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