My desire to learn how to grow food originated from my deep love and appreciation for its nourishment. Every human needs food, so it is a subject that we can all relate. Among every culture, there is a gathering around the centerpiece of food. It is rooted in culture, in sharing tradition, in preserving and sustaining life. Food is our energy, our drive, and our sustenance to experience life. For me, food lives beyond the nutritional competence it provides and satisfies nourishment for the soul. It is a point of creativity in the kitchen, connection to nature, a way to experience the outdoors, an endless education and a magical way to gather a group of humans together.
I strive to be a steward of the land. For I've realized that if we take care of the land, we take care of ourselves. We are an extension of the physical land and out of necessity we live a symbiotic relationship. We inhale the earth's oxygen, we drink from the earths water, we eat from the land, and we require gravity to stay grounded here. It is easy to become disconnected from the fact that our health is intertwined with that of the earth. When we take care of the land, we invest in our health. I encourage my neighbors, friends and family to take serious steps towards health through food. I empower us all to realize the power we hold within ourselves to create change. A change I wish to see in this world...treat our food system as health care. I believe it takes individual efforts to recreate their relationship with food through connecting with the land. I hope people can find connection with their local food producers, find health in their prescription of seasonal produce, find creativity in their kitchen, and joy in sharing meals with family.
In this spirit, I would like to offer you a fun challenge. It stems from my efforts to challenge the status quo of our food system. And it is by no means an original challenge, you've heard it before. Eat Local.
What does it mean to eat local? It is a tag line that has been trending in past years. It appears as an answer to the many convoluted issues within our food system. When you eat local, you invest in your community, your local economy, the environment, small business, caretakers of the land, your individual health and supporting the underdogs of the broken and manipulative food system. When you eat local, chances are you're eating seasonally and that is so important for your health. Nature provides a cycle of produce that is directly aligned with our bodies needs for nutrients.
You may think...It's January, what is even in season right now. Well if you're in California, maybe Petaluma you will find an abundance of Winter glory. The rainy blues fade in the presence of invigorating vibrant colors of our citrus fruits that are ripe and awakening. Winter squashes provide serious nourishment and an abundance of creativity for preparation in the kitchen. Deep green colors of hearty kale radiate as they are in their element this time of year. They are thriving. The earth looks muddy and dark yet just underneath her surface take root vibrant beets, carrots and radishes, an array of lively color. Oh and my very favorite vegetable in the kitchen is the often unappreciated leek. I think I may eat leeks three times a day and I delight in every bite. They are versatile, provide consistent savory flavor, I just can't get enough of them. This time of year when the days are short and the weather grey, nature provides exactly what we need not just to sustain life but for the enjoyment of it.
Jennifer U. Intern, Winter '16/'17