Romancing farmer’s market
February 20, 2008
Posted by CindyW in : Opinions & Thoughts , trackback
The national buy love day, aka Valentine’s day is finally behind us. A few friends of mine have always told me that I am not the romantic sort. Is it because I don’t care much for the heart-shaped diamond-dotted pendant from Kay (as in “every kiss begins with Kay jewelers”)? Is it because I think Valentine’s day is nothing but an entirely disingenuous inane commercial excuse? Is it because I inconveniently pointed out that the beautiful bouquet arrangements they received had made growers sick and the land poisoned? Probably all of the above.
But that’s okay, because I define romance a little differently.
Romance, to me, encompasses love, excitement, yearning and the feeling of loss. It is everywhere if you allow yourself to feel it. And yes, it is in the farmer’s market I visit weekly.
As I said goodbye to the organic apple guy in my local farmer’s market last weekend, I felt this tinge of loss – of the honey crisps, the pink ladies, the Fujis that would not present their delicious selves until the fall, of the ruggedly handsome apple farmer who would always throw in extra free apples into the bags of shoppers, and of the bits and pieces of geeky “apple talks” (for instance, the scar-looking rings on top of Newton Pippins are caused by coastal fog).
Least you accuse me of being distracted by the good looks of the apple guy, I had the same pining for my tomato girls as they put the last batch of heirloom tomatoes in my basket last fall. It struck me that my love fest with the tomatoes had come to an end. But I also knew that in a few months, these two lively tomato girls would be back again, bearing the most delectable fruit to appease my yearning.
To me, the seasonal loss and pining is in itself a jigsaw piece of the romance of life. What’s the value of gain without the knowing of losses? In June when the first batch of tomatoes spill their glorious colors and aroma, it will make all the waiting worthwhile. Then comes the excitement, exhilaration and gratitude. Sigh…
Call me crazy, but that to me is romantic.
While I am at it, here is a quick list for my version of romance:
- Living an uncluttered simple life
- Eating and savoring with the season
- Seeing the world through the eyes of a child
- Experiencing nature in all her elements
- Spending time thinking, feeling and absorbing
Of course, I can’t stop without constructing a list of kitschy unoriginal commercialized anti-romance:
- Living a cluttered, burdened, and unexamined life
- Spending hard-earned money and precious spare time on buying short-lived products
- Subscribing to “romantic” ideas that are sold to us by product companies
- Trashing our living environment, with or without awareness
What are on your romantic and anti-romantic list?
CindyW
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Comments»
Hear, hear! Living seasonally is such a romantic thing, isn’t it? I find that the more I live simply, the richer everything in my life seems. Homemade bread truly is a luxury to be savored. The last apple of the season is a treasure beyond measure. Do I share it? Hoard it? Divide it equally amongst the kids and, as the mother, live without.
Hanging clothes out to dry as birds flutter in the trees and my cat wends around my legs is incredibly romantic. So is shelling beans in summer, plucking homegrown lettuce, baking granola - the list is endless.
Beautiful! This is what life is all about.
“Hanging clothes out to dry as birds flutter in the trees.” Love that. Thanks!
My fiance and I celebrated Valentine’s Day with a night at home just hanging out and two new houseplants. Both of which will make our apartment a better place to live. I was super excited to receive an Aloe Vera Plant. Beyond Valentine’s Day we want to make the most of our time together, get outside, enjoy nature, make our own home care products, cook together, creating a better environment for everyone.
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