The slow food movement , although it has been around since the late 80’s it 
seems like it has burst into the consciousness and people are enjoying the connection with people in their community at pot luck suppers and community gatherings and dinners celebrating savoring their locally grown food and a different pace and rhythm to life.
The book by Barbara Kingsolver, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life published April, 2008 has become a run away best seller. Her family’s experiment to get reconnected to their life, where their food comes from and tapping back into living in a more connected way touched a cord in millions of people.
The number of people putting in search terms like grow your own herbs, indoor growing, container growing, growing vegetables… has increased 40% in just the first two months of 2009.
Many people have gotten out of touch with where their food comes from or having any idea how to grow it or most importantly the pleasures of growing some fresh herbs, vegetables, or fruit for themselves.
April is national gardening month the days are much longer and the earth is waking up to fresh beginnings. The schools on the vineyard have growing projects and this year classes are creating victory gardens and community gardens all around the island.
The economy is rough and businesses are struggling and slicing staff and hours just to stay a float.. but seed companies are thriving, Pinetree Garden Seeds a wonderful mail order seed business is thriving, having to increase their number of staff, computers… just to try and keep up.
People who have enjoyed gardening are growing more and switching to more vegetables and fruits, people who haven’t done it in a while or who have never done it are discovering the joys and advantages of growing fresh herbs, vegetables, and fruits…
I already have seeds in my indoor seed starting flats sprouting. My six packs of arugula are sprouted and adding new leaves every day, my chioga beets bright lights Swiss chard and heirloom tomatoes are just pushing through the soil to grow their seed leaves and turn into delicious treats for me enjoy as the days lengthen and warm.
A window sill or large pot on your patio if you don’t have space in your yard will give you a wonderful place to grow a small variety of fresh produce to enjoy.
This shift of people regaining their connection to their food, to tapping back into the simple pleasure of growing your own fresh vegetables is a reflection of a larger shift that is occurring.
We are waking up and taking an interest in ourselves again and in living each moment of life instead of handing things off to someone else and just kind of being swept along for a ride we had stopped paying attention to.
What new things will you explore in April, national gardening month?
What reconnection will you make to your life, the food you are eating and involvement in your community?
I know I am looking forward to fresh zesty arugula and chicken sandwich in the next 3 weeks from the seeds I started on my bow window sill. Enjoy.
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