Last Saturday I was thrilled to be able to return to my very favorite farmers' market, the Ithaca Market in Ithaca, New York. Between Covid and surgeries, it had been a while since I was able to go. Trust me when I say it was a like taking a five year old to a candy store. Stall after stall boasted the very best of organic produce, homemade cheese, breads, wines, beautiful sustainably grown flowers, and lovely hand made crafts and artwork. It wasn't just the things for sale that made it such a wonderful experience, it was just as much the people who live their lives day after day in a responsible, sustainable way.
Walking around the market, I was also taken with the people who choose to spend their Saturday shopping, socializing, and enjoying this gem which sits on the shores of a branch of the Cayuga River. You can grab a cup of coffee made from homegrown beans, or some iced tea, sit outside watching the boats go by, and listen to whatever musician happens to be playing just for the joy of sharing their music. Whenever I go there, I always get the feeling that I am surrounded by "my people," the men and women who believe that we can live a sustainable, healthy life while at the same time protecting our dear Mother Earth by using healthy farming practices. Their stands filled with beautiful, luscious bounty shows what people can do if they want to save the planet and still produce healthy food to eat.
I was also struck by the broad range of people who were there: students, young adult farmers, old hippies who never gave up the fight, and, most of all, lots and lots of children who are being taught where good, wholesome food comes from and how they can pass on that knowledge for the future. There's no big secret to growing food without pesticides or GMO's and protecting the earth, our home, for future generations. All you have to do is walk down those aisles, talk to the folks who are doing it, and be willing to put health and responsibility above money, taking personal responsibility for the welfare of the planet. Sure, it's a pretty big commitment, but the alternative is not something we can ignore much longer.
As for me, I came home with the biggest organic tomato I've ever seen (which made a great tomato sandwich, I might add), curly lettuce, homemade bread, and a sense of peace and contentment which only comes from being in the presence of like-minded people - my people, the ones who live every day of their lives in reverence for our Mother Earth and the future of food in this country. May that reverence carry on to the next generation and beyond.
And so it is.
