We hope to see everyone this
Thursday, March 31, for our next tempting Pathfinder Produce fresh fruits and
vegetable market. We offer a great variety of items, all at great prices,
and our friendly staff is eager to assist you with your purchases. We
hope to see you then!
Also, in other local news, we’d
like to draw your attention to the next Edmeston Blood Drive, being held by the
ECS Honor Society at Edmeston Central School on Monday, April 11, 10:30
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to donate, and can make an
appointment by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or online at redcrossblood.org!
***
Even though
it's a frosty, damp evening as I write, spring is upon us and the signs are
everywhere. Daffodils are poking their heads through on nearby road banks, and
robins and other song birds are out. I've had some glimpses of our resident eagle,
gliding above looking for lunch; our local coyote
also was boldly loping along the meadow's edge, looking for a tasty chipmunk or
rabbit.
As I looked
at the coyote, my eyes were drawn to the forlorn garden beds; chock full of
weeds and in need of some heavy repairs. It's the time of year to make lists
and to work more outside, so I will add replacing the garden beds to the to-do
list. Last weekend we spent a good amount of time cleaning up the
garage-workshop – that way we can tackle other chores without spending so much
time looking for mislaid tools.
Some of my
friends on Facebook, the committed gardeners, have a big jump on the season.
One lady, who both gardens and raises hens, is installing a new hoop house
complete with a flagstone path. She does a great job with her gardens and
canning each year; the chickens are a new addition and seem to be thriving and
exploring the small
integrated farmstead.
Another
friend, who I met as a fourth grader when I worked at a school many years ago,
is now a fulltime mom and goat farmer. She too is building a greenhouse,
this one out of recycled windows. It should be a durable, functional space for
getting seedlings growing and producing small crops of produce during colder
months for many years.
At
Pathfinder, we will be getting our hoop house in order soon, when we're sure
the last storm has passed us by. (Truth be told, this was the warmest
winter we've ever experienced in our part of New York). Our Button
Greenhouse, which our customers walk through on their way to our weekly market,
is already alive with new seedlings shooting upwards, embracing the warmth and
light.
The gardening
cycle is repeated by many each spring, and it reconnects us to the lives and
livelihoods of our farming ancestors. It also speaks to the future too, even
though that future is limited to the growing and harvest season. There's an
element of faith that's evident when people put seeds in the ground, cope with
too little or too much water, do battle with nature's marauders (bugs,
critters, weeds and blights). The faith, of course, is tastefully rewarded if
there is a harvest; the unsuccessful gardener finds solace in the hopes of next
summer.
Until next
time, eat well and get that “to do” list in good order,
Lori
