Letter from Publisher - MARCH 2020
photo credit: Dave Korba
When I was a
young boy, each spring my brothers and I would turn over the soil in our
vegetable garden with a pitchfork. We lived about 100 yards from Rovinski’s
Farm, a small local farm where we worked for 25 cents an hour planting and
picking a variety of vegetables, including corn, cucumbers, squash, potatoes,
peppers and onions – which were sold from the farm stand on the corner of our
street. It was our first real ‘job’, when we were no more than 10 years old.
There was no
mass production farming at Rovinski’s; no spraying, no chemicals. I suppose it
was all organically grown, although there were no signs or certifications
promoting that fact. The field was tilled with a small tractor and a crew of
dozens of mostly young kids would choose a row and plant the seeds or seedlings
by hand. I remember the long rows, the bugs and hard work – both planting and
picking.
We would
gather in the plastic-encased greenhouse on payday and get paid cash for the
week’s work. My memory is less about child labor in the 1960s and more about
the prevalent availability of fresh, local produce in the community where I grew
up.
This was all
just five short decades ago, when fresh, local organic produce was obtained
from our back yard or the farm stand on the corner. If we wanted corn for
dinner, we’d walk into our garden or 50 yards down the block and pick up a
fresh bushel from Rovinski’s and bring it home in a paper bag or bushel basket.
Times have changed and continue to evolve as we move back toward self-grown or locally
sourced, organic agriculture.
Many of us strive
for a healthy balance in our diets, and are considering more plant-based
options. This issue will empower you to develop local, plant-based nutrition alternatives,
and it kicks off our new Plant-Based Health & Wellness section, where we
also discuss the re-emergence of industrial hemp in Pennsylvania and the
burgeoning CBD industry.
In the spirit
of balance and inclusion within the midst of this intensely focused plant-based
issue you’ll also find quality options for incorporating healthy, locally sourced
meats into your diet, including Palmyra Real Food Emporium and our newest
advertiser, Carwood Farm.
As hints of
spring and sunshine bring hope for what lies ahead, remember to feel good, live
simply and laugh more.
Dave
