Now, More than Ever By Lori Steere
T
hinking spring suddenly holds much more weight than fresh air, strong doses of sunshine, happy bursts of color from a smudge of purple crocus or a cluster of vibrant daffodils. Who would have imagined setting our clocks ahead this year would mean “springing forward” to drastic changes in our daily lives—some by choice, some because of government mandates—all to try to prevent the spread of a virus? On the positive side, many of us are suddenly blessed with plenty of time to clean up around the house and get the yard ready for serious outdoor enjoyment: gardens, fires, kids playing, and soaking up warm rays of vitamin D. However, many of us have become temporarily unemployed; holed up at home when we need to be at work, wishing we could spend this time gathered with friends over a meal, wanting to be out and about participating in our favorite local events. Instead, we are finding businesses closed, races cancelled, shelves emptied at the grocery store. We worry when somebody coughs and are off-kilter at times with the general displacement of our familiar lives. In this time of struggle and uncertainty for so many of us, I can’t help but think about food. It has been a little more stressful to get out and simply acquire the ingredients to make a nutri-
tious meal. Dear friends, in this plentiful Mt. Washington Valley, with so many farms and farm stands, farmers markets, and neighbors with chickens, one solution seems crystal clear.
Now, more than ever, this is the time to support our local farms. Through shopping at farmers markets and local food hubs, you can avoid crowds while feeling certain your food has been handled safely, and with care. No need to worry how far your food has travelled, how many hands it has passed through, or if the shelves will be stocked when you head out for groceries. Our local farmers are stepping up and adapting to the changing food climate, offering safe and clean alternative methods for you to obtain healthy food. Buying directly from the farmers themselves, you can ask them questions to put your mind at ease, while helping to boost our struggling local economy. Today, that means so much more than
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