investing in our neighbors

 

the vitality of the farmers market

I can have a hard time

dealing with the gifts of availability,

the profligate use of fossil fuels

brings produce from all over to me,

every day of the year,

while inside I keep reverting to my childhood

when there were seasons and lack, 

40 years ago we planted blueberries

so that we could labor

and have them straight from the yard,

for years now, store-bought blueberries have been ubiquitous and cheap,

we don't need to grow them,

I used to see them by the trails on a mountain

we'd hike up and down, 

and I would imagine enough for a pie,

now in the aisle at the store blueberries present themselves,

now many are the grocery stores who have wonderful produce

and laugh at us for attempting the home-grown,

tomatoes can still entice us to grow them ourselves,

but I am intimidated by what I can easily find on the shelves,

I have yet to figure out the prices we pay for the power of trade,

as long as I have the dollars, I can deny restrictions,

the oceans will rise, and drown much,

but we here in the global empire can still luxuriate for awhile,

I prefer to grow what I can,

and I want to support the farmers nearby

who can astound me with the tasty local wonders they readily offer,

it is good to invest in our neighbors.

by Henry H. Walker

May 12, ‘25