It’s time to turn positive

Here’s what’s supposed to be in this week’s community supported agriculture [CSA] share. It’s the last one in the summer series. (Yesterday we noted there have been some timing issues in notifications from our CSA about box content. As of today, we’re done for summer and the autumn shares won’t start for a few weeks.)

• CUCUMBER
• GARLIC
• LETTUCE
• SWEET CORN
• TOMATOES, and
• Peppers

tomatoes (courtesy WEI CSA)

Now that there are no 90+ degree days in the forecast, we’ll get back to sourdough artisan bread (or is it artisan sourdough bread?) baking. This time we’ll add a little kernza flour for a different flavor. I should be back in practice by the time soup and stew season is in full swing.

One week from today marks the beginning of meteorological autumn. As summer ends our wishes are that all bad luck, and bad weather, goes with it. Unfortunately, the seasonal change will bring US deeper into the election season, compounded and complicated by multiple handsful of trials in various federal and state courts. I’m seriously considering hanging a sign on our internet connection. It will say: “CLOSED - gone fishin’, back soon”

At least there is some brighter news these days. The Biden Administration is taking a positive approach with their new ad that makes Americans positively heroes in restoring the economy and responding to climate change. Plus, although I’ve not seen nearly enough coverage in the news media, the administration and the G20 are generating new tools to better account for the benefits of investments in adapting to climate change and other environmental improvements. The White House' Nature-Based Solutions Resource Guide nicely complements the USGS Piloting urban ecosystem accounting for the United States. Both augment the State of Finance for Nature in Cities 2023: Time to Assess - Summary for Local Policymakers. We can, and must, be much wiser about how we invest in infrastructure. Targeting multiple objectives for multi-benefits will give US bigger bangs for our bucks. We know how to do it. It’s time to apply that knowledge as quickly as we can in as many places as we can. Part of those solutions include community gardens that may grow tomatoes.

Ode To Tomatoes by Pablo Neruda

The street
filled with tomatoes,
midday,
summer,
light is
halved
like
a
tomato,
its juice
runs
through the streets.
In December,
unabated,
the tomato
invades
the kitchen,
it enters at lunchtime,
takes
its ease
on countertops,
among glasses,
butter dishes,
blue saltcellars.
It sheds
its own light,
benign majesty.
Unfortunately, we must
murder it:
the knife
sinks
into living flesh,
red
viscera
a cool
sun,
profound,
inexhaustible,
populates the salads
of Chile,
happily, it is wed
to the clear onion,
and to celebrate the union
we
pour
oil,
essential
child of the olive,
onto its halved hemispheres,
pepper
adds
its fragrance,
salt, its magnetism;
it is the wedding
of the day,
parsley
hoists
its flag,
potatoes
bubble vigorously,
the aroma
of the roast
knocks
at the door,
it's time!
come on!
and, on
the table, at the midpoint
of summer,
the tomato,
star of earth, recurrent
and fertile
star,
displays
its convolutions,
its canals,
its remarkable amplitude
and abundance,
no pit,
no husk,
no leaves or thorns,
the tomato offers
its gift
of fiery color
and cool completeness.