I see these links stretching from the soil itself, warm in the sunshine, hosting busy worms and microbes – pushing up like a plant from its roots, to the hands of the farmers and food growers who are working, living, and breathing so very close to these first links.  I like to picture this part of the green chain coming from the direction of the afternoon sun; the soil filled with tradition and knowledge, the farmers offering hard working hands and a blend of old with new techniques to coax the nourishment from the plants.

I see the links leading all the way across the horizon to where the rising morning sun would be, where new eyes are opening, eager to learn more about the connections and the path that food follows to reach us.

Between these two points are links made up of people who raise animals, birds and fish from the good soil and water, people who are cooking and sharing the good food, people who teach what they’ve learned to the curious, and all the way through, of course, people who eat and appreciate good honest food.

I find myself somewhere in the middle of the leafy green chain.  My position shifts depending on what I’m doing … growing a small food garden, shopping at a farmers market, cooking and eating local foods with friends, asking questions and hoping to learn from the farmers themselves … or just writing or talking about local food.

Every time someone on the ‘morning’ end of the chain takes a first bite of a farm fresh veggie, or asks a new question about where their food comes from – the links grow stronger.

Ok, if I’m starting to lose any of you with this poetic ‘jack-in-the-beanstalk’ leafy green chain story – sorry.  But just think, you’ve moved up three links just by reading it … pondering its message … and deciding to make your next food purchase from closer to home !

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To keep yourself connected, visit the Local Food Coalition website, localfoodcoalition.org, and sign up for the email listserv by contacting Randi@localfoodcoalition.org

Related posts:

1. Green in the garden