letterfrompublisher
With a little (okay, a lot) of help from friends, I am thrilled
to be sitting here gazing out over my first organic veggie
garden—lettuces, broccoli, tomatoes and beauties I’ve
deemed “too pretty to pick,” as my friend Kimberly Cava-
lier chortled when she noted how some aren’t getting
harvested in a timely way. She’s founder of Local Food
Enthusiasts, (page 26) so knows whereof she speaks.
Last September, I was delighted to gather with 40
other wannabe gardeners in Frank Oakes’ barn as a sea-
sonal rain soaked the surrounding fields. Every Saturday
morning for 15 weeks Frank and Gerry Segal presented information on soil, com-
posting, manures, plant spacing and harvesting, while we neophytes got hands-on
experience in our own team plots. My Fancy Farm Girls group planted seedlings,
pulled weeds, fought ants, perspired and laughed a lot on the way to a rewarding
harvest.
When it came time to plant a garden in my backyard, I enlisted the help of
local organic farmers Nick Batty and Ken Lubowicki. They got me off to a good
start, building two four- by 16-foot raised beds, complete with slow-drip hoses
(see photo, page 27). I trust that as long as I can persuade Kimberly to stop in now
and again, I’ll be able to figure out what to do next.
Growing our own food and eating locally has become an accelerating call to
arms among environmentalists and health aficionados. They are concerned about
the quality and nutrition of commercial foodstuffs, as well as the need to sup-
port local farm economies. By now, we all know how locally grown foods have a
lower carbon footprint because they don’t need to be transported so far, and that
small farms are more likely to use environmentally friendly practices than larger,
mass market agribusinesses. Plus, we feel better knowing where our food comes
from.
This time of year, Southwest Florida fields teem with luscious vegetables and
local farmers’ markets pop up all over town. We can even sign up for a local or-
ganic farm tour with Kimberly. On pages 26-29 we learn about three local farms,
find a list of local farmers’ markets and discover resources for getting help starting
a backyard garden. Why not join John Puig on March 27 at his farm for a special
event (page 36) before heading over to the Edison Green Fest? Natural Awakenings
will be one of the many community-oriented organizations providing insights, tips
and resources for living a naturally healthier life. Stop by and say hi.
In this month’s special edition about Inspired Change, we share the stories of
some of the thousands of Americans whose inspired
activities are making a difference, each in his or
her own way. The seed of this theme germinated in
our discussions with pioneering author, scholar and
mystic Andrew Harvey, based on his new book, The
Hope. Harvey calls us all to become “sacred activists”
as we awake to our individual divine purpose and
take action on behalf of a greater good (page 39).
What contribution is your soul yearning to make?
Let the world benefit from your heart song,
Sharon Bruckman, Publisher
Collier/Lee Counties
swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com
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