Spring is exhilarating: the pink blooms bursting on the cherry trees, yellow daffodils unfolding, and those first few days when the air is warm enough to shed winter layers. I’ve always loved spring, and the potential it brings for the season ahead: the chance to finally enact plans penned by the fire in winter. But, this year is different. The daffodils have emerged and the two flowing cherries on the farm in are full regalia, but there’s a cloud of uncertainty and fear brought by the coronavirus.
I’ve felt paralyzed this last week on how to respond and found myself getting stuck scrolling through social media looking for answers that no one has. I’m afraid for the many people in my life who are immune-compromised or elderly who face a heightened risk. I’m afraid for what this crisis means for my family’s income, and the security of the many people who find themselves suddenly out of work. I’m afraid of losing those I love, and I feel overwhelmed when I dwell on the economic, political, and human implications of this crisis.
Yet, despite the fear, I also feel gratitude. Every morning I wake up and look out at the farm and feel grateful that I live in a beautiful place with the ability to grow my own food. I feel grateful for my health, and grateful that I can play a part, however small, in contributing to a resilient local food system.
I named my farm Dandelion & Rust, in part, to pay homage to mother nature: despite all our best attempts at control, weeds grow and metal oxidizes. The Coronavirus is just further evidence of our inability to control nature, as we now find ourselves subjected to the laws of ecology. All I can do is to put one foot in front of the other. To focus on those things that I can control and that bring me joy. I can plant seeds, and I can grow food. I can tend my soil, and I can care for my land. I can work to be part of a strong local economy that can weather this storm.
I hope you’ll join me in supporting local farmers and businesses in this time. Join a CSA, or sign up for direct delivery. Read our statement on COVID-19 and food safety here. If our farm isn’t the right fit for your needs, check out this directory of Maryland farms selling direct- to- consumer.