Words on Food

Gene Novogrodsky and his wife Ruth Wagner have participated in the Brownsville Farmers' Market for three years. Long-time proponent of fresh food, they offer us some poetic musings on the meaning and relevance of growing food. Visit them at The Brownsville Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings, 9am-noon.

We've had backyard gardens more than 40 or so years, perhaps closer to 50, just like breathing, very natural.

Ruth said that she figures from October to May we only buy 15 percent of our fruits and vegetables, the rest coming from our trees and small plots.

She also said that she likes swapping baked goods for fresh fish from neighbors.

While talking, she decried the absence of backyard gardens, even for herbs, around the City of Brownsville, same for fruit trees.

How hard can it be to have wee plots?

How hard can it be to plant some fruit trees?

How hard can it be to approach fishermen?

Of course, the Brownsville Farmers Market, now midway in its third year, has nudged some into backyard-garden planting, same for fruit-tree planting.

And it has enabled thousands to meet some real farmers, not just backyard ones like us, and to realize that Deep South Texas has virtually anything that a person needs for nutrition.

Some have opened their eyes to the several farm stands in the Valley.

Some have stopped at the many open-back pickups from where fresh fruit is sold, same for fruit trees.

If there is an area of the United States that has the sun, air, soil and water to move towards near agricultural self-sufficiency, we have it, barely minutes from anyone's home.

More!

We have composted for years, and have recycled for years, also.

We put out the ugly green trash bins about once every two months.

Like that breathing out and in, the earth is quite a part of us.

We'd recommend others try to incorporate the earth in their lives - it might extend them, reduce stress and also leave one with a connection to this getting-too-fragile-for-our-taste planet.

See you at the market!

See you in your yard!

See you with your herb spot.

As for an aside.

Ruth was transplanting New Zealand spinach, lettuce and dill yesterday. I was pulling weeds.

We looked at a century plant. Bees were at its colored lumps: brownish-yellow bees at light brown, light yellow and deep green protrusions, and the connections continue.

Paz Pan Salud/Peace Bread Health

Eugene "Gene" Novogrodsky and Ruth E. Wagner