Posts Tagged With: Christianity

The Time Hunger Smacked Me in the Face

Posted on March 28, 2013 by rachelocal

Hunger has been on my mind lately. Not my own hunger. I’m rarely hungry. In fact, I just registered for a summer farm share from Lancaster Farm Fresh. I have 25 weeks of fresh, local produce to look forward to.

So, no, I’m not hungry. But in a perfect storm of coincidences, the subject of hunger has smacked me in the face with its surprisingly powerful hand over the last two days:

1. I received an email regarding an Ending Hunger conference in my local area. On April 15, the Anti-Hunger Coalition, along with Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and the Food Bank of Delaware, will meet to discuss new practices to help eliminate hunger in my state. I’m excited to learn about introducing local agriculture (and fresh produce!) to those that need it most throughout the state in a panel called “Farm to Table.” If you’d like to come to the conference, click the photo to register. Jim over at the Food Bank says, “The more the merrier!”

Click here to learn more

Click here to learn more

2. I just signed up as a Food Blogger Against Hunger. On April 8, I’ll be sharing more thoughts on the issue of hunger right here on the blog. If you want to donate a post, go to The Giving Table to sign up.

3. I saw this guy talk about “Food Deserts” and “Guerilla Gardening” in his South Central L.A. community.

4. A friend told me about the Food Bank of Delaware’s new Community Supported Agriculture program. Now local, fresh produce will be delivered to those that need it most and could not otherwise afford it. Learn more here.

Hunger, right here in America, is a sobering reality.

During a week when people are thinking about chocolate Easter bunnies, colorful Easter eggs, and Easter dinner, I’m thinking about these words from Jesus: For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me….whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

My motivation for ending hunger might not be your motivation. But shouldn’t we ALL be motivated anyway?

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Categories: Delaware Farms, Video | Tags: , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

How Long? Not Long!

Posted on January 20, 2013 by rachelocal

I spent the early hours of Saturday morning with a group of 87 homeless men and women. Several times a week, Friendship House, a local non-profit, opens the doors of First & Center Presbyterian Church to offer hospitality and winter sanctuary to the city of Wilmington’s homeless population.

My job was simple: sit down and have a chat with someone. As I scanned the room, I saw weary faces and hunched bodies, exhausted from a night spent in the cold. Some were sleeping with their heads down on tables, some were playing chess, others were reading or simply sitting in the warmth of the room.  I spotted one man with a book open in front of him; he wrote feverishly in a spiral-bound notebook. A fellow writer, I thought.

I made my way to his table and asked what he was reading. As I sat down, I noticed the book was large and leather bound–a Bible open to the book of Deuteronomy. “Just reading about my people,” he said, looking up at me. A long conversation ensued.

He talked of oppression, pain, greed, poverty, and violence–the plight of his people, taken from their homeland and forced to adopt a new unkind country.

Given that Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is on Monday, he asked, “What do you think of Reverend King?” He scrutinized me with narrowed eyes as he asked the question.

Searching for the right words I stuttered, “I…um…I…I think he was God’s man.” I mentioned that he would have been 84 this week; he was taken from the world too soon; I wondered at all the change he could have inspired, all we would have learned.

A smile broke the severity of my new friend’s face. “Yes, God’s man,” he said. “But he’s not gone. His spirit is still here. In you. In me. He did what God wanted him to do while he was here and his work continues.”

This man without a home talked of justice, equality, and hope–the dream of his people, long awaited. Still waiting.

As I sat in a room filled with so much humanity I thought about justice–a heavy word weighted with dignity and love on one side; struggle and perseverance on the other. Where is justice for those that sleep on the streets, shivering from the harshness of weather and life? Where is justice for the starving, the displaced, the victims, the fatherless, the abandoned?

How long must they wait?

Dr. King said, “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” He proved that one person can shorten the arc, little by little. One person willing to listen. One person willing to stand for the truth. One person willing to offer hope. One person willing to see humanity in everyone.

After talking for over two hours about books and life, the man with the notebook and I shook hands, parting as friends. I like to think the arc bent a bit right at that moment: two strangers, different in so many ways, offering each other acceptance and seeing themselves in each other’s eyes.

How long? Not long.


Categories: Random | Tags: , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Like New

Posted on January 9, 2013 by rachelocal

So far 2013 has been a drag.

I’ve been a bit depressed. No, that’s not true. I’ve been VERY depressed.

I won’t go into details as to the why or how of it all. Let’s just say I was so depressed that:

  • My Christmas tree is still up (if you know me, you know this is a CRIME)
  • Uncharacteristically, I haven’t made a real meal in DAYS. Instead I’ve been living off eggs and pasta (yes, at the same time if needed)
  • The only people I’ve talked to in ten days aren’t even people. They are cats named Willow and Zuzu and they are my best friends
Willow and Zuzu fascinated by their first snowfall. (I took lots of pictures of these two over the last few days.)

Willow and Zuzu fascinated by their first snowfall. (I take too many pictures of these fuzzybutts. Cats are funny.)

  • I ordered a pizza from Papa John’s last weekend. PAPA. JOHN’S. I’m so ashamed
  • I don’t remember the last time I changed the sheets on my bed
  • I’ve decided that washing my hair is optional
  • So is shaving my legs
  • When going out in public I consider yoga pants “real” clothes

Is this a case of post-Christmas blues? Do I need an intervention? Possibly on both counts.

But it’s more than that. A change is brewing in my heart. I know this because the only thing that helped me through this dark time was a passage from the book of Isaiah:

If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people’s sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You’ll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again. ~Isaiah 58:9-12 (The Message)

After reading these verses, I received some much-needed clarity. I was able to pull my head from underneath the covers and out of my Netflix fog and realize that my life has a purpose. It’s not what I thought it would be when I was a wide-eyed (and rather clueless) college student anticipating the future as I saw it.

Instead, I know my purpose/future might not be about ME at all, which kind of takes the pressure off. Yes, I have goals, dreams and aspirations to achieve, but my focus is shifting. Using my creativity and free time to pursue just my own agenda is becoming as empty as a plate of brownies after five consecutive episodes of Glee. Is that just the depression talking? I don’t think so. The key to getting the “glow” Isaiah talks about is one word: others.  And not just in a general “do unto others” or Golden Rule kind of way, but in an actual I-will-make-sacrifices-for-those-that-need-it-most kind of way.

After slowly, oh-so-slowly, coming to this realization, I suddenly wanted to cook something, which is one of the first signs I’m going to be okay. That and a desperate need to wash sheets and yoga pants.

Problem is, depression breeds apathy which breeds an inability to leave the house for any purpose which gives birth to empty cupboards. I headed to the pantry to see what I could throw together with canned goods, a few veggies, and something from the freezer.

The result was nothing short of miraculous. The fact that I could conjure up something this good out of what I thought was NOTHING fed my soul, my spirit, and my belly.

Cod with Tomatoes, Fennel, Saffron and French Lentils

Make the lentils:

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 carrots, chopped smallish

1 small red onion, chopped smallish (use any kind of onion, but I had red on hand)

1 teaspoon kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 cup French lentils, rinsed

1 cup chicken stock

1 bay leaf

In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil on medium heat. Add the carrots and onion and cook until soft.  Add salt and pepper and bay leaf. Add the lentils and chicken stock. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until just tender yet still firm, about 20 minutes.

Beautiful French Lentils cooking with carrots, onions and bay leaf

Beautiful French Lentils cooking with carrots, onions and bay leaf

Make the fish:

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 red onion finely chopped

2 cloves garlic finely chopped

1 fennel bulb, quartered and thinly sliced

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with liquid

Kosher salt and pepper, to your desired taste

1 cup chicken stock

1 teaspoon saffron threads

4 (5 ounce) cod fillets (This would work nicely with tilapia too)

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add fennel. Cook for 4 minutes. Add tomatoes, salt and pepper, chicken stock, and saffron. Bring to a boil. Simmer for five minutes.

I don't cook with fennel much, but I'm glad a recent restaurant trip inspired me to buy a bulb. I'm also glad fennel is so hearty. This guy hung out in my fridge for two weeks.

I don’t cook with fennel much, but my recent Philly trip inspired me to buy a bulb.

Push the fish fillets into the sauce, making sure to cover with broth and veggies. Cover and simmer over low heat until fish is just cooked through, about ten minutes. Serve fish on top of lentils with vegetables and broth spooned over the top.

Cod, lentils, tomato, fennel and saffron - simple, delicious and inspiring

Simple, delicious and inspiring

After I ate this dish, I felt refreshed and nourished (literally and figuratively).  I was reminded of another passage from Isaiah my brother mentioned to me just last week:

Do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland. ~Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

I’m not sure how cod, lentils, the book of Isaiah, a few threads of saffron, and a fennel bulb conspired together to make me feel like new, but I think God speaks in small ways and everyday things. During my “down” time, I shut out the world and tried to listen.  God whispered and assured me that He can make something out of nothing and old things new.

What inspires you when you’re down? Tell me! (I’m stockpiling ideas for when I inevitably fall into the pit of despair again.)

 

Categories: Recipes | Tags: , , , , , , | 32 Comments

A Deep, Dark Secret

Posted on August 21, 2012 by rachelocal

Anne has a secret.

I’ve known Anne for a long time. We go to the same church, but we never really KNEW each other. It wasn’t until I started this blog that we began having longer and longer conversations. Anne has always supported the blog. Whenever a post hits Facebook, she’s one of the first to “like” it or leave a comment. At church, she’s always giving me magazine clippings related to food or coupons to a restaurant I mentioned on the blog. We exchange emails at least three times a week on a food, blog, or church-related topic.

Anne is simply a lovely person. She thinks of others, cares for her family, and excels at her very important job.

But like I said, Anne has a secret.

Slowly over time and several emails, she insinuated what this deep and hidden secret entailed. I was intrigued. We set a lunch date to discuss the details.

When I arrived at our local lunch spot, Anne was sitting at a table with a menu, looking fresh and summer-y in her white pants and blue-green top. She was the picture of transparency. One would never guess that she held a secret close to her heart.

After ordering, we chatted. I can’t say this is our word for word conversation, but you get the idea…

Anne: I haven’t told anyone this, except my husband.

Me: Why not?

Anne: Everyone will think I’m crazy. My husband thinks I’ve gone insane.

Me: {Eyebrow raises} Oh really?

Anne: Well…because…I…I…

Me: {Drumroll plays in my head and I take a breath of anticipation}

Anne: …I mean, I’ve gone vegan. Well, mostly vegan. I eat a vegan diet 95% of the time.

Me: Wow, Anne! You look different. Your skin is glowing.

Anne: I feel better. I have more energy. AND I’ve lost 22 pounds.

Me: {Beaming}

Anne began to tell me about her journey to vegan. I’m happy to report that my blog helped her along the way. She said in an email later that week, “Your blog led me down a path of education. I remember seeing your post about your consideration [to go] vegan…I remember thinking you were crazy; I could never do that. But the documentaries you mentioned watching peaked my interest. I also did like the idea of supporting local farmers from a community perspective and started to be aware of signs that said grass-fed or free range.”

The documentary she watched was Forks Over Knives, and it changed everything.

Anne knew she wanted to be around to see her son graduate from high school and to hold her grandchildren. In order to do that, her food lifestyle had to change. Anne remembers standing at her kitchen sink and breaking down. I can’t do this; I just can’t; it’s too overwhelming, she cried. Anne says that’s when God stepped in and assured her everything was going to be okay. An unexplainable peace spread over her. In hindsight, Anne says this process has been a gradual “God-thing.” She gave up cheese a while back and doesn’t even have cheese cravings (gasp!). And sugar? She doesn’t even put it in her coffee (double gasp!).

The hardest part of the change is grocery shopping. She has to read every label, which took too much time at first. To add to the stress, her first trips to the grocery store were frustrating because she couldn’t find anything. “All the healthy options are not placed at eye level,” Anne noted. “They are either on the bottom shelf or way up high.” (Interesting, and just another reason I don’t like the grocery store.)

Anne admits she has to cook one meal for her family and one meal for herself. But right now that’s easy, because she’s more than happy with a big salad full of summer produce and topped with Delaware’s own “Freakin’ Fresh Salsa”. She also eats lots of beans, whole grains and can’t get enough of steel-cut oats and almond milk for breakfast.

Anne consumes no dairy, no oil and no alcohol. I was shocked by this (no wine? eek!). But Anne’s also realistic. If she’s out, she may indulge in salad with chicken, or if it’s a special occasion, she’ll have a glass of wine. That’s why right now, she’s 95% vegan. Anne’s smart to give herself the 5% leeway. An all-or-nothing attitude is difficult to maintain. Even so, Anne’s realizing her tastes have changed–she doesn’t even want to eat red meat anymore.

But what’s the best part of Anne’s big vegan secret? Healthy changes making a physical difference! I mentioned earlier that Anne has dropped over 22 pounds. She feels better; she sleeps better; and she has more energy. Not only that, but only two weeks after starting her vegan lifestyle, Anne’s bad cholesterol dropped from 168 to 59! All I can say is, what the WHAT? And GOOD JOB, Anne!

I am beyond thrilled that the thoughts I randomly place on Rachel’s Table helped Anne make this decision, even in a small way. But I can’t take any of the credit. Anne has tenacity! I’ve never seen anyone more committed or disciplined in her pursuit of healthy.

Thanks for sharing your “secret” with me, Anne! You are an inspiration, and like I always say, I’m your biggest cheerleader!

 

{This post part of Fight Back Fridays on Food Renegade}

Categories: Documentaries, Local Stores | Tags: , , , , , , , | 41 Comments

What Will We Do With It?

Posted on August 11, 2012 by rachelocal

I planned to write a post dedicated to a fabulous lunch I had while attending a conference for work. I hunkered down in my conference seat to upload photos of said lunch, preparing to post from my phone (nothing could be more important than the blog, of course).

But then…

The video screen up front showed a girl with dark hair and darker eyes. She’s from South America, living in a rural, wooded area between the tree canopies and earth. Her mother is dead; her father is disabled and cannot work. Images of the girl wearing a pale blue headband, pink t-shirt, and a jean skirt flash by: she’s throwing tortillas on the grate over an open flame, she’s gathering wood from the forest floor, she’s rubbing clothes along a wash board, she’s removing a cast iron pot half her size from a high flame. She speaks: she misses her mother, she takes care of the house work and her younger siblings, she worries her family will not eat tomorrow.

She’s eight years old.

I fully expected to learn something about leadership and ministry at this conference. I do every year. But I never expected to FEEL so much.

Honestly, I felt a bit like a sucker. I’m sure you’ve seen similar images. People are in need everywhere, after all. I felt like a sucker because they had me right where they wanted me. Just like that, a switch flipped in my heart. I was in tears over a little girl on the screen.

But you have to understand…

SHE SMILED.  Amidst the turmoil and hard work, she smiled. Her two front teeth are missing, she has a dimple in her chin, and her black eyes are shining.

More images: she puts on a backpack and walks a trail through the woods. Joining other children in a building with bright walls, she claps and dances and sings.

This girl was smiling, clapping, dancing, and singing because of $38 a month.

ONLY $38. We spent more than that on the fabulous lunch I mentioned earlier.

At the conference, I learned about world issues I’ve heard about before–AIDS orphans in Africa,  sex trafficking, and education reform in underprivileged areas right here in the U.S. But now I saw faces to match the issues.

I’m venturing off blog topic here. So rather than show you photos of my lunch, I’ll show you one photo. This is Brenda Anatoli Salema. She lives in an AIDS-affected village in Tanzania with her mother and two siblings. Brenda helps in the kitchen, runs errands and carries water. She loves to play hide-and-seek.

Through Compassion International, I’ll be sending Brenda and her family $38 a month. I’ll give up a bottle of wine or a dinner out in hopes that one day I’ll receive a picture of Brenda smiling. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a happy smile.

The sun emerges predictably red on the horizon, start the clock on the day…mostly unaware that we are inexorably connected one to another in invisible pathways…jetstreams, shipping lanes, prevailing winds, genetic strains, climate patterns, tidal pulls, the mysterious inroads of prayer. Connected: when one is lost, another grieves, when one is hurt, another bleeds. This day is in our hands…what will we do with it? (gregfergusonblog.blogspot.com)

Categories: Random | Tags: , , , , , | 12 Comments

Gifts for Dad: A Retrospective

Posted on June 13, 2012 by rachelocal

In all my years as a daughter of my dad, I’ve never known what to buy him for birthdays, Christmas, and Father’s Day. My dad’s not the kind of guy that needs anything. Nor does he want much. All good qualities in a person, except when you’re his daughter trying to find the perfect gift. That’s why I’ve given him a long list of items he most certainly stored in a box marked “UNNECESSARY AND KIND OF COMICAL GIFTS I’VE RECEIVED FROM MY ONLY DAUGHTER.” Items such as…

~Homemade cards (I’m sure these were cute, if I stopped making them when I was ten. Alas, I gave him a homemade card for his birthday not too long ago with his face taped to a $50 bill.)

~Countless boxes of hankies.

~The proverbial tie (I believe this was actually a practical gift, as my father is a pastor. Problem is, he hasn’t worn a tie on Sunday in years).

~This T-shirt I’ve never seen him wear (for good reason).

Occasionally my dad sings this song. I guess it’s a thing from Big Bang Theory. Thank you, stylinonline.com.

~Seasons 1 and 2 of the Big Bang Theory (season 1 for Christmas, season 2 for his birthday one month later. How creative of me).

~Button-down shirts (He now wears these on Sundays, so again, this is a practical gift. One year he received at least eight shirts from all of us. How exciting. It’s no wonder he shouted, “Another shirt-shirty!” each time he opened a present; he was trying to entertain himself.)

~Several seasons of Seinfeld.

My dad loves Kramer. Photo credit: sonypictures.com

~Gift card to Mikimotos, a sushi place (my dad doesn’t really eat sushi).

~Guitar picks.

That’s my dad on the right, rockin’ it out way back when

~Athletic Socks

~Various (long) biographies of political figures.

In hindsight, I don’t have the best gift-buying track record. This Father’s Day is no different. Ideally, I would like to host an epic concert where Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Bonamassa, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and the rest of the Beatles jam out to my Dad’s favorite tunes and then collectively compose a song in his honor. (Oh, and since I’m planning an imaginary concert, Jon Bon Jovi is there, too. But just to serve me beverages and play with my hair.)  But due to financial constraints and the fact that many of my dad’s musical mentors are no longer with us, I can’t make this happen.

One thing I can do is cook.  I’m using my local food experiment as inspiration, and planning a food extravaganza for Dad. Locally caught fish for lunch (his favorite), followed by local ice cream served in mugs (the only way to eat ice cream, according to Dad).  Not quite a musical mentor concert, but I’ll play some CDs.

Dear Dad, Thanks for living simply, laughing often, loving Mom, and putting action to the motto, “Love God, love others, change the world.” You are a mentor to many, and a hero to me. Love, Rachel

Categories: Random | Tags: , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Community Food Drive Scrapbook

Posted on June 2, 2012 by rachelocal

The numbers aren’t in yet, but Eastpoint Church donated a ton of food to the Food Bank of Delaware today. The day flew by, filled with fun chats, lively music, painted faces (and legs!), and generous people.

Today’s goal: fill this truck with food

Picking a design for face painting

A sea horse for Sophie!

Lindsey got in on the face…wrist painting action

The finished masterpiece – Nice work, Val!

Joe and Nate

Eastpoint’s band Elevate, led by Greg

Jon on lead guitar

Food!

More food!

Some volunteers: Greg, me, Pastor Joe, Nate, Jon, and Pastor Tom

Not sure what’s going on here, but we are all very cool (except for me, obviously)

That’s better

Thanks to Starbucks, our volunteers, and all the retail stores that participated in this year’s Community Food Drive. Looking forward to next year already!

Categories: Local Stores, Random | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Award! How Lovely!

Posted on May 24, 2012 by rachelocal

The lovely Madame Croquette  has nominated me for a One Lovely Blog Award. My first award; I’m thrilled! Thank you, Madame, for  honoring my blog as lovely! Funny thing is, often when I’m writing a post I think to myself, “Gosh, I use the word lovely a lot. I need to come up with a different adjective.” Lovely is one of my favorite words, so to be nominated for an award with lovely in the title is, you guessed it. . .lovely.

Now for the rules associated with this award:

1. Share whoever gave this award to you with a link back to their blog (above); 2. Write 7 random facts about yourself; 3. Give this award to 15 other bloggers; 4. Let them know they have won; 5. Pop the award on your blog.

Write 7 random facts about yourself . Okay, here goes:

1. I was born in Massachusetts and spent my childhood there. It’s one of my favorite places on earth.

2. I got engaged in a graveyard whilst sitting in a tree.

Me in the tree

The husband carved our initials in the tree. Aw.

3. Not sure this is a random fact, because it doesn’t feel random, but purposeful: I love Jesus and talk to God each day.

4.  My favorite cookbook right now is Anthony Bourdain’s Les Halles Cookbook. I love it and Bourdain.

5. I’ve watched every single season of America’s Next Top Model and can’t get enough of it. If there’s a marathon on TV, I will watch episode after episode with no thought of food or water. (Don’t judge.)

Kahlen from Season 4 and my favorite contestant of all time. Photo credit: listal.com and most likely ANTM and maybe Tyra Banks.

6. I have a degree in Elementary Education and taught kindergarten (briefly) and first grade (even more briefly). I applaud all the teachers out there workin’ it in their classrooms every day.

7.  Given the fact I have already mentioned ANTM, this random fact will make me seem very, very shallow, but I’m okay with it: I have been watching Friday Night Lights on Netflix. Ergo, I am in love with Tim Riggins. Even the husband has said (more than once), “Tim Riggins knows how to wear a pair of jeans!” Indeed he does.

Thank you, Tim Riggins, thank you

Now for my favorite blogs. I follow many, but here are my top picks ( in no particular order)

Picking 15 blogs when there’s countless quality, useful, and lovely blogs out there seems unfair, but those are my picks nonetheless.  Now I’m off to make myself a One Lovely Blog Award t-shirt. Represent.

Categories: Random | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Strawberry Picking with the Joneses

Posted on May 23, 2012 by rachelocal

I promised Cindi Filasky I would be back to pick strawberries, so a few days ago my dear friend Phil and I headed to Middletown. I was beyond excited about this adventure because Phil has two amazing children–Sean, a charming, melt-your-heart-with-his-smile  four-year-old, and Sophie, an intoxicatingly darling (and outspoken) two-year-old. Such great ages for the wonders of strawberry picking. Combine their adorableness with the the fact that they speak with a lovely South African accent and your heart could literally explode.

My heart stops a little every time I look at them, because these blonde bundles of energy belong to Jane, my BFF. Jane left this earth for the grandness of heaven almost a year ago. I miss her terribly every single day, but I’m blessed to spend time with her favorite people–Phil, Sophie, and Sean–since they moved back to the States from South Africa a couple months ago.

My Janie (pregnant with Sean) on the night we first met

I see Jane’s personality and sparkle in her children. Sean calls me “Auntie Ray Ray,” and when he greets me I can just hear Jane saying, “Hello, BFF!” (Yes, we called each other BFF regularly, because we’re cool like that.) On strawberry picking day, Sophie congratulated me several times for finding a red strawberry, “You found a red one!” she exclaimed. “Good job!” In that moment, I saw Jane smiling and heard her say, “Well done!” over some small accomplishment I had made (extra charming with her South African accent).

The Jones family and I enjoyed our romp through the strawberry fields. I could go on and on about our adventure and explain Sean and Sophie’s delight over each strawberry picked, but a photo’s worth a thousand words, so here’s a few to commemorate our day.  Filasky’s is open most days until 7; go make some memories!

Welcome to Filasky’s

Sophie checking out her freshly picked strawberry while Phil and Sean scour the fields in the background

Sneaking a bite!

Red means ready to be picked!

Phil and Seanie evaluate a berry

Sophie and I filling up our bucket

“Wait for me!”

Sean kept saying, “Look at the size of this guy!”

Sophie found a red one!

Sweet Sophie

Strawberry fields…forever

Categories: Delaware Farms, Farmer's Markets, Local Stores | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Rewards

Posted on May 7, 2012 by rachelocal

Image

John and I planted about 14 tomato plants today and started on another 14 (this is after John planted about 28 of them by himself). I’ll share this process soon, but for now, check out the gifts John gave me before I left his backyard. I scored three radishes, two spring onions, many beautiful romaine leaves, and a jar of pickled beets canned by John’s wife. Thanks for sharing, Kathy!

These gifts remind me of a few Proverbs:

Well-spoken words bring satisfaction; well-done work has its own reward. ~Proverbs 12:14

Hard work always pays off; mere talk puts no bread on the table. ~Proverbs 14:23

Work your garden—you’ll end up with plenty of food; play and party—you’ll end up with an empty plate. ~Proverbs 28:19 (Ha!)

Hard work does have its rewards. While spending the afternoon digging in dirt doesn’t seem much like work to me, I did get  ”manure tea” all over my hands today (more on that in another post). But when I’m rewarded with veggies plucked straight out of God’s good earth…well, it’s totally worth getting a little horse manure under my fingernails.

Categories: Delaware Farms, Farmer's Markets, Gardening | Tags: , , , , , , | 10 Comments

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