Connecting over Food
As a new homeowner, quarantine has been a great time to work on projects around the house. The first few weeks were spent spring cleaning and decluttering the inside, but as the weather has warmed, my projects have moved to the exterior of the house.
After many YouTube videos, Internet searches, and a few calls to my Mom, I successfully landscaped around the house and garage. While seeing my finished project gave me lots of satisfaction (and much cleaner hands!), I enjoyed the process of planting and landscaping. There is something so rewarding about working in the sun, breaking a sweat, and seeing a little progress every day.
One moment that stands out from my project actually has nothing to do with landscaping. While working in the yard, I heard a soft mutter over the fence. Our sweet neighbor was stopping by to say hello. He and his wife are both retired and we haven’t seen them much during quarantine. We chatted briefly about house projects, gardening, and life during quarantine.
Right before we wrapped the conversation, our neighbor mentioned that it might be fun to get together for a meal after quarantine was over. Then he suggested that instead of waiting for quarantine to end, we could pack our own meals and bring our families together – at a safe 6 ft. distance – across the fence between our yards.
While we haven’t put a date on the calendar for our fence picnic yet, our conversation made me think about the role that food and gathering over meals plays in connecting with others, even during quarantine. Thinking back to family gatherings, people always seemed to congregate around food – whether that meant standing around appetizers at the kitchen island or a bowl of chips and salsa at the table. I come from large Italian family, so food is always at the center of every get together. There is always a large spread of food, way too many leftovers, and it wasn’t until I met my fiancé that I learned that not all family gatherings take place in the kitchen!
As I continued to think about experiences gathering over food, I thought a lot about what that means for the farmers market during this time. Although the market isn’t a place where we can gather and linger right now, there is still so much beauty in being able to buy food direct from the growers and makers. Those folks across the table from you are the same ones who planted a seed, nurtured it, and grew it into the bountiful harvest that sits on your table. These are the people who have spent countless hours testing that recipe to bake a delicious treat that you can take home and share with your family.
As you shop, I encourage you to get to know your vendors – ask them questions about their products, themselves, and their business. They truly are a great resource and have so much knowledge about food. Even in this time of social distancing, a smile, a thank you, and a brief conversation while you purchase from your local growers and makers can be the building blocks of a new connection and friendship.
