MARKET DAY

     My neighbor food grower texted me this morning about the sweet corm on the cob. Shall I reserve a bunch for you? That was affirmative on my part and immediate. After handwashing my laundry in this sky condition and hanging them across a warm sun already spreading on my upstairs porch, warm glows there and gently breezy, I anticipated the farmer's set up in town just a few blocks away to be marvelous as always, and that's the trip I can't wait on my bike. He has a particular way of designing his produce and cut flowers on the table with definite attention to detail and beauty, the attractiveness is a delight to any farmers market shopper, to me it is reminiscent of the the makeshift street plants and bookshops along the Seine river in Paris, or like this cute souvenir shop in the Bellevue Botanical Gardens in Washington with succulents growing in glazed terra cottas alongside poetry cards on racks and colorful umbrellas. My farmer not only has an artistic eye but also an apothecary knowledge in presenting to the public all the benefits of his bouquets of herbs (in lovely glass jars) fresh rendered as tea to make and great for your immune system. The mamaki sage and the uhaloa help boost the respiratory and olfactory organs for maximum oxygen intake and toxins release, but add agave syrup for palette pleasure.

     My mind is set on what to do with my corn. I was already thinking about making a full pot of stock using it with husk and all, at the same moment in the boiling will add split lentils (I love preparing legumes with root vegetables to achieve ample heartiness in salad of citrus fruits), and the ears of corns I know will do the same job. Once cooked, I will, standing on the perpendicular to the kitchen counter, slice down the kernels all around the cob, four equal rounds, then rinse them in a cold ice bath waiting in the sink, strain and harvest, alas mix in again with the lentils for a magnificent "yellow and green no-grain rice." I have pink lady apples I'm thinking for this rice salad as alternative to leaves, and for dressing I have lilikoi fruits tempering their acidity with sweet orange peels, fold in olive oil and kosher salt that's it, I am already salivating on the prospect for my lunch on market day. Yes, market day is special to me because I know I will be eating great and will be relaxing at home and listening to my new L.P.s (I recently acquired a Thelonious Monk's Criss-Cross album from Requests Music just next door to the farmers stands in town) and I know, too, that my farmer's passionate efforts in growing food will be used wisely, healthily, he doesn't know I food blog, but that doesn't matter because the story comes from him as it is a gift from nature. The biodynamic principles he uses in growing is an indigenous-derived agricultural ethos adhering to moon phases, and he regards the pollinating and altruistic contributions of insects, critters, and worms vital to the ecoservices natural to making plant life. He is also a science writer as hobby when not growing food. I'm very impressed with this myopic and personal experience of the consilience of art and science on one stand.