I walked in the gate of my courtyard and watched as Fiona (now 16) carefully dug a small hole in the newly tilled soil, stuck a perfectly trimmed and washed radish in it, and covered it so just the green stem was showing. Nearby her friend, Elisa, was filming the process. Fiona then looked at the camera and pulled out the radish, a huge smile on her face.
The duo moved to the apple trees, where Fiona set a cox orange pippin I’d gotten at the market that morning in the crook of a branch, amidst spring’s apple blossoms, then proceeded to “pick” the apple with the same apparent joy.
Whaat?
“Oh hi, mom, we’re working on a project for our civics class,” Fiona said, as she and Elisa gathered their props and followed me into the kitchen, which they’d transformed into a miniature farmers’ market.
“We’ve designed a new way of buying food, mom,” she said, pointing to the baskets of produce, the fresh farm eggs, the pats of local butter. “Producers have their own store; they bring in fresh produce every two days, they staff it so they don’t have to pay for staff, and they all live close by so they hardly use any fuel to transport their food. The food isn’t expensive, it’s fresh, and it’s local.”
The goal of all of this?
“We’re holding a Presidential election, mom, and Elisa and I want to win,” Fiona said. “This is a major part of our platform.”
This effort was thought up by two high schoolers in a a rural town in France, where the farmer’s market reigns supreme. I was surprised they would think this was important, but Fiona says she doesn’t think their classmates “get” issues like carbon footprint, how much better local food from small growers is than what they might get in the supermarket, and how logical it is to set up cooperative market.
“Mom, we’re educating people,” she said.
The “election” is in two weeks. I can’t wait to see who wins.
How excellent! Well done girls, I’d vote for you! On another subject, I recently made a double batch of the Olive Cookies from the Drôme (scourtins) & they were both easy & delicious; the platter-full disappeared in no time & I’ll certainly make them again ! Thanks, Susan, for your consistently reliable, delicious recipes; can’t wait to get the new book!
Chris! Thank you for being such a great recipe follower!
Fiona for President! But seriously, wouldn’t the world be a better place?
It would certainly be a more just and beautiful (and beautiful smelling) place!
Fiona. As we say in the US, “way to go”. Your grandmother. You get my vote.
She’s a chip off the old block!
Must be the best news I’ve had in a long time. WELL DONE girls. I would vote for you. Keep up the good work and MESSAGE.
Geraldine, I’ll pass along the message to Fiona and Elisa!!!
Bonne chance!!! My hat is off to her generation, with such vision, imagination, and energy.
Thank you for sharing the lovely photos!
Julie,
I agree. One can get very discouraged by the world, then walk into the garden and see the future at work!
That is simply fabulous.
Cathy! Thanks….and from Fiona!
Beautiful photo’s , and very amazing to see Fiona as a beautful young lady, as I am reading about her as a new baby ! Marvelous to be able to SEE the kitchen and home I have been envisioning …. loving the recipes…
and great to feel I am “meeting” you also .
Cleo
Cleo, Thank you! It’s nice to “meet” you too.