HiberNation

Did anyone catch the State of the Union this week?

No matter what side of the political spectrum you find yourself on, I would hope we can all agree that climate change and 'going green' are becoming more important to everyone around the country and the world. I would love to see the United States and Chester County, specifically, act as leaders in this ecological awakening.

One great way to take responsibility for our own 'footprint'--that is, the good and bad impacts we have on our resources--is to find small ways to make a difference in our everyday lives. Turning off lights when they're not in use, recycling, walking instead of driving, eating less meat and more veggies: all of these things are becoming mainstream and almost redundant in the greenspeak these days, but they are still important to remember.

Another way to look at reducing our footprint can be viewed as a 'slowing down' of the frenzied lifestyle so many North Americans live. At this time of year, we look around us in the Northeast and feel like Spring may never come; we wrap ourselves in layers and go to sleep early with the season. Winter is a time of reflection, a time for some of our animal friends to hunker down and hibernate for awhile. In some ways, humans are meant to do the same. From HyperNation to HiberNation we go!

Why not take this time of year to have some still, quiet time inside yourself, preparing for the Spring as we know it will come. Many avid gardeners and farmers use this time to plan for next year's growing tasks, dreaming big while purchasing seeds and laying out where new plants will go.

As such, next week, I will be attending the PASA conference, a yearly rite-of-passage for many supporters of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture. In State College, we gather in the thousands to reflect on how each of us can add to the swelling chorus of the local food movement. We gain from having a time, a season, that forces us to go inwards, to support one another in growing fresh, healthy foods that our families and communities deserve. I think this gathering injects us with a renewed spirit of unity and hope, something many American are searching for at this moment of economic despair and political stagnation. But it is also a reminder that while the winter looks bleak and blistering outside, some of the most important work is being done inside, where it's the hardest to detect.

For more information on PASA (Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculure), please visit: http://pasafarming.org.