The month of May brings me back to my days as a cook and the producer of Savory Thymes, a philanthropic initiative that provided events for social and environmental justice organizations, and the arts. May was the height of our spring season. I'd rise early on those days, drive South on the 101 over the Golden Gate Bridge, and into San Francisco to shop at the Ferry Building Farmers Market, and there I would gather everything I needed for the evening's menu. 

 

Preparing spring vegetables was a painstaking process. From shelling pounds of peas from their pod to clipping the rough stem away from the nettles to picking the wilty leaves off breakfast radish, it all took time and care. Yet, the 16 hour days full of grit and beauty were worth it, as they taught me about commitment and devotion to purpose. This special time in my life, when I crafted seasonal menus, built trusted relationships with farmers and co-created thoughtful events with diverse leaders, continues to shape and inform my work.

 

As the content in this Issue demonstrates, we must support the farmers, peasants, fisherfolk, pastoralists, and Indigenous peoples who produce the food that sustains us. And, we must advocate for the policies that hold those in power to account.