Edible Delmarva: Winter 2017
FROM THE EDITOR
Another turn of the season, and winter is upon us. After a bountiful harvest, it’s time to celebrate the winter holidays and the dawning of the new year. And then, at last, we rest. The coming of winter’s shorter days also means longer evenings. What we give up in time spent outdoors means more time for reading, for writing, for reflection–and more time for our favorite comfort foods! There are plans to make for holiday gifting and visiting, goals to set for the year ahead, gratitude to express for the year gone by, and dreams to move one step closer to fruition.
Across Delmarva, the rhythm of the new season is evident. The excitement of the start of the holiday season pairs with the winding down of the harvest and the preparations for winter’s sleep. We look back on progress made and milestones reached, and look ahead with anticipation at what the new year will bring. In this issue, we do the same, with a renewed appreciation for the people, places and programs that have made a difference and are helping to ensure a bright future for our community.
When Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has,” she may well have been talking about the William Penn High School. Starting with just a plot of local farmland, they have developed a world-class model for integrating agriculture, culinary arts and environmental science. These committed folks have made a difference for their students, the community and the region, right now and for generations to come, and serve as an inspiration to us all.
And never underestimate the power of one person to inspire change. Chef Doug Ruley of Sodel Concepts spends as much time coaching and mentoring young chefs as he does preparing menus for an award-winning group of restaurants. From high school students seeking careers in the field to teams of chefs preparing to cook at the James Beard House, he has quietly and steadily shared lessons learned from his own path to encourage and motivate others. We’re excited to see what’s in store in the year ahead for this local champion.
We are also grateful for our treasured local photographer Jay Fleming. Few have done more to honor life on the Chesapeake Bay, with photographic essays that bring us an up-close-and-personal view into the daily rhythm of life on the water. His breathtaking photos capture the raw beauty of the Bay and the people who work on it, and bring a renewed appreciation for what is in our own backyard. On the horizon is a new book celebrating the Chesapeake islands–we can hardly wait!
So as we begin a new year, we send our gratitude for your support and wish you a joyful winter season, with time to reflect, to celebrate, and to share. Time to savor the season and its comfort foods. Time to curl up and read the afternoon away. Time to dream about the promise of spring. Time to hold those you love close. Time to appreciate all the gifts in your life, whatever they may be!
