Spring is here and Passover is right around the corner! Now that many of us are home, spring brings with it all kinds of changes.
Outside the mustards are blooming like crazy, like every year, as are all kinds of other edible wild greens like hubeiza (mallow), which has not been blessed with attractive yellow flowers and spring-drunken bees; The rekafot (Cyclamen) cluster in soft colored groups, pink and purple, hidden between the rocks and crevices and look as if they’re gossiping about everything going on around them.
Placing theirleafy-palm on their royal mouth beneath the crown when they perplex. The calaniot (anemones) fill the sides of the road with reddish spots, soon the red blossoms of the strawflower (Dam HaMaccabee) will join them.
The almond trees, which just a month ago filled the eye with a spectacular pinkishblossom, now have tiny almonds. The za'ataris here, and also the sage –anyone used to looking for tea herbs can now easily see them alongside the hiking trail.The sage flowers are full of radiant purple stems, tall and proud, attracting the bees, who are overwhelmed with so many delicious options…
Spring has arrived also in gardens, orchards and man-made fields. The vineyards will soon begin to wake up as the begin to appear along the strands supporting the canes. The wild weeds growing in plots will patiently wait for good hands to keep them away from where they interfere with the plantsgrowing, and will then be respectfully transported to the compost pile; The summer plantshuddle excitedly in their boxes.
Eagerly grinning, winking at each other in small, friendly gestures, like teenagers queuing for the bus to their annual fieldtrip, implying to each other "We're ready, soon is our turn!" Of course, I could be imagining all this because I'm so excited for spring.
This year, the spring is different for us – those who don't have a field or nature nearby the house, can see less of this raging bloom. And maybe very much wants to go out and run in nature. The protected flowers are much safer – because there are no trampling small hands and legs around. A good portion of us are at home – for better and for worse (the household members can have breakfast together, and a friend told me that for the first time in quite a few years she is cleaning for Passover, simply because it is something she can do right now at home…).
You can also use this time to watch clips on planting vegetables at home, making compost, or growing sprouts – an activity that can be done with the kids as well, creating a delicious addition to salads. It is certainly not easy to just slip out of routine this way, but we have no choice, so, we will turn this lemon into… organic lemonana.
I want to remind you that for Passover, there are some products in the store that you might want to add to your order, as they will be very relevant to the Seder table. For those who have never made a shopping list because they typically have the Seder at someone else, and also for those who know very well what they need:
Apples and dates – for the Haroset. Of course, you can add more sweet fruit as well as organic dried fruit like raisins (if anyone tries with Goji Berry,please tell me how it came out).
Horseradish – usually the root is grounded to make the famous Hazeretspread (with some beet juice for the color). Because this task warrants a gas mask, a well-ventilated room, and even then you may look like you r house was hit by a rocket with a chemical warhead (God forbid), and because it is quite challenging to find the correct root, especially when the markets are closed, I recommend doing this with radish.
Maror – In the meantime, none of the Greens are really bitter. Certainly not the lettuce that is enjoying this weather that is especially perfect for lettuce, without the shadow of a heat spell that sometimes happens during this season and causes the lettuce to show us its bitter side. If you're really into the bitterness – you can try combiningkale or arugula leaves to give it some punch, but typically most of us just stick with the traditional lettuce.
Carpas – This is of course the celery, the crunchiest vegetable on the Seder table. If you are not accustomed to staring the day with a green shake and can use some encouragement to start the meal with this green – a dip nearby will greatly contribute to the culinary experience.
Zroa–also means arm. May we join our armsand get rid of this virus as soon as possible, with a strong hand and an inclined armביד חזקה ובזרוע נטויה, and enjoyan exodus from the slavery of our routine life to an unexpected liberty that the situation brings. Maybe we can see it that way too.
Have a happy and healthy Passover!
Take care and stay healthy!
Yours,
Maggie's Garden Team
Forecast:
In the ORGANIC vegetable baskets we expect (draft only):
Cucumber
Tomato
Lettuce
Potato
Colrahbi
Celery
Parsley
Cabbage
Swiss Chard
The Large organic vegetable baskets also include:
Fennel
Coriander
Kale
In the ORGANIC fruit baskets:
Bannana
Orange
Papaya
The large ORGANIC fruit baskets also include:
Grape fruit
Clementine
The ORGANIC Green Basket:
Dill
Spinach
A kind of lettuce
Mint
Sprouts
Swiss Chard
Kale
Green onion
