64 Arts

I am so very appreciative of the verdant area of abundance in which I live. The Pioneer Valley is so full of new and multi-generational farms offering access to CSAs of all sorts, including organic produce, mushrooms, meat, fruit... Most also have established year-round easily accessible farm stands . And many even invite us to pick our own goodies like apples, strawberries and blueberries. "The trend of receding farmland continues in many areas of the country; however, the most recent  Census of Agriculture   revealed that the total acreage of farmland has actually increased in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties.  Farming profitably continues to remain a challenge, though, due to rising costs, crop failure and poor weather, and fierce competition from the global food system. The case for local agriculture has never been stronger. Buying local: keeps money in the local economy preserves family farms reduces oil-dependent transportation costs protects our l

It doesn’t seem just trite to think time is passing more quickly these days. I have a few of my own theories as to why, including excessive screen time (phones, computers, TVs) and forgetting to be grateful. However, through researching this phenomenon, I have come to discover and actualize that the lack of new experiences leads to a distorted perception of time. From childhood to early adulthood, we have many fresh experiences and learn countless new skills. As adults, though, our lives become more routine, and we experience fewer unfamiliar moments. As a result, our early years tend to be relatively overrepresented in our autobiographical memory and, on reflection, seem to have lasted longer. Of course, this means we can also slow time down later in life. We can alter our perceptions by keeping our brain active, continually learning skills and ideas, and exploring new places. Do different things as often as you can. Learn something new. Try something new. Go somewhere new. Pu