GRIST FOR THE MILL

I used to hate the expression "nothing in life is simple," but this season it has come to be a reality. I get it. Spring 2010, our 16th issue, has proven to be the hardest issue I've ever had to edit! First, there are so many wonderful and exciting things to write about, it was hard to narrow down the articles. Once the topics were chosen, the work became even harder.

Food and what we eat has become so complicated that, this season, one article more than all others has challenged my thinking: "Cape Anne Fresh Catch: The Pescavore's Dilemma."What started out as a success story about a group in Gloucester who started the area's first CSA-like program for fresh, locally caught fish, turned into months of discussion, questions and no answers. Actually, writer Roz Cummins and I finished the article even more conflicted than when we started:

How do we support a local small industry that may not be "sustainable" due to issues out of their control? Specifically, do we continue to buy cod direct from local fisherman despite the fact that many people believe the species is still "over-fished"? My personal conclusion is that yes, I do want to support the local fisherman. I also believe that they are working towards making changes in their fishing practices, which will help both themselves and the fish in the ocean.

There are no clearly right or wrong answers.We all need to come to our own conclusions-but in order to do that, we need to educate ourselves. As we move into our fifth year of publishing, our mission is to bring you more articles like "Cape Anne Fresh Catch: The Pescavore's Dilemma." More articles that will make you think and want to learn more about our local food system!

I leave you with a quote from Thomas Merton:

"From the moment you put a piece of bread in your mouth you are part of a world. Who grew the wheat? Who made the bread? Where did it come from? You are in a relationship with all who brought it to the table. We are least separate and most in common when we eat and drink."

Enjoy!
Ilene Bezahler
Publisher/Editor