Volume 1: Issue 4 (Spring)

Spring Equinox 2021

Welcome to the Spring Equinox 2021 issue of Farmer-ish. This issue is significant, as it marks the final issue in the first volume of our journal and marks a full journey around the sun for us. We began on Summer Solstice; we have been together in Fall and for the Winter Solstice. Thank you for being here for the Spring Equinox–a time of hope and emergence.

The start of Spring is always a tough season for me here in our part of Maine. It’s not really Spring yet–at least it doesn’t feel or look it like to me. As I write this, I look out the window, and the Earth is still white, the trees are still bare. When I see my farmer friends from other parts of the country posting to social media their pictures of their green gardens, I feel a little bit of a different kind of green–the kind Shakespeare warned us about–but I have learned over the years to not let the envy live in me for more than a second, as I have much to be thankful for.

And, as my husband so aptly told me, we may not have Spring here yet, but we have Spring-ish. I see the mud on our paths, and the days are longer and warmer. And the eggs! Our chickens are laying in full force, and we had our first duck eggs this week. There is a hope of what is to come–the long days, the green garden, the baby chicks and mama hens.

And then there is this issue. It is with great joy that I present this issue to you. Each issue feels like a gift I am able to give to the world. I feel like I have discovered some beautiful things, and through this journal, I get to share them with our readers. The poetry, the essays, and the educational materials of this issue all come together so perfectly to me. I hope you think so too. We have new voices in this issue, which I always love, fantastic works from our talented regular contributors, and special pieces from some award-winning writers.

Today, on the Spring Equinox, as I wrap up the last issue of our first year, I am feeling very much excited for our future. It is with great pleasure that I share with you our logo (see above) created by the talented Maine artist Maya Silver. The logo represents so much of what I love about our farmer-ish life: My special chicken, Poe, who passed away in 2019 is the chicken outlined here. My favorite tree friend, our Maple tree, is the tree you see. And the moon represents not only my appreciation of cultures who farm by moon cycles but also simply to the phrase that has become my special phrase for the people I love dearly–I love you to the moon and back.

There is also much excitement as we begin our first educational offerings this year. Be sure to check out the new Education link. And we finally have Farmer-ish swag on the way! Our store front will be up and running in April. We also have plans to start a podcast this Spring, so there is much on the horizon for us in the coming year.

I am so thankful for the amazing support I have received for this project that is truly a labor of love for me and my husband. I see this beautiful Spring issue as our way of saying thank you for believing in us. We are growing, just like seedlings, and I am hopeful about what is to come. May the pieces in this issue bring a little bit of light to your day.