This week we’re sending an “oldie” newsletter from several years ago, which happily and surprisingly (or not) is suitable for this year – with one small addition.
Chag Sameach!
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Purim’s Here!
In the Hebrew calendar, Purim is not considered one of the agricultural holidays. At first glance, Purim seems to be a holiday unrelated to nature and agriculture, rather an urban holiday devoid of customs for harvesting or seeding, and a costume carnival seemingly unattached to a specific season. But anyone who tends the field during this time of the year realizes exactly how much Purim is suited for this season, especially in our tiny little country.
The weather is acting as if it’s guzzled down a bottle of wine or two or three, staggering in its walk, driving itself into a drunken stupor. After a cold, rainy winter, suddenly the weather ups and changes, thrusting itself between summer and winter, cold and warm, wet and dry. Three summer days, then one rainy day, followed by two dusty heat waves and then some more fog and cold weather. What a mess!
Our winter field is contemplating dressing up in a spring costume, a salad mix of winter and summer. The cauliflower, broccoli, peas, fava, greens, beets, carrots, leeks and scallions, celeriac and parsley roots, artichoke and garlic, veteran tenants going way back to wintertime, have been lounging in their beds, chatting away for months. Suddenly, from beneath the plastic covers emerge new saplings peeking out at the world! There’s squash, butternut, pumpkins, melons, fakkus, beans…
Along with the field, we, too, are getting excited about the transformation: almost like the butterflies in our tummy as we don our costumes. One minute it’s my daughter checking herself out in the mirror, and suddenly she disappears and someone else appears, familiar but new. And it’s her, but she too is now different, and her appearance transforms the way she feels. Walking around the field that has been wintery for a good while evokes similar excitement as the gourds make their appearance and the beans are sprouting. Change is in the air, and it’s a joyful change.
And the joy and laughter are accompanied by a sense of unease as well: somewhat of an embarrassment to be seen outdoors wearing the costume, hoping all goes well, that nothing falls apart and the smile remains on our made-up face. In the transformational field as well, our heart skips a beat as the field slips into its summer costume, mostly because of the drunkard weather that can keep making us crazy. Thus, we send out our children and vegetables all dressed up and neat, and hope we meet them at the end of the day in good spirits, their makeup a bit smeared and their mouths chocolaty, but with laughing eyes.
In honor of Purim, we suggest such distinctive and merry mishlochei manot from your vegetable boxes as:
Or simply a fresh bag of delectable snow peas!
Wishing us all a happy and silly Purim, full of embraces and calm. And good health to all! Alon, Bat Ami, Dror, Orin, Yochai and the Chubeza team
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WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S BOXES?
Sunday-Monday: Swiss chard/kale/chubeza (mallow) greens, potatoes, cauliflower/broccoli, green fava beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, parsley/coriander, lettuce, leeks/green garlic. Small boxes only: Bundle of beets or daikons with greens
Large box, in addition: Peas, Jerusalem artichokes, celeriac/parsley root, cabbage.
Fruit boxes: Banana, orange, clemantinot/apples, pomelit/red grapefruit.
Wednesday-Thursday: Swiss chard/kale/chubeza (mallow) greens, potatoes, cauliflower/broccoli/cabbage, green fava beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, parsley/coriander, lettuce, leeks/green garlic. Small boxes only: Jerusalem artichokes.
Large box, in addition: Peas, bundle of beets or daikons with greens, celeriac/parsley root, fresh onions.
Fruit boxes: Banana, orange, apples, pomelit/red grapefruit.