Nature Provides

Since returning from my two week ‘renovation vacation,’ I have been completely enamoured with a sense of place. In the Okanagan, there were amazing skies, dry clean air and the wafting scent of fruit blossoms and lilacs.

Back on the island now, the contrast is profound.The damp earth smell permeates through the blooming Scotch Broom aroma. The hidden Lily of the Valley gently scents the early morning, while lilacs perfume the air throughout the day. Conifers spray bright, dusty, yellow pollen and burst with vibrant, green, spring growth. At times my senses seem overwhelmed as I walk through the woods, down a rural road or just step outside my back door. In addition to this, my brain struggles to interpret what I see; layer upon layer of green interrupted by sprays of yellow, white, purple, red and blue. I find the beauty of Spring on the island intoxicating. It leaves me with a sense of euphoria.

In addition to the beauty of the earth on the island, I am blessed with the ocean just a few minutes from my door. Most days I make my way through a forest path to the ocean and walk or sit and take it all in. The skies are amazing and the beach and sea life astounding. Yesterday I picked up my tidal water fishing lisence and headed to gather our dinner. We headed to the beach and within 1/2 hour we were able to dig 75 Mahogoney Clams and harvest a bunch of Pickleweed. After soaking the salt and sand out of them we prepared a delicious meal.

We sat at the table and felt in awe of the feast nature provided. This caused us to pause and realize that this is what eating used to be; the hunting, foraging and gathering of whatever nature provided at a particular time of year. How far we have removed ourselves from the ‘source’ of sustanance called nature. Walmart, Costco and the like just don’t cut it for me anymore. I am hooked on ‘finding’ food in places other than stores.