This morning, I bought the most beautiful bunch of basil. Its heady fragrance filled my car, and I schemed about this evening’s meal as I drove it home to my refrigerator. With my meal ingredients list including olive oil, fresh tomatoes, chicken, and basil, I know we’ll eat well tonight.
 
You see, this morning, I discovered the Angel Valley Farm vegetable stand on Jollyville Road. This discovery was the “fruit” of last week’s research regarding local healthy food sources. I found a farm that will sell us eggs, chicken, beef, and turkey, as well as ones like Angel Valley that provide veggies. As Devin and I prepare more deeply for marriage, I’m growing in commitment to feeding our family with the most fresh and healthy food possible–as we can afford it, please God.
 
I’m really excited about establishing relationships with local farmers, as God so wills. There’s something really wonderful about meeting the people who grow our food and sharing their lives. It helps to put a face and name on my tomatoes; I’m more inclined to thank the Lord for this food, because I know from where it comes, and not to waste the food, because I know the grower.
 
I suppose this mirrors the Catholic social principle of subsidiarity. From what I recall of my Theology classes in college, the principle of subsidiarity respects the value of local networks and human communities, out of respect for the dignity of man. Said another way, it promotes local government over big government, when appropriate. I’m so accustomed to shopping at a big grocery store, where I can buy bananas from Guatemala, and apples from Washington State, and pineapples from Hawaii; those are wonderful blessings as well, but they don’t allow me to visit with the growers. They don’t foster human communion.
 
It was good this morning to buy my basil from the farmer who had picked it. It felt neighborly and truly human somehow. Blessed be the Lord. YKC!