Oh, I miss my farm! It’s only been 2 months, and I am already in withdrawl from the lusciousness that is fresh vegetables. Yes, I love this season for the citrus fruits and the winter squash, but I miss the weekly trips to the farm, and I even miss the wrestling with fridge space every week as Gadi and I try to finish the share.
So, how could I pass up this amazing cauliflower that was at Whole Foods? It wasn’t cheap, but I had never seen anything like it! I googled it and found out it’s often called the Romanescu cauliflower (or broccoli – depends on what you think it tastes like more). It took me awhile to find it, because it’s also colloquially called a Mandelbrot cauliflower, after the mathematical Mandelbrot set (see Gadi’s post).
Along with the taste of fresh vegetables, the thing I love most about a local farm share is that we are actually promoting botanical diversity with these farms. I’m going to get a little political now, but part of the agribusiness model depends on uniformity. Big (monopolozing and dishonest) companies that supply the majority of our produce to supermarkets spend time studying which tomato they can get to grow the fastest, biggest and cheapest, and then how they can ensure that each tomato they grow will be a clone of that.
The result? We start to lose diversity, both in species of plants, and in their flavor and vitality. In yoga, we have the idea of PRANA – life force, or vitality. Practicing yoga helps take you from a state of less prana, less vitality, to more. When I eat a sad supermarket tomato, I can’t help but think that there’s so little prana in that tomato. Part of my yoga off the mat is eating foods full of prana.
So I LOVE when I see a new food. Or a new variety of food. There’s not just one kind of cauliflower! There’s not just orange carrots! There are hundreds of kinds of tomatos out there! Every time I realize this, it’s this enlightening moment, for my brain and for my tastebuds. And I’m amazed that even here in New England, where we don’t have a year-round growing season, we can grow an astounding variety of foods!
Gadi and I were both so taken with this food that we each wanted to write a blog post about it, for very different reasons! I hope you enjoy.
My parting words: Eat yogic foods – foods high in prana, foods that make you appreciative, and food that nourishes you body and mind!
Love to you all,
Barrett
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Dear Barrett:
This was a greatly inspiring reflection on diversity. I appreciated the parallels you made between diversity in food, energy and the importance of diversity for sustaining us. I am working on a textbook right now that addresses similar issues for humans. It’s challenging and my yoga practice here with Wendy Gross-Pinto at the Yoga and Healing Center helps me keep focused. My daughter (from another mother) Anya has told me about you and suggested I try your Yoga messages and podcast lessons. I am considering it and will probably give it a try.
The concept is brilliant, I am sure it will really help me as I move and shake up my day.
All the best and continued success in your work helping and nurturing others.
Sincerely,
DLV
Hello,
I’m wondering about that concurrent nature of food and where you find these lovely creatures?
The problem with big agro is that we all get a little bit less of what it should be. And it is all dependent on irrigation.
Please email me when you have a chance. The fractal cauliflower was beautiful. You are very blessed to see such a wonderful thing in person!
BB,
MMH
Hi Deborah:
Thanks for leaving some comments on the blog – I appreciate it!! I’m curious about your textbook! Certainly, a regular yoga practice helps one sustain focus and keep motivation for the big life projects we all embark upon (like writing a book!). Good luck!
Dr Sunshine:
I found the cauliflower just at my local Whole Foods grocery store! I am a bit of an impulse buyer, and I really try to go in with a list and not deviate too much, but this was irresistable! I’m glad my partner thought so too – he isn’t usually quite as taken with the gourmet olives or chocolates that cost an arm and a leg that I occasionally fall prey to.
Very cool! Enjoyed the post. Good points. And that cauliflower absolutely blows my mind.