Grist For the Mill
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”
– From Rudyard Kipling’s “If”
Wrapping up two years of publishing this wonderful magazine, I’m thinking about all those in the local food community we’ve encountered, both story subjects and advertising partners, and how so many seem to share similar qualities. Passion, a strong work ethic and focus run evenly alongside generosity, patience, and kindness. It’s as if they are the very embodiment of Kipling’s famous work.
However, compassion and pleasantness seem to be in increasingly short supply in the world these days. With the added burdens of shortages in supplies and staffing, it makes it all the more remarkable when you see that smile, as weary as it may be, appear on people’s faces when they greet us. The crinkle in the corners of the eyes even prove that no smile can be hidden by a mere mask.
There are always a couple of smiles awaiting your arrival in Falmouth at The Glass Onion. Josh and Tally Christian have been balancing home life and running their beloved restaurant for the past twelve years. We caught up with them to see how they make it all work while retaining those smiles.
Andrea Pyenson talked with a number of Cape Cod business owners who’ve had to make things work while dealing with a steady stream of supply chain disruptions in “Where Have All The Products Gone?” With no two situations exactly alike, creativity is a must in order to maintain a successful business for many local entrepreneurs.
Some businesses that have faced hardships endure to celebrate major milestones. Pain D’Avignon in Hyannis overcame a fire in the early days and is now in their thirtieth year in business. Tom Dott got the backstory and the exciting plans for the future of this once-little bakery as it continues to grow into a national brand in “On The Rise”.
There are other organizations whose very existence have been created to meet challenges head-on. The Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance, celebrating their own thirtieth anniversary, is tasked with protecting the local fishing industry, advocating for the Cape’s fishermen, and defending the environment for future generations. “Brackish Waters” looks at the many different fronts to which they take the fight.
Closer to home in the backyard, Becca Miller turns her attention from foraging to focusing on the upcoming planting season. She introduces us to a few of her favorites that go overlooked by many when planning the next year’s crops. “Greetings From Your Garden” says hello to bee balm, calendula and yarrow as attractive, easy alternatives to some of the more familiar options in seed catalogs.
Exploring stories from our amazing roster of contributors always leaves me in awe of what is happening across the Cape in the local food movement. I find myself saying repeatedly, “I can’t believe someone’s out here doing (fill in the blank)!” We hope the coming new year finds you well. We know it’ll find us new stories to share with you and we can’t wait to do it!
Stay toasty,
Larry
