Summer solstice

An Incan Emperor Re-inactor.
Shamelessly stolen from realsouthamerica.com.au.

It is the summer solstice, friends - the northern hemisphere's longest day of light in the year.  On the seasonal calendar, it is the official beginning of summer, though here in Birmingham I think it arrived a few sweltering weeks early.

A few years ago I had the opportunity to experience June 21 in Cuzco, Peru.  Cuzco was the capital of the Incan empire, and the native religion remains deeply ingrained in the Peruvian culture.  For the Peruvians, as with all residents of the southern hemisphere, June 21 is the shortest day of sun - and thus darkness's final encroachment on daylight.  That day marks the beginning of Inti Raymi, the festival of the sun celebrating the god Inti.  Animal sacrifices are made, looking to appease the god and ensure a good spring.

Such a celebration makes me mourn the lost connection between our culture and the earth.  Myron the Soil Man, head composter at West End Community Gardens, describes agriculture and eating as entering into relationship with the earth: we give our toil and sweat to nurture the earth, and to us she returns nutritious food.  Relationships takes time, and in a culture where time and productivity are the most precious commodities, food often gets the short end of the stick.  Sadly we often choose the pornography and prostitution of processed foods and wasteful materialism over real relationship with the earth.  We perceive the earth as a resource to be allocated instead of the foundation of life to be dealt with respectfully.

The first fruits of our potted garden.

A few years ago I read through The Art of the Commonplace, collection of Wendell Berry essays.  The book was transformative.  At the end, Berry works to answer the question of what an average person is to do to begin to enter into relationship with the earth.  He simply says that we are to eat well.  We need to understand from where our food comes, and in that we will begin to understand our world.  Gradually, I have begun to take time to prepare fresh foods, not viewing cooking as a chore to complete but an opportunity to engage the earth.  One of the best things that Rachel and I have had during our first year of marriage is the opportunity to cook and eat together multiple times each week.

As food has become a priority, we have begun making choices to be in intentional relationship with the earth.  Not too long ago, we began collecting our compost to give to friends who have a garden.  This spring, we planted a potted garden on our front patio, and this morning we collected our first two vine-ripened tomatoes.  We have additionally enjoyed cilantro, mint and lavender from our efforts.

And so this year I take a moment to remember the solstice.  Happy Inti Raymi.  Celebrate by eating well.