By Robin Meiklejohn

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Phenology is the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events and how they are influenced by seasonal and inter-annual variations in climate. Observations of phenological events have provided indications of the progress of the natural calendar since ancient agricultural times. I guess I am — and always have been — a phenologist. Certainly this season has provoked me to reference my records for comparisons. Global warming is no longer the phrase of choice, in fact around here it is the butt of jokes. Climate change is what the planet is experiencing, with more extreme weather systems that present catastrophic events and, around here, temperature extremes and fairly unusual varieties of precipitation — at least for May.
The persistence of what I reckon to be unseasonable weather has driven me indoors and into some introspection. Science, philosophy, economics, politics, evolution, devolution and revolution have all captured my attention. The phrase "common sense" seemed a common denominator in all that came to my attention this week. It brought to mind Thoreau's essay on "Common Sense." I found this tidbit from a poem of his instead and thought it was equally apt:

I am a parcel of vain strivings tied
By a chance bond together,
Dangling this way and that, their links
Were made so loose and wide,
Methinks,
For milder weather.

It is faith that leads me to believe that milder weather will present. The summer will arrive, with or without spring as I remember it. With summer comes the Farmers Market season. Our own Ridgway Farmers Market, in one decade, has gone from its nascence, to expansion, to extreme contraction. It has had its own internal struggles exacerbated by the economic downturn of the past few years. Its continued existence is on the line. I have struggled to understand why, in light of the fact that farmers markets are sprouting up and thriving, like all the weeds on our property, all over the country. I believe economic misconceptions are at play.
An article in The Atlantic by Barry Estabrook titled "The Farmers' Market Myth" begins with "Most people think farmers' markets are more expensive than supermarkets — but studies don't always support that conclusion. In fact, they're often cheaper." He goes on with, "We're all familiar with the accepted gospel: Only well-heeled food snobs can afford the exorbitant prices charged … at farmers' markets, while those who can't afford such greener-than-thou food-purchasing decisions must paw through … supermarket produce departments."
A report released earlier this year of a study for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont found that produce prices at farmer's markets for conventional or organics were lower than at supermarkets. The price differentials were slim but noteworthy. The only exception in this study was for eggs and potatoes. Other studies concur.
Estabrook concludes with, "It's promising to see that regardless of the region, these studies are holding up. This trend is going to grow stronger. Maybe that will put the elitist perception to rest."
There is always more that I wish to share, but my very wise husband exhorts me to keep it light and whimsical. Perhaps when the rain and snow go away I might find my whimsy muse again.