Spring 2020 Publisher's Note
“So fresh and so clean,” says the hook of the song embedded in my head. The catchy refrain reminds me of the ethos of spring. What is more fresh than the new growth, the rain-cleansed forest, the crisp cool air of this season? All around Mendocino County, the landscape is shaking off the snowy and rainy days for warmer moments. To participate in this season of new beginnings, many decide to eat a cleaner diet filled with vegetables, or to start a cleanse, leaving the rich and decadent foods of the holidays behind in search of a new, healthier start.
Spring is one of my favorite seasons because, whereas my friends and family on the East Coast still have months of grey and snow, we in the west are overwhelmed with bright green. The fir trees sprout their fluorescent chartreuse tips, which are filled with vitamin C. Moist soils are still providing mushrooms for foragers. On the seas, crab season is in full swing, ensuring that the markets and crabby events are fully stocked. Even during this relatively lean time of year, there remains significant bounty.
You can embrace this season as an opportunity to make a fresh start of your own. Justine Lemos, a yoga teacher and Ayurvedic expert on the coast, lays out an easy three-day cleanse to support vitality and immunity. Learn about the dynamic young couple behind Wilder Ferments, a uniquely delicious line of kombucha drinks infused with seasonal flavors and their associated nutrients. New this spring, keep an eye out for Jamu, a turmeric, tamarind, ginger, and lime concoction. Many folks are eating less meat, either for moral reasons or environmental and health concerns—our editor shares her story of going vegan, and writer Mayte Guerrero reviews Taste Buds Natural Selections, a vegan restaurant in Ukiah.
As the weather warms and the sunshine lingers a little longer each day, it is a great time to get outside. Maybe now is the time to take up surfing (this has found its way onto my to-do list) or get more movement in your life by hiking the trails or biking the roads of our beautiful county. Spring is the season to plant the seeds of what you want in the future, be that in your garden or in your life.
A wise person once said that the best time to plant trees was 20 years ago, but the second-best time to plant them is today. Now is also is the perfect time for our own fresh and clean start.
Holly Madrigal
