Solstice Sustenace

spinach soaking up some rays.

The summer solstice has long been an astronomical event that inspires celebrations of the sun's all important rays through, rituals, poetry, songs, and meals.  I always end up musing a bit about the magic-like process of photosynthesis that makes the world's food system go around--this capture of the sun's energy is really the basis for all life of planet earth so a bit of musing seems appropriate. And appreciation as well.  Today at my weekly cooking class, we celebrated the Solstice with goods form our community garden in a salad of Lolla Rosa and Speckled lettuces, Bloomsdale spinach, sweet Cascadia snap peas, shelling peas, and the edible  flowers of our French Breakfast radishes.  When celebrating, I also like to enjoy the wild things that grow, untended, in fields and yards and gardens, which is why I appreciated this piece on NPR that led me to this beautiful blog on foraged foods.  After a quick onceover today, in my own urban yard, I can find wild garlic mustard (for pesto), purslane and lamb's quarters in the garden (for salads or sauteeing), daylilies (for stuffing with chicken salad), and mulberries (for snacking or baking or canning)...all available due to the sun's constant shine.