In Our Spring 2020 Issue

Editor's Note (entire Spring 2020 Issue below):
 

Before I could sit down and write this note to you about spring, I had to go out and shovel the snow off my driveway and sidewalk. I have always enjoyed the snow, aside from the shoveling part, and I prefer it to the cold, gray days that dominate the winter months. At this point of the year, however, I’m ready for spring.

We can’t predict how the weather will treat us, but we can say with certainty that spring will arrive with the vernal equinox at 11:50pm on March 19. The amount of daylight has been growing each day since late December. When the vernal equinox arrives, the hours of daylight and darkness are almost exactly equal all over the world.

The natural world will begin to awaken from its dormant winter state. As the soil warms, we will start to see earthworms again, which means the robins will return for one of their favorite foods. Daffodil leaves will begin to peek through the soil. It’s the season of new growth.

That makes it an appropriate time for Edible Columbus to bring you a look at some new ventures in the food world. In this issue, you will have a chance to read about a start-up business, Echo Spirits Distilling Co., where the young owners are looking to the past for inspiration. We will look at a new restaurant with a familiar chef going in a new direction, and we’ll take you to a new cocktail bar, the dream of an award-winning mixologist.

This issue also features a personal essay about how sharing a meal can bring healing thanks to an organization called The Dinner Party. Its members are young people who have lost loved ones, and their gatherings are a time for sharing both food and stories of grieving.

Part of our mission here at Edible Columbus is to uncover hidden gems in our area that you might not be familiar with, so we also will introduce you to a talented young chef making his mark, a farm run by college students and some food trucks you will want to try.

While the official start of spring may be on our doorstep, any excitement must be tempered with the realization that we have to wait a while yet for some of the best benefits of spring. Most of the outdoor farmers markets won’t be opening until May. And no matter how nice the weather gets, the general wisdom is that you should hold off on most outdoor planting until after Mother’s Day on May 10 to avoid the possibility of frost.

Here’s hoping that spring brings us all the growth we desire in our gardens and in our lives.

Gary Kiefer 
gary@ediblecolumbus.com