Today’s Vermont: Extraordinary Times

Well now. Here we are.

Vermont is not immune to the COVID-19 pandemic, or, for that matter, to any of the myriad illnesses of this troubled world. As always, though, the Green Mountain State is a particularly good place to root down and settle in for the long haul. 

We can acknowledge the great suffering and uncertainty that is unfolding here in Vermont, but we can also celebrate the many Vermonters who are meeting this moment with courage and compassion. This too shall pass. In the meantime garlic and rhubarb are emerging from cold garden soil, sap is running in the maple trees, woodcocks are dancing in boggy meadows, and the red-winged blackbirds have returned. 

The other day I was listening to a timely and informative conversation with health experts on Vermont Edition while washing dishes at the kitchen sink. The inimitable Jane Lindholm was interviewing Dr. Joshua White, Chief Medical Officer at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, Vermont.

Dr. White emphasized the importance of physical distancing and self-isolation in order to flatten the curve of virus infections—a concept that seems self-evident now, but that was still quite novel just a couple of weeks ago. At one point the good doctor noted that self-isolation should be especially doable for Vermonters, because we were already halfway there before anyone had even heard of coronavirus. Even though isolation is hard for extroverts like me, the remark made me smile. 

Vermonters know that in tough times, a bit of wry humor can go a very long way.

Loyal readers of Today’s Vermont probably know that I’m an optimist. My natural instinct is to put things in perspective and to look on the bright side. That’s who I am, and that’s how I’m responding to the pandemic, but I also want to affirm the clear, wise words of a dear friend from Montpelier, who recently expressed the following sentiment: None of this is OK. 

None of this is OK. And yet my heart still lifts as I notice green shoots curl up from seed trays, watch out the window as my neighbor’s young son grows confident on his bicycle, read Front Porch Forum posts offering up homemade sourdough bread, and pause to consider the courage of health care workers who are on the front lines. 

Social connections are more important than ever in these extraordinary times, and I’m grateful for all of the technology that enables people to come together from afar -  video calls, social media platforms, neighborhood newsletters, and websites like State14. Many Vermont media outlets have stepped up to offer detailed reporting at a time when their business models are at risk of crumbling away. Governor Scott recently delivered a heartfelt video message urging Vermonters to support local journalism. Please do so, if you can.

There are many Vermonters who I’ve never met, but whose social media accounts nourish me on a daily basis, and help me feel far less alone. Here are some folks who inspire me:

Ben Falk, author of The Resilient Farm and Homestead, uses his Instagram feed @wholesystemsdesign to offer permaculture tips, clear-eyed perspective, and attunement to the beauty and vitality of the natural world from his base in the Mad River Valley.

Dr. Elizabeth Sawin of Hartland, founder of Climate Interactive, offers up a steady flow of Twitter posts that are wise and kind, and that nudge me along the path to imagining a better world. Follow her @bethsawin.

Finally, there’s a gentleman who I know only as David, who splits time between Addison County and Brazil, and recently launched the hashtag #ShareGardeningKnowledge from his lovely and inspiring Twitter feed, @organicgay. 

There’s so much that I could write about gardening...it is spring, after all, and I believe that gardening will help us get through the pandemic in myriad ways. For now, though, I’ll just say this - wherever you are, now is the time to dig in. Turn over the soil. Plant seeds. 

Gardening is a gateway to infinite complexity, but it’s also dead simple, so begin with the basics. Squash. Green beans. Kale. Perhaps a potato patch. If you don’t know the first thing about gardening, you’re not alone - try reading Transplanted, a wonderfully funny story by Carolinne Griffin, the talented founder of State14. 

This is not a time to let perfection become the enemy of the good, and to my way of thinking a front yard of twining squash vines will be a blessed sight come fall. 

Speaking of the enemy of the good, I’m worried about xenophobia. Fear and privation has fueled a scarcity mindset, and the dark undercurrent of nativism that’s present in Vermont even in the best of times is running particularly strong these days. Physical distancing and self-isolation are critically important, but the imperatives of public safety do not preclude basic human kindness - inequity, division, and hate will only make things worse. We are all in this together, and I take heart to hear so many folks lead with the question: How can I help?

For those of us who are fortunate enough to have some measure of financial security, and to qualify for a relief check from the federal government, there will soon be an opportunity to help those who are in dire need. 

Many of Vermont’s dairy farmers, for example, will not be receiving a relief check because they lack a Social Security number. The same is true for international students who attend Vermont colleges, and now find themselves stranded. Many of the folks who do qualify for relief will find that it only meets a small portion of their need.

If you’re lucky enough to receive a check, and don’t need it to pay the rent or put food on the table, consider signing it over to Migrant Justice, or the Open Door Clinic. Make a donation to your local food shelf. Buy gift subscriptions to the local paper for your friends. Find a Vermont CSA, and pay upfront for your farmshare. Money is just like manure, after all—it only works if you spread it around.

How are you coping with the COVID-19 pandemic? Is there a Vermont CSA that you recommend? Do you have gardening tips to share? Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #todaysvermont, and thanks, as always, for reading. 

Photography by Raissa Venables

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