The “In-Between”
Stranger Things S5 spoilers ahead!
OK, so here comes a pop culture reference that may or may not hit. In the well-known show Stranger Things, a group of young friends discover a creepy, paranormal other world that they term “The Upside Down” as it mirrors their world, only flipped. In “The Upside Down”, the landscape looks similar to the real world, but is decaying, covered in vines, and full of terrifying creatures.
Now the comparison I wanted to creatively make is a little far-fetched… We are in a period of time in between winter and summer. Gone is our winter season where, despite the cold and snow, we still have luscious greens growing in the high tunnels. Our summer season hasn’t yet started with the profundity of growth outside in the fields. So, we’re in “The In-Between”!
But – it’s not scary (unless you, like me, worry whether we’ll have enough ready for the first week of CSA) and it’s not dark and viney (unless you look closer and realize that the weeds are growing just as well, if not better, than the vegetable plants).
So, take that little creative link with a grain of salt, but this time of year is an interesting liminal space. We’ve got plenty to do and plenty of plants in the ground, with more waiting in the wings. But, since nothing is ready to harvest yet and we have 5 weeks in between the end of the Winter CSA and the start of the Summer CSA, things feel a little loosey-goosey!
We have tomato plants in the high tunnels and the first crop in the ground outside. But then we have a day like today with a chilly rain falling and the hot days overflowing with tomatoes feel far away. Cabbage and broccoli plants are looking green and happy out there, but their final products are probably still at least a month out!
The phrase “hurry up and wait” feels apt here. And while it sounds a little silly, it’s good advice that is hard to follow. Now is the time to take a breath while the sun and rain and increasing heat do their things. We have obligations only to continue planting and weeding. It’s easy to wish the time away, especially when a ripe, juicy tomato is really, really what I’m craving.
We talk a lot about seasonality and eating along with what’s growing and flourishing. Sometimes I have to remind myself that the work follows the same pattern. This “In-Between” time of April and May might not be the most immediately rewarding, but oh there is so much to be excited and hopeful about! And goodness knows we need some of that.
Harkening back to Stranger Things, we learn later in the show that “The Upside Down” is actually a wormhole or bridge between two dimensions. Honestly that feels more fitting when talking about our current seasonal window. We are in the bridge between winter/early spring and the profusion of summer. A bridge of time simultaneously busy and anticipatory.
I hope that this slightly unhinged reference and tangential connection to a beloved science fiction show has been entertaining. We’re on the cusp of another food-packed year and now’s the time to revel in the calm before the storm.
With tomatoes on the brain and practicing patience,
~Sophia
