“Beware the Ides of March!” Or, that’s what a soothsayer told Julius Caesar. (So what’s an Ide anyway?). March, the third month of the year, is named for Mars, the Roman God of war. Mars the planet, has two moons, Terror and Fear. No, really. Yet this is not a month of death, but life. We celebrate the beginning of Spring on the 20th as well as the color green on the 17th, St. Patrick’s day. Easter will come a little later at the beginning of April, which will add some bunnies and eggs to the mix. So strange that we should associate this profusion of life that is just beginning with the god of war. Makes me mad as a March hare just thinking about it!

Speaking of green, you can get fresh wheatgrass year-round in our Produce Department!

So who was St. Patrick? Well, he was a 5th century someone of Roman/British heritage who was taken as a slave to Ireland when he was 16, but who had a religious calling and eventually escaped. He later returned as a Catholic priest to convert those who held him to a new way of thinking. He was also an early abolitionist and feminist. He died on March 17th of some unagreed upon year which is celebrated as his feast day. And all that was a long way of saying that we are supposed to wear Irish green that day, and perhaps eat Corned Beef and Cabbage. And we’ve got your organic cabbage!

The green is good though. It is a hint of what is really about to come. It is the kick off for another season of eating in the Produce Department. When the fresh spring produce begins arriving, it will be difficult to not swoon. The colors become so vibrant and our little produce section is transformed into a garden of earthly delights. Look for this explosion of color. It is on the way:

It is also a time for green shoots and new beginnings. There has been a desire on the part of our employees and members to get to “know” our local community of farmers better–to experience who they are, and what they do. This is my green shoot for this produce season. I’m going to take on the job of becoming your intrepid Produce Reporter. I’ll load up the kids on the weekends and we’ll get out to the various local farms and meet the people who grow the wonderful things that we eat all summer long. I’ll bring my camera and ask some of those questions that we’ve always wondered. These meetings will likely appear on the Boise Co-op website, but I will be sure and highlight them in the newsletter. It sounds like I have my work cut out for me. Who should we start with? I’m thinking Purple Sage.

As for your March produce month, be sure and sample things as they become available. You can tell when things are “happening” by their color. You will be amazed at how the produce changes over the course of this month. Try something new. One suggestion is perhaps an Irish stew with turnips and rutabagas. The broccoli is looking beautiful. Asparagus is going to happen this month and become amazing! Keep you eyes on fresh greens too. They get so good!

And I suppose there is that. . . how about a Caesar salad to go with your Ides of March? The Ides of March is the 15th, a day previously held as a festival day for the god Mars, honored with military parades, but now more well known as the day Caesar was assassinated. He ignored the warning. Let’s render unto Caesar a salad and get ready for a great season of spring produce.

So whether it comes in like a lion or lamb, enjoy March, and this new spring.

Be Well!

By Douglas Bolles, Produce Department Philosopher