Publisher’s Letter: Winter 2018

The floods this year were the worst yet. Driving home early from work as the rain poured down, I knew things were bad as all routes were already closed except for one small back road that had not been washed out yet. I couldn’t believe how fast it was all happening. I made it to my ridgetop home feeling huge relief but with a pit of dread in my gut knowing what was happening all around me. The reports kept rolling in from the surrounding communities, and they were daunting. And then it kept raining, adding more damage on top of what had already brought the region to its knees.

Although initial recovery efforts kicked in immediately and garnered physical help and funds, the long-term work being done and the tenacity of residents and farmers mostly goes unseen. To this day, there are residents still living in temporary housing. Community members are determining what path to take with FEMA’s help: buyout, elevate or relocate. At a recent FEMA informational meeting, a resident asked, “If I elevate my home, how high should I make it?” There was a long pause followed by the meeting leader saying that the recommendation for height is based on the 100-year flood of 2007. This year’s flood was about ten feet above the previous high water mark.

From Madison to the Mississippi, the flooding events this year impacted us all on some level. It’s this reality that brought us to focus on this topic as it relates to our shared foodshed.

In Shizue RocheAdachi’s article “Forgetting the Floods, Keeping the Faith,” she explores the physical impact of the floods and brings to the forefront emotional impact and ongoing challenges facing farmers in our region (and beyond). If there is one message to take away from this issue, it’s to please take the time to support local family farmers however you can. We can all get swept away in the fast pace of life, seeking convenience and quick fixes. But in doing so, we chip away at the vision of a sustainable food system and at the livelihoods of farmers who put it all on the line every day.

Despite increased public awareness, farmers remain our unsung heroes. Farming is not only a single family’s endeavor; it’s a partnership between farmers and eaters. They cannot sustain without each other.

During this holiday season, we here at Edible Madison, are grateful for the dedication and perseverance of the farmers. The abundance of local foods brought to our celebration tables had a longer and harder journey this year.

With Gratitude,

Jamie Lamonde
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief