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Editor’s Note
edible
Orange
County®
Published by
Eclipse Media Partners, LLC 108 Hermitage Blvd. Berryville, VA 22611
Editorial Staff
Gina Mullins-Cohen
Editor
gina@edibleoc.com 310-721-3093 | 949-315-6445
Bill Cohen
Editor: Arts and Culture 310-721-3093 | 949-315-6445 info@edibleoc.com
Robert D. Mullins Investigative Reporter
Editor
info@edibleoc.com 310-721-3093 | 949-315-6445
Vi Paynich
Editor: Fashion and Design Vi@edibleoc.com 714-504-1825
Kim Lewis
Creative By Design
Creative Director klewis@creativebydesign.net 951-226-5617
Moe Goode
Web Master info@edibleoc.com
Ben Marchbanks
Alcemy, Inc.
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Gina Mullins-Cohen
Publisher
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Jennifer Sakurai jennifer@edibleoc.com 310-721-3093
No part of this publication may be used without written permission from the publisher ©2015. Every effort
is made to avoid errors, misspellings and omissions. If, however, an error comes to your attention, please ac- cept our sincere apologies and notify us. Thank you.
The Giving Tree
edible Communities 2011 James Beard Foundation Publication of the Year
As we approach this season, in these profound and troubling times, I often think back to the Shel Silverstein book, The Giving Tree, which I read as a child. The book is about a boy and a tree – an apple tree. Throughout the book, which travels the lifespan of the boy, the tree loves the boy unconditionally and as a child, the boy loves the tree un- conditionally, as well. The story, however, moves from the innocence of childhood to the greed of conditional needs that stalk one throughout the adult years of life.
As a child the boy plays with the tree and they are friends, but as he grows older, he asks a great deal of the tree. The tree’s love does not change and the tree gives unconditionally to the boy, but the boy keeps asking and taking. As the boy grows in to a teen, he seeks money and the tree says, “Pick my apples and sell them.” The boy does this. And the tree was happy. Later in the boy’s life, he wants a boat and the tree says “Chop off my branches and make a boat.” The boy does this. And the tree was happy. When the boy is an old man he goes to the tree and tree says, “I have nothing more to give you, I am just a stump.” The boy looks at the tree and says, “I am tired, all I need is a place to sit.” The boy rests upon the stump.
And the tree was happy.
The book is considered provocative because of
the story’s underlying meaning. Some people believe the boy’s requests and behavior are abusive, especially since the tree never denies the boy’s requests. Others liken the story to the relationship be- tween parent and child, Mother Nature and humankind and some claim the story echoes
the Christian belief of unconditional love. This issue of Edible Orange County speaks to the unconditional love of family, of the passion to educate the public on what is in their food, and of the simple pleasure of thrusting your hands in the brown
earth to pick carrots.
There are challenges this year, but through the unconditional love of family and friends, those
problems seem somewhat manageable and the world not a bad place, but a loving, giving place. This season as you sit with your loved ones, remember the importance of loving and giving –
unconditionally.
And as the year draws to a close, remember to eat good food, laugh a lot and choose to be
happy.
–Gina Mullins Cohen
6 Harvest 2015 www.edibleorangecounty.com