Having grown up in the “farm country” of Howell, summer has always been a time to take advantage of straight out the dirt produce. My parents had their favorite roadside farm stand and they’d drive 20 minutes past the closer stand to get to it. At dinner tables and breakfast tables, we’d discuss the merits of the tomatoes, corn, and blueberries. “This is the sweetest corn I’ve ever had. You don’t even need butter!” “The tomatoes are almost there. Just give it another week. They’ll be perfect. So red, so sweet.” We’re produce people.The apartment I live in now in Hoboken is above a market. They’ve got piles of great fruit and veggies, making it easy for my roommates and I to grab something fresh and tasty to add to dinners. But I’ve been missing my roadside farm stand. And yesterday I got my fix. I made my first visit to the Hoboken Farm Market, where there are a handful of stands set up with organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and baked goods. I milled about, groping corn, poking through piles of grape tomatoes (give the big ones another two weeks), and sampling a plethora of pickled veggies—tomatoes, olives, and of course, cucumbers. I ran into my neighbor by the blueberries. It was a great way to spend a half an hour. And for about 10 bucks I walked away three bags heavier.
I ran across this article in the NY Times about NJ Bloggers. It spoke about the Carnival of NJ Bloggers, Enlighten NJ’s brainchild, showcasing some of the states’ blogging geniuses (or at least we’d like to think so). I’ve been mentioned on there three times, and while I was a bit nervous in the beginning to send the initial “Hey, show me some love!” email (this started just for my friends to keep up to date on my life, and for any randoms who accidentally found their way here—this was asking for readers) it turned out to be some worthwhile exposure (I hope). I’ve finally surpassed the 1,000 visit mark and while I’m sure at least 200 of those are me, it’s made me see this whole blog experiment as something to belong to. There’s a blog community and I’m proud to be a fledgling member of a thriving New Jersey chapter.
I’ve been thinking about what it means to be from New Jersey lately. With friends moving into the city (to get out of Hoboken) and my Big Life Decision to stay in state to get my degree or cross the river (deciding where I’ll get certified to be in a school) it’s made me think about this place I call home. I’ve come to the conclusion that I love it. I love the shore, where my parents live now; I love Hoboken, where I live now. I love the sense of unwavering pride that its residents have. I love the accents, I love the attitudes. I love the beach, I love the Parkway. I love the open spaces and I love the crowded city corners. I love Bruce, I love the Windmill, I love Great Adventure. I love the malls, I love the horse farms.
And mostly, I just love that it is my home.
