Adam Gopnik on Alice Waters; My Organic French Garden

I have thoroughly enjoyed Adam Gopnik's Paris to the Moon, the New Yorker writer's account of his expat days in France. Among the brilliant essays, Gopnik's piece on Alice Waters visiting Paris really hit a chord for me-- as a bridge between beloved San Francisco and France, haute cuisine and organic, the neighborhood market in Limoges and Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market by the bay, the shared sentiment that eating a fine organically-grown meal (where you know where all the ingredients come from), lingering for hours with good friends and conversation, is a "soul-nourishing experience."

To quote Alice (as quoted in Paris to the Moon):

The sensual pleasure of eating beautiful food from the garden brings with it the moral satisfaction of doing the right thing for the planet and yourself.

And I must say our little plot of garden has become such a source of pleasure for me. To think that I was so scornful last spring, admiring Pierre for his industrious "hobby" (as I then called it)-- weeding, seeding, planting, watering, pruning. There's nothing better than walking outside and picking a handful of spinach leaves, cherry tomatoes, and a cucumber fresh off the vine for a salad. (Eggplant, squash, tomatoes, cabbage, salad, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, leeks....) Eating well and knowing exactly where that good produce comes from. I'm a lucky lady.