Torch
“Covid19, coronavirus, health threat, public health emergency, pandemic, plague…” These are the words that were used to describe this time in which we are living. We , billions of us, live in quarantine just now. Here, in Costa Rica we will be “locked down” until April 30. My own suspicion is that date will be revised and extended. My experience of this is somewhat different than that of almost every one I know. I say this because all my friends and loved ones live in cities. I live in the mountains of Costa Rica. The green forested hills are my environment. The creeks and woods, the wildlife, the blue sky and the good soil are my quarantine. I have a house, I have spent the better part of my days indoors, though not exclusively. Because I am a farmer, my work is essential during this time and so I can be outside, doing what I love and growing food for myself and my neighbors. Currently there is no market, so what I grow is given to neighbors who can’t get to town becaus