This past weekend was the opening day of my hometown farmer’s market! Spring has finally arrived, gardening has begun in earnest, and the weather couldn’t have been better. It was a perfect day to jump on the bikes and ride downtown through a shower of cherry blossoms, enjoy lunch at a favorite outdoor cafe, and fill up the backpack with fresh, locally-grown veggies and organic grass-fed steaks to toss on the grill later that evening.

The farmer’s market is one of the highlights of the growing season – local organic honey and jams, fresh flowers, herbs and potted plants, bluegrass pickers under a shady tree, and produce-laden tables that offer a feast for the senses with the best of small-town flavor. And the simplest of meals is so much tastier (and healthier!) with freshly picked fruits and vegetables. Does life really get any better than this?