Earth Day is here, bright and sunny, and that means it’s my daughter Shannon’s birthday as well. Happy birthday, Shannon! How cool is it to have a birthday on Earth Day?

As I’ve noted in previous posts, I’m part of the Winthrop Green Committee, which celebrates Earth Week in a big way. My husband, Clif, and I are doing our small bit by helping with a mostly Maine Potluck Dinner to be held at Winthrop High School from 5 -7 p.m. This, of course, means that much of the day will be spent getting ready for the big event.

I’ve already written about how I plan to bring quiche and apple crisp, both of which will be made primarily with ingredients that come from Maine, thus qualifying them as “mostly Maine.” Clif is only working half the day so that he can come home and make a blast-your-head-off chili, using Maine beans and beef as well as hot, dried little red peppers from a friend’s garden.

Last night I went to Jenn’s house—she’s the prime organizer of Winthrop’s Earth Week—to gather pussy willows, hyacinths, and heather from her yard. Soon I’ll be making a few arrangements to go on the serving table. Her husband, James, very nicely cut all the clippings for me, and we had great help from their sweet little daughter, Sarah. For Clif’s chili, James also gave me two pounds of Maine beef donated by Farmers’ Gate Market in Wales, Maine. Thank you Jenn and James and Farmer’s Gate Market!

I also went to Craig Hickman’s farm to get eggs for the quiche. Craig and his partner run a bed and breakfast called Annabessacook Farm, which, as the name suggests, also has plenty of animals—hens, sheep, horses, and goats—as well as big gardens. I love buying eggs from people who have small flocks of hens that get to run and scratch outside and live good hen lives. Somehow, I just feel better when I eat eggs that come from hens that are well cared for.

Craig’s hens live this kind of life, as do my friend Monika’s hens. And when their hens are laying, I like to get my eggs from either Craig or Monika.

So off I go, to get ready for the big event. Happy Earth Day to all of you! And to paraphrase from A Christmas Carol, may you keep Earth Day in your hearts all through the year.