In Our Summer 2018 Issue

"For many of us, clean water is so plentiful and readily available that we rarely, if ever, pause to consider what life would be like without it."—Chef Marcus Samuelsson 

As a native Floridian who grew up near the Everglades of South Florida, I learned to love and respect water. I lived in a place that was surrounded by canals, lakes, bays and oceans. I saw the strength water can have, and the gentleness of the calm after a storm. Many of my childhood memories are around the ocean—something I took for granted until I moved inland and did not have easy access to the beach.  

There are many lessons to be learned about water, and from the water. Water conservation is a hot topic in the Midlands, as drought and heat affect our farmers and ranchers. I hope you will dive deep into our Water Issue, and enjoy learning about rain barrels and rain gardens, and be inspired to create your own.  

Water has become a commodity, that which is easily accessible. We drink it from plastic bottles bought from a store or splash in it on hot summer days. We assume we will always have access to clean water, and that it is plentiful, especially where rivers and lakes flow all around us. I am humbled by the folks we feature, who work every day to leave our Earth a better place than they found it and are willing to teach us how to do the same.   

This issue marks our one-year anniversary, and we have so many people to thank for their support and encouragement; to those who have held our hands and lifted us up this first year—you know who you are—we are so grateful you have been brought into our lives.  

Thank you to the farmers, artisans and chefs who blindly took a chance on us (especially Issue #1) and let us share your stories.  

And thank you, our readers, for embracing us, and wanting to know the stories and how to sustain the efforts of the farmers, chefs and food artisans within our community.  

Happy Anniversary Edible Columbia! 

-Jacquelyn McHugh, Editor in Chief

Check out the digital edition of the Summer issue for more warm-weather recipes including peach gazpacho and a fresh fruit margarita.