And it's STRAWBERRY SEASON! There is a Farmers Market just about every day in Cambridge. From now until November, you can buy great fresh food from the actual producers. I always feel better about spending my money locally on goods produced locally by people that live around here. That money will circulate in the area and my extended neighborhood will benefit.

Another really cool thing is that it really connects you with the seasons and lets you what the earth is doing right around here. Right now it is pushing out a lot of bio mass in Massachusetts. The growing season is really getting in gear. Salad greens, baby turnips, shell and snap peas, and of course strawberries are in full swing. I'm kind of a geezer now, but when I was a kid, produce was seasonal, and you had to wait for your favorite produce to ripen in nearby fields before you could get it. Not that I'm against melons from Malaysia in February, but tuning in to local agriculture can key you right into nature and natural science. You may gain a better appreciation of local ecology by watching plants go through the growing season. You may remember that the seasons are dependent on astronomy. The summer solstice is just a few days away. The sun has almost reached its northern limit. You might think about all the carbon dioxide that is being removed from the air and turned into leaves and wood and flowers. Do you know why cold poached salmon with peas and is a traditional Independence Day supper in New England? Because the peas are ripe and the salmon were running in the rivers.

I could go on, but I think I've made my point.

The markets also feature local prepared foods and crafts.

Sunday: Harvard Square

Monday: Central Square

Tuesday: Corner of Oxford and Kirkland near Sanders Theater

Wednesday: Davis Square, Somerville

Thursday: Kendall Square ( I bought the two quarts of strawberries at the bottom of the picture today and life is very good.)

Friday: Harvard Square

Saturday: Union Square, Somerville

To see these and other locations, click on the word MAP.When the map comes up, zoom in and then click on any of the little cow logos for details.