Resilience.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. The ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity.” It’s that quality that allows us to overcome challenges, obstacles, hardship and adversity, instead of being defeated by them.
It’s a word I feel like I am hearing more and more often these days. Even with respect to our planet’s remarkable capacity to heal itself despite the degradation inflicted upon it by humankind. Perhaps it’s just that I am listening for it with a more finely attuned ear. Alert to any sign of hopefulness.
Spring has always showcased nature’s innate resilience. After intense winter storms and the dormancy brought on by colder temperatures, it is awesome (in the true sense of that word) to see masses of green grass on our region’s hills, and trees and vines begin to bud.
After three years of a collective “retreat,” if you are reading this you can consider yourself plenty resilient, too. So are the many small businesses in our community that make the publication of Edible Marin & Wine Country possible through their advertising support. They are not out of the woods yet, with labor shortages and higher costs for all the goods and services they need to purchase to do what they do—for us. As you excitedly emerge into the glory of spring in our region, I hope you will seek them out, giving them all the #loyaltolocal love you can.
As you head out to drink it all in, let Mark Gudgel’s fantastic primer on each of the 19 extraordinary American Viticulture Areas in Sonoma County in this issue be your inspiration and your road map. 
And do not miss the California Artisan Cheese Festival happening March 26–29—enter our Find the Little Person contest on Page 72 to win tickets to the festival’s Sunday Artisan Cheese Tasting & Marketplace!
