February – Food in Season

In the ancient Celtic calendar the 1^st February marks the start of a season called Imbolc (referring to the lactation of ewes) which was celebrated with fire.  This is a time when the days are perceptibly lengthening, the sap begins to rise and the start of the farming calendar with lambs being born.  The Christian church later made a point of incorporating Pagan celebrations into its own calendar and Candlemas, celebrating Christ as the Light of the World, also takes place on 2^nd March.  But make no mistake, despite tantalising glimpses, we are still a long way from Spring.  The message was one of hope, an assurance of new life, but there is still the need of candles to shine the way.  The first signs of new growth will appear in the wild, but the food highlights for this month are cultivated – Purple Sprouting Broccoli and Forced Rhubarb.