Bucolic Ambience

Boy, the world sure has changed, hasn’t it? 

Ever since the rise of the internet in the 1990s, the world seems to have accelerated faster and faster, with far-reaching social changes hot on its heels. All kinds of history have been made, from the political realm to Generation X being the last generation to know a pre-digital world. With all of the tumult and advancement, there is a cyclic history of people who find the whirlwind too much, and back-to-the-land movements happen with some regularity. 

Roots of the Land 

As recent as last century, a back-to-the-land movement occurred in the 1970s after the unrest and drama of the 1960s. True believer hippies founded communes, some of which took root and most of which failed. New forms came out of this, such as the “mushroom bread” made by a hippy commune just off the 101 highway in northern California: it contained no mushrooms but was baked in the sun in old coffee cans, and the top of the bread spilled over the top, creating a uniquely-shaped loaf. (The commune is now a nature preserve.)

Here in the Garden State

New Jersey is a state of extremes, with its northeast corner a bustling overspill of the New York City metropolitan area, and its western and southern parts, which retain a far more rural quality. Here in Hunterdon County, life has retained a connection to the land. Nestled in the county is Janet Mavec’s Bird Haven Farm, a 100-acre property housing a barn, pond, apple orchard, and historical stone house that once belonged to the author behind Nancy Drew’s mystery books. It’s a memorable property to behold, often used for photo shoots looking to capture a bucolic ambiance. Here at Bex, we’ve been happily munching on apples that Janet dropped off, and there’s just something so nice about knowing exactly where your food has come from. Janet makes jewelry inspired by the property and has provided weekly fresh flowers

Photo Courtesy of Gardenista

for the Bex cafe. 

The Benefits of Local

When globalism arose in the 20th century and the world became connected via the World Wide Web, many benefits happened. But your physical location and local environment most impact your quality of life. As life moved online, a disconnection from nature and the local occurred, even giving rise to a never-before-seen phenomenon known as Nature Deficient Disorder. Hunterdon County has proudly retained its rural and natural character. Residents sell farm fresh eggs and produce at roadside stands based on the honor system; the county is popular with tourists who get away from the rat race to pick pumpkins, taste cider, and restore their sanity. 

It’s All Connected

Sadly, recent studies found that the suicide rate, especially among males, is at an all-time high. The pandemic has also seen a rise in school violence, again, especially among males and often directed toward teachers. What this speaks to is a disconnection from support systems, healthy nutrition, nature, exercise, critical thinking, and mental health resources. While Bex cannot be everything to everybody, Chef Becky, having been raised by inexperienced teen parents, strongly believes in community-building and the African proverb that “it takes a village to raise a child.” She provides nutritious, elevated fare, a cafe open on weekends, and special events like Bex Fetes. Perhaps the outdoors-enjoying of pre-digital generations was onto something. 

Perhaps a reconnection – with the land, the starry night sky, each other