Cape Cod Life Publications


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Fit for Life


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During a casual chat in the hallway, Associate Editor Jeff Harder told me that he was "raised on comic books and video games." I wasn't surprised given his age--25, but what I find fascinating, and very encouraging, is that Jeff has carved out a niche for himself as our outdoor-experience writer. Surfing on Nantucket was his first foray into this genre of reporting (after which he bought his first surfboard), and since then Jeff has contributed stories on topics ranging from on-the-water shark sightings to flying--he actually climbed into the cockpit of a small plane and took the controls. In this issue, our intrepid reporter tries his hand at kayaking. "To me, there are few environments that are as rejuvenating and invigorating as the Cape and Islands," says the newly outdoors-smitten editor. "I never miss a chance to get out of the office for a story, and once I head back inside, I can't wait to put it all on paper."

All of us--serious joggers, fair-weather cyclists, and those in between--have felt a special connection with the outdoors at one time or another. Here on the Cape and Islands, the pull of nature is hard to resist. In these pages, you'll enjoy a story on outdoor yoga classes, explore a Pleasant Bay salt marsh, and wander through a mid-Cape wildlife sanctuary. There are day trips on whale-watching and birding, and an entire special section on boating. "Life on the Islands" introduces you to farms on Nantucket and the Vineyard, and you'll meet a man who said goodbye to corporate America to fish on Nantucket.

Outdoor recreation fosters healthy living, for sure, but there are other ways to promote well-being. Good eating habits, for instance. A juicy, ripe tomato is an excellent source of vitamins C and A, and lycopene, the chemical that makes tomatoes red, is said to lower the risk of cancer. All these health benefits aside, the taste of a sun-warmed tomato picked from the vine is one of summer's ultimate pleasures. For some of the Cape's best tomatoes, stop by Cathy Leone's Bogside Farm in Cataumet or the Nantucket Farmers Market.

July 17-25 brings the Barnstable County Fair--animals, vegetables, rides, and more. If you've somehow missed the state's Garden Club Federation floral design competition at the fair, this is the year (the event's 30th) to catch it.

Janice Randall Rohlf

editorial@capecodlife.com