By Biff and Susan Andrews

We’ve often discussed the beauty, variety and complexity of Nature in the Old Dominion — from mountains to seashore, from rivers, lakes and swamps to hills and “hollers.”

Her creatures range from ospreys to sturgeon, deer to salamanders, oysters to flying squirrels. As varied as the flora, fauna and beaches are, so are the “foodstuffs” sustaining the state’s citizenry.

Lucky us!

I like to think I’m “Southern by birth, Virginian by the grace of God.” If you’re wondering whether you’re a true Virginian, read on.

You may be Virginian if…

• A baked rockfish or venison roast is an acceptable alternative to turkey or ham at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Extra points if you harvested it yourself.
• Shelled butter beans are as valuable to you as gold coins and get cooked in chicken broth, butter and/or sidemeat. Extra points for shelling them with your mama and/or your brothers and sisters or a neighbor.
• You know how to pick blue crab, and do so with family and friends regularly. Extra points for picking them while watching a baseball game.
• You believe clam chowder with tomato is worse than with milk. Clams are meant to swim in salt water with onions, potatoes and bacon.
• You make at least one trip to the mountains each fall — for apples, not the foliage. Extra points for picking your own.
• You own a ham boiler that will hold a Smithfield ham, and it does so at least once a year. Extra points if said ham boiler was handed down from Grandma along with instructions.
• You have a favorite field in which to pick your own strawberries around Mother’s Day. Extra points for every child that accompanies you with a slurry of strawberry juice and dirt around his/her mouth.
• You favor peanuts roasted in the shell, and have at least once in your lifetime gleaned them from a field and roasted them yourself.
• You grow at least one fruit or vegetable in your yard, excluding tomatoes. Everybody should grow tomatoes!
• And finally, like the Native Americans who preceded us, you thank the Great Spirit for Nature’s bounty, waste none of it, always share the wealth, and never take more than you need.

The sad truth is, we have failed our younger generations — who believe fish come in sticks, vegetables come frozen or in cans, poultry comes in nuggets, apples with fancy names come from Washington state, and chowder comes from Manhattan or New England. They don’t pick crab, soak hams, shell butter beans, or fillet fish.

It is incumbent on us to teach them to value Nature’s gifts. The more they are exposed to Nature’s bounty, the more they will value it.

Resolve this year to teach your kids about the rich local harvest they enjoy

Susan and Bradford “Biff” Andrews are retired teachers and master naturalists who have been outdoor people all their lives, exploring and enjoying the woods, swamps, rivers and beaches throughout the region for many years. Email them at b.andrews22@live.com.