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Organicology – a “portmanteau word” meaning the study of organics – is the biggest conference/trade show focused entirely on organic seeds and produce in the country. This year more than 800 people attended the three-day conference. 
To those unfamiliar with the absurdist theater of school lunch, it is puzzling, even maddening, that feeding kids nutritious food should be so hard. You buy good food. You cook it. You serve it to hungry kids. 
While the borders of Persian Empire advanced and receded over the centuries, today “Persia” is equated with Iran. With our world connections ever more fluid – and, at times, tense – now is a great time to explore traditional and contemporary dishes from Iran, Kurdistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, all parts of the Persian Empire at one time or another. 
It’s going on February (thank goodness!) and the seed catalogs are starting to arrive. So while you’re daydreaming about warm weather and your summer garden, it’s time to think about the tools you will be using. Good tools make for easier work and you owe it to yourself to have the best. Our recommendation is that you check out Lowell’s offerings. 
What happens when two friends start dreaming about opening a distillery and making whisky in central Montana? Mix in shared childhood memories, inherited Helena red hair, and a love for single malt whisky, and you get Gulch Distillers. Gulch Distillers has a hometown feel and offers hometown products. Tyrrell HIbbard and Stephan Rasile use Montana-grown grains in their grain-based spirits, and use locally grown herbs, fruits, and other products when possible on both sides of the business – botanicals in the factory and fruit and berries at the tasting bar. 
The last week of October, heading into fall and Halloween, more than 200 people spent two days of intensive conversation outlining policy initiatives to be considered by the Montana State Legislature over the next decade to support, improve, and market Montana’s food products within the state and around the globe. 
A shuffle through the book shelf looking for inspiration turned up Good Meat, and a review seemed in order until I read the forward written 6 years ago by Bernie Sanders, clearly our “should be President” non-candidate! Bernie says it in his foreword of Good Meat! 
For those who are trying to farm in the Palouse region of eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and northwestern Montana, there is only one name for it – Dryland Farming. 
The Phoenicians are credited with many things, but delivering the gift of wine to the shores of southern Europe is something for which mankind will always be thankful. Like the modern-day Lebanese, the fearless seafaring Phoenicians had an urge to meet distant horizons with zeal and brought grape growing and wine making in their wake. 
The story of Locally Laid, told with a lot of humor, a few tears, and much enthusiasm, celebrates the support they received from their community, their customers, and their friends and neighbors. |
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