Gulch Distillers: Beyond Bread and Beer

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.

What is the USDA’s Plan For ‘Agricultural Coexistence?’

Yes, US farmers do indeed apply a wide variety of farming methods, however the idea that they can “coexist through cooperation” is a stretch. “Coexistence” puts an undue burden on organic farmers trying to protect the integrity of their crops.

Seattle’s Mayoral Candidates Talk Regional Food System

Candidates for Seattle’s mayoral election, Ed Murray and Mike McGinn, responded to questions by the Puget Sound food policy, planning, and advocacy community. Seattle is just part of the Regional Food Policy Council, so the city and our mayor do not drive policy decisions, but strive to influence them. At GoodFood World, we’ve reviewed the candidates’ answers and we have a few comments of our own.

The Illusion of Diversity – Seed Patents

Around 100 years ago there were hundreds of varieties of vegetable and fruit seed available to the farmer and home gardener. By 1983 those varieties had been reduced by more than a factor of 10. Seed breeders like Frank Morton who focus on “open-pollinated” varieties specialize in varieties that breed true, unlike the many hybrid varieties offered by giant seed companies – and protected by a web of intellectual property rights methods.

Sounding the Wake-Up Call

We keep saying this but, of course, the “big boys” don’t want to hear it: the wake-up call is being sounded! In fact, Big Food and Big Ag (Monsanto, et al) are covering their ears. La, la, la – no one wants to listen! And why? That’s the way our economic system operates – “big” is rewarded. But only at a rapidly increasing social and environmental cost.