Our Local Bounty

NEVADA AND PLACER COUNTIES are home to a growing, healthy and vibrant base of local farms, rivaling the Central Valley, Sonoma and San Luis Obispo. From fruits and vegetables (Riverhill Farm and Machado Orchards, for example) to grass-fed beef (Nevada County Free Range Beef and Sinclair Family Farm) — from olive oil, jams and honey […]

Fresh, local feasts

IN THE FOOTHILLS AND TRUCKEE-TAHOE, the possibilities abound for preparing a fresh, local feast for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah or New Year’s. We are blessed with local farmers and ranchers, farmers markets, a growing number of artisan food makers, and stores that feature local produce and meats. Here are suggestions for finding the ingredients and preparing […]

Sierra Harvest presents Food and Farm Conference on February 9-11

Farmers and ranchers are coming from all over the West Coast to gather in Grass Valley on February 9-11 for Sierra Harvest’s 2018 Sustainable Food and Farm Conference. Over 500 farmers, foodies and homesteaders will come to learn first-hand from local and national experts in the sustainable food and farming movement, tour sustainable minded farms […]

Arts Calendar: Evolution of Organic, Pink Martini, and Wild & Scenic Art

EVOLUTION OF ORGANIC FILMMAKER MARK KITCHELL (Berkeley in the Sixties, A Fierce Green Fire) presents a new film “Evolution of Organic,” Monday, October 23, at 7:45 p.m. at The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley. “It’s the story of organic agriculture, told by those who built the movement. A motley crew of back-to-the-landers, spiritual […]

Organic grocers: The pulse of the community

“The bulletin board in any organic store is the pulse of the community. You can find yoga, massage, concert listings, bookstores, used van parts (crucial for a touring band), community political information and even lost cats.” — Michael Franti ORGANIC GROCERY STORES ARE BECOMING a hub in more communities, including the ones in our region. […]

Mother Truckers, Natural Selection & The Country Store: “Local food from local people”

“LOCAL FOOD FROM LOCAL PEOPLE, since 1881” is the motto of the iconic Oakville Grocery in Napa Valley, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the oldest continually operating grocery store in California. The foothills has its own share of country grocery stores with a storied past—most notably Mother Truckers on the San […]

Cooking classes abound at Tess’, BriarPatch and Wheyward Girl

“No one is born a great cook. One learns by doing.”—JULIA CHILD Winter is an ideal time to sign up for a cooking class in the foothills. We’re indoors more, thanks to the wintry weather, and a cooking class helps you master new recipes, perhaps with the kitchenware you received for the holidays—French cookware, a […]

BriarPatch turns 40: “We own it, let’s grow it”

NATURAL FOOD COOPERATIVES are booming across America. The 150 food co-ops of the National Co-op Grocers operate more than 200 stores in 38 states with combined annual sales of $2 billion. Food co-ops have led to a boom in organic foods, now the fastest growing sector of the grocery business. One of the food co-op […]

“Kitchen Cabinets”: Friends & family who advise each other in a real kitchen

“Kitchen cabinet” politics is a group of unofficial advisers to a political leader—often more influential than the official cabinet. President Reagan’s “kitchen cabinet” included trusted old friends, as did the group assembled by Andrew Jackson in 1829. Next year, our new President will form his or her own “kitchen cabinet.” The same is true when […]

Tasting note: Smith Vineyard, Nevada City Winery, Montoliva, Bent Metal and Sierra Starr

What’s new at the wineries: SMITH VINEYARD REUNITES WITH “AMIGO BOB” Amigo Bob Cantisano, managing partner of the Heaven and Earth Farm on the San Juan Ridge, is one of the most influential figures in California organic agriculture. “Nature bats first and last,” Amigo Bob told The New York Times Magazine. About 35 years ago, […]

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