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The whole world, it seems, is gray. Cold. Dreary. And my start-of-February mood matches the view from my window. Gray. Cold. Dreary. When grumping to my friends about this, it becomes clear that I am not the only one who feels this way. The cheer of the holidays is long passed, the garden is still sleeping, and the rebirth of spring feels 100 years away. If nature is influencing our mood, perhaps we should heed her example. The woods are not dead, they are dormant. Resting, recharging for the explosion of life in the spring. Buried under a blanket of...

Why Chicken Raised with Love Costs More. Most of us are aware of the many benefits of eating pasture-raised chicken. And we want to purchase chicken that spent its life in a healthy, happy setting- as opposed to the kind of tortured existence mass-produced poultry endure. However, chicken from industrial feeder farms continues to find its way onto our tables. Why? In a word: money. Pasture-fed, humanely raised chicken costs more than factory-farmed poultry. The price difference can be so great, sometimes consumers choose the mass-produced birds even though they know this chicken is less healthy. So, why does chicken...

The Seed Chronicle Series – The Sweetest Spuds. Though we are still in the middle of the fall season, the blanket of snow we woke up to this weekend suggests that perhaps winter is closer than some of us might like. As the temperature drops, I start to crave those classic comfort foods: soups, stews, roasts, a perfectly seared steak and sweet potatoes. Drizzled with melted butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar nestled up to a tender ribeye. Baked to perfection and smothered under a blanket of toasted marshmallows as every kids’ favorite companion to a Thanksgiving turkey. Diced,...

The Seed Chronicles Series - Glass Gem Popcorn. I’m often asked what makes an heirloom seed, “heirloom.” Scientific designations notwithstanding, the single greatest thing that makes a seed an heirloom is the story behind the seed. I like to hold these seeds in my hand and think about the people who worked so diligently to create this unique little gem. People who recognized a plant variety’s abilities to thrive in specific environments and who took on the role of a steward of these plants– nurturing, and passing on these seeds like the family heirlooms they are. As summer’s greens shift...