Joe Dressner, the revered wine importer and veritable poster child for the “natural wine” movement in the United States, passed away recently, bringing a wash of sadness over the wine world, but also inciting a flurry of pointed discussions centered around natural wine—including what that designation really means, and whether natural wines actually taste better than “un-natural” or commercially produced wines.
I’m an ardent proponent of natural wines not because of the philosophical or environmental connotations that they carry, but because of what’s in the bottle. It’s as simple as that. Mr. Dressner was of the same persuasion.
Gimmicks and shticks are good for marketing, but in the end, the juice in the bottle speaks louder than any sort of larger validation. So what sets natural wines apart from their commercial or “un-natural” counterparts and what makes them taste better—or, shall we say—taste more interesting?
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The most healthful vegetables growing in your backyard could be weeds. Lambsquarters and purslane, described by Michael Pollan as “two of the most nutritious plants in the world,” are common wild greens. They thrive in urban environments, popping up in garden plots and sidewalk cracks from Toronto to Texas. Read the full story »
According to Taste of Home and their breakdown of state-by-state seasonal produce for the months from December through February, my native state, Montana, is listed simply as: Dormant. This is not surprising, as not much but snow grows and accumulates from November though April. This year, however, is my second winter spent away from Montana in the sunny state of California, and I’m embracing a growing season that lists no less than 60 seasonal produce options for December. 60! Zero to 60 in just a year and a half… not bad.
With all the goals, obligations and tasks we have to complete in our daily lives, keeping true to sustainable lifestyles can be hard. Whether you’ve been committed to living more sustainably for years, or you’re relatively new to the idea, there are always plenty of new tips and tricks to learn that can help make your goals much easier to attain.
Living a sustainable lifestyle doesn’t have to be hard! Sure, sometimes it requires doing more work, but in the end, the investment of time and money is well worth the outcome. Check out these tips for how to stretch your time and money without compromising your lifestyle!
Press release: Louisville Farm to Table introduces a new workshop: Farm to Campus: Local food comes to the halls of higher education.
Over this last year we have been providing our community workshops. We are holding a workshop in January that is much boader based than past workshops. This workshop is dedicated to facilitating farm to higher education. In an effort to spread the word we are reaching out to organizations like yours that may have people in their database that have and interest in sustainability/farm to campus. We have received a grant for this workshop so the cost of the workshop is free. We have an amazing line-up.
The end of November ushers in the holiday season. A stroll through the local market finds tables full with hardy greens, colorful squash and fragrant pommes. For me, it feels so natural and intuitive to craft a meal from this delicious bounty. This is when the fall fruits and vegetables are at their peak, robust and flavorful, just begging to grace the holiday table. And even if you aren’t hosting a holiday party or serving a big meal yourself, chances are you will be bringing something to share at the table, whether its a side dish, a dessert or even a bottle of wine.
Press Release: BC Tavern Chef Team and Tipsy Texan Mixologists Set to Deliver Special Six Course Dinner & Cocktail Pairing on the Farm!
Brought to you from the Pond Blog: an informative graphic to convince you of all the benefits of gardening.
What’s not to like about farm to school programs? If you’re not familiar with the term, it means just what it sounds like: programs that bring farm-fresh, local foods to public and even private schools so that kids can enjoy great nutrition. The programs also offer excellent educational opportunities, bringing students to farms, and chefs to classrooms, while at the same time giving local farmers a great place to sell their products. Read on, and we’ll take a look at 10 farm to school programs that are doing a great job.
If you’ve ever felt that tug in your heart to farm, you know the impulse cannot be denied. You might end up in something else, but no matter what you’ll always find yourself wistfully dreaming of rows of summer vegetables, rich, loamy soil, the red splash of ripe tomatoes, and the taste that makes supermarket ‘vegetables’ unworthy of the name.
With Halloween just behind us and Thanksgiving ahead, there are pumpkins everywhere (even in the Northeast where Hurricane Irene severely hampered many farmers). While most people automatically think of pumpkin pie for a fall dessert, another delicious item to consider is pumpkin cheesecake.
Press Release: Charity Food and Cocktail Pairing Event to Feature Two Chefs + Two Mixologists and a Special Five Course Dining Experience
Austin, Texas based charity supper club A TORRID AFFAIR will hold its November dinner event on Wednesday, November 16 at Urban Roots (www.urbanrootsatx.org).
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