Dear Readers,
Fall is that transition from hot, dry days into the chill of wintertime. It’s when we can walk in a cold morning mist through the forest, still perfumed by the bay trees’ pungent scent released by the final heat of summer. The emergence of fall sharpens our focus, intensifying all that is there.
Perhaps it’s the shift in temperature or the changing light of the season, but while summer always feels expansive—perfect for launching new projects—autumn invites us to delve deeper into our work and to nest more fully into our surroundings. Similarly, this issue of our magazine takes an in-depth look at the ongoing, multifaceted relationship between food, farming, and culture within our community.
Our fall issue explores food sovereignty in the California Native American community with the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center. The museum just received a $1 million grant to create an onsite food incubator that will support and develop new businesses owned by traditional food producers.
Also in this issue, Kim LaVere of Land and Local shows us how to connect more deeply with the land through our food, Garry Brooks shares his journey into the world of winemaking, and 2024-2026 Sonoma County Poet Laureate Dave Seter discusses how ecology inspires his writing.
Additionally, we explore our relationship with the natural world through Paigelyn Trotter’s experience with range animals for grassland management, and our interview with LandPaths‘ Danny Chaparro who shows us ways we can develop and nurture our love of the land.
It’s my hope that this issue of Made Local Magazine will also foster and bring into sharper focus a continued love of this place, the land where we live, and the food systems that support us.
Warmly,
Kary Hess