Nov/Dec 2018
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The Not-So-Far East
A Local Eater’s Tour of Asia You don’t need to travel 15 hours by plane to find authentic Asian flavors. Instead, head to Windsor. It is no coincidence that when the Thai boys’ soccer team seemed hopelessly trapped in the caves last summer, neighbors offered support to the muddy rescuers by setting up a makeshift…
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Going Zero Waste
An Interview with The Silo Looking to cut down on your plastic waste? A new farmers’ market booth in Sonoma County aims to be a one-stop shop for zero waste starter kits, American-made Ball jars, reusable cloth bags, and Northern California-grown bulk dry foods, including beans, rice, flour, popcorn, quinoa, pasta, and herbs. Launched in…
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The Honey Bunch
Local mead producers turn to bees for a sweet, sustainable drink Spend time with a beekeeper and you might realize they see the world a little differently than the average farmer. Instead of inspecting soil for its richness or gazing out at rolling vineyards, the beekeeper is attracted to land with a mixture of plants…
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Root Down
Kovi Kai Elixirs brings Hawaiian-grown ginger and turmeric to the Mainland Rather than brewing coffee in the mornings, Kima McKeirnan, the founder of Kovi Kai Elixirs, has long preferred a hot infusion of fresh ginger. As a substitute for caffeine, the drink makes her feel awake and revitalized, says the 36-year-old mother of two. When…
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Adventures in Drinking
The Dhyana Center’s Apothecary Bar Has A Mocktail Even Carrie Bradshaw Could Love DeAnna Batdorff, founder of the Dhyana Center, an Ayurvedic center in Sebastopol, first started making “smart” drinks at the height of the rave scene in the ‘90s. Non-alcoholic by design, the juice-based, vitaminladen drinks kept ravers hydrated and energized as they techno-…
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What’s In your Made Local Gift Basket?
The Miracle Plum Edition Looking for ideas for the best holiday gifts? For this year’s holiday gift basket, we reached out to the experts to get the scoop on their favorite locally sourced products. Gwen Gunheim and Sallie Miller, good food fans and native Santa Rosans, opened the doors to Miracle Plum earlier this year.…
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Letter From The Editor
The holiday season has arrived! In Sonoma County, we don’t necessarily have a drastic change in seasons, but we do see enough change in weather patterns to make it feel a bit like winter. I, for one, welcome the cooler temperatures and the chance to hibernate a little more than usual. I also like any…
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Locavortex: Farmer Trading Cards & more
In August, CAFF/The Farmers Guild premiered brand-spanking-new farmer trading cards at the Gravenstein Apple Fair. We talked to Evan Wiig, director of membership and communications, for the stats on the farmer advocacy organization’s venture into “sports” territory. Why did CAFF/Farmers Guild decide to make farmer trading cards in the style of traditional baseball cards? People…
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Acorn Awareness
How Tribal Youth Ambassadors are reviving local indigenous food and culture American Indian communities in the United States have some of the highest rates of diabetes and cardiovascular and liver disease. A combination of poverty, limited access to healthcare, a lack of access to fresh food, and high stress contribute to these health problems. But,…
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Savorbang: Citrus Solstice Cake
Welcome to our regular column from teacher and stand-up comedian Sarah Whitmore. The holiday season is upon us! In this installment, Sarah asks: “Is the War on Christmas real?” Why not discuss over a slice of heavenly Citrus Solstice Cake? If you are anything like me, you are confused about the supposed War On Christmas.…