Winter 2012

I still remember the day when I first was struck by winter’s poetry in the sublime beauty of the persimmon tree. The leaves had fallen from the tree, revealing the dark orange orbs of ripe fruit still hanging on the bare branches. Soon after, I planted a Hachiya persimmon tree in my office garden in…

TANGENTIAL JOURNEY On a spiral with the California Rare Fruit Growers By Jillian Steinberger Illustrations by Elizabeth Hubbell “The yield of a system is theoretically unlimited, or limited only by the information and imagination of the designer.” —Bill Mollison Unaided by scientists, the universe has bequeathed upon humans a tremendous diversity of fruits, many more…

BY JESSICA PRENTICE  Jessica Prentice, Maggie Gosselin, and Sarah Klein created the Local Foods Wheel to help us all enjoy the freshest, tastiest, and most ecologically sound food choices month by month. Here are seven of Jessica’s winter favorites. You can learn more about the Local Foods Wheel and the group’s other ventures at localfoodswheel.com.…

Cheese, Interrupted By Kirstin Jackson Try my curds, they’re fresh and squeaky,” said Dunbarton Blue’s cheese maker Chris Roelli with a smile as sweet as the chocolate-coated Udderfinger toffees sold at every Wisconsin gas station. If the acres of corn fields, the cows loitering in front of red barns, or the limburger bricks on grocery…

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  THE MAKING OF A CALIFORNIA OLIVE OIL CULTURE BY CHERYL ANGELINA KOEHLER WITH KAREN YENCICH ILLUSTRATION BY MAGGIE KLEIN “Here in California, we are at the beginning of a serious olive oil culture.” —Pablo Voitzuk, olive miller and expert olive oil taster There’s a new devotion growing in many local restaurant kitchens these days.…

Seven Stars of Winter by jessica prentice   Jessica Prentice, Maggie Gosselin, and Sarah Klein created the Local Foods Wheel to help us all enjoy the freshest, tastiest, and most ecologically sound food choices month by month. Here are seven of Jessica’s winter favorites. You can learn more about the Local Foods Wheel and the…

    BY HELEN KRAYENHOFF ILLUSTRATIONS AND LETTERING BY ELIZABETH HUBBELL     Just walking into Oaktown Spice Shop and breathing in is apt to trigger some memory from your past. The cacophony of scents and the pleasing decor will slowly reveal themselves as you return to a very pleasant present. Although only a year old, the business has…