A Farmer’s Story That Needs To Be Told: Reprint of 2017 Special to the Mountain Democrat
The year was 1947. The place is Pasadena, California. The people gathered around the bridge table are regulars. The topic is a regular complaint about the lousy weather, and the city congestion. It was, as L. G. “Frank” Beals put it at the time, “making him sick.” Frank was is one...[Read More]
FARM FRESH TO YOU is my go-to Organic CSA (Community Sustainable Agriculture) supplier of fine organic fruits and vegetable to my door. Take a look at their website for easy to customize deliveries of local goods of all kinds, including farm fresh organic eggs, jams, honey, baby food, cereals, etc. etc. etc.–remarkable variety and quality....[Read More]
The new compost bin was long in contemplation and even longer to begin. The small version of a composter–a catalog-order tumbler– had been in use for three seasons now and had to be rejected since, come each spring, it produced slightly more than a couple of buckets of compost tea. It really wasn’t made for the long haul, as they say, due to being too heavy to turn by hand once full, and...[Read More]
The year was 1947. The place is Pasadena, California. The people gathered around the bridge table are regulars. The topic is a regular complaint about the lousy weather, and the city congestion. It was, as L. G. “Frank” Beals put it at the time, “making him sick.” Frank was is one of the gang with a regular itch for country life and hopeful for a resolution to his “citified”...[Read More]
You’re likely to see your local farming family, like the Hoovers (Hooverville Orchards, Placerville, CA, or the Perez family) all pitching in to get the farm fresh produce out and about. This is where Real Honest to Goodness takes place: Real Food without hormones, pesticides, wax, sprays and irradiation. Certified Farmers Markets foster the community as well as the farmers who grew your...[Read More]
“Nothing is more rewarding or more practical than taking care of what gives you life.” On this premise, in 2008, Ben and Mary started farming on a small lot. They acquired a bunch of chicks, a bunch of compost they could add to, two boys, Yarrow and Alder, and began planting perennials, trees and plants. In 2012, they found “a very nice acre” to rent close by with good water, full sun and...[Read More]
Keven Nowell from 24 Carrot Farm, Placerville, addresses local farmers interested in establishing a Farmers Guild — an agricultural community founded by farmers for farmers....[Read More]
Restaurateurs are among the most cost conscious about lost revenue due to food waste. Chef Patrick Mulvaney at Mulvaney’s B&L restaurant in midtown Sacramento, in a recent interview with Sacramento Bee’s Cathie Anderson, referred to research being done, involvement of local chefs, and legislation planned to lobby for changes in Washington,D.C. It’s true that in just a few more years there...[Read More]
A country road takes you up hills and curves to a 32-acre farm nestled in a forest setting that feels far and away from the city just a mile or so back there. Nearby, huge rock cliffs soar upward and serve as the name for road, “Big Cut.” Turns out it is an old gold mining piece, hydraulically troughed out, touching Coon Hollow* and the creek down the canyon....[Read More]
Our 2 Days In Napa Valley gave us many special moments and the one outside of RAYMOND VINEYARD TASTING ROOM was exceptional. Of course it had to do with organic farming, Biodynamic© to be specific. I knew we might have a chance to go back to this fine exhibit in Rutherford (St. Helena, CA) during our Kitchens in the Vineyards Tour, and this time took copious notes. And photos....[Read More]
Betty is a California-based writer whose work explores local history, travel, food, and the people who shape community life. Her storytelling is rooted in curiosity, culture, and real-world experience.
Stories of place, people, and culture - told with curiosity and heart - telling stories that bring places and people to life.
Betty is a Gold Country-based writer covering regional history, travel, food, and human-interest stories, with a focus on the people and traditions that define a place.