In This Issue: Holiday 2017

Though we were blessed with a warmer than usual autumn, winter approaches now with its chilly northern promises of cold and snowy days. We respond, as always, a bit grudgingly—but capable, as always, of meeting the challenge. There are winter clothes, winter sports and winter foods that help. Hot cider, hot toddies, hot soups. Warm spaces and the company of friends and family drawn together to share them. Rituals and traditions eagerly anticipated and devoutly followed.

With these thoughts of winter I welcome you to the holiday issue that does not talk about holidays! This year I honor the diversity of our community by leaving out the various traditions of the season, seeking instead to find those things we all might have in common.

In this issue we celebrate the harvest alongside the promise of next spring, held in the story of a new garlic farm that has planted already for next year. We present some really big storage squash along with recipes to chase your early winter blues away. We take a look inside one of our local wineries and learn how the recent warm falls have cooperated on some special regional vintages.

There’s a story of a family’s Middle Eastern deli that brings the flavors of their homeland to their new community. We go behind the scenes of our school cafeterias and see the broad efforts under way to bring more local produce to our kids’ lunches all winter. And we hand you a winter potluck as encouragement to gather with friends and food often during these colder months, and over these longer nights.

This holiday issue encompasses solstice: the end of one year and beginning of the next. However you celebrate—and celebrations are encouraged!—make sure to include the quality food and drink of our bountiful agricultural region. They are one of the greatest gifts we can receive at any time of year. Whether we grow our own, forage from the land or patronize a local farm, local foods are unique to our place on Earth and tie us in ways great and small to our surrounding community.

With appreciation for your readership and support, and wishing you blessings on your winter days,

Barb Tholin