“Farming is a complex math problem,” sighs Dave Hale as he looks sadly at piles of wood chips that had been Gravenstein apple trees in the lot next to his thriving Sebastopol, CA, orchard. He tended …
How to Make Stone Fruit Jams & Butters
If you love summer stone fruit—peaches, apricots, nectarines, and plums—then you’ll love preserving some of it as jams and butters to eat when summer is long gone. Early summer is a perfect time to …
Cold-Water Swimming: Are You Ready to Take the Plunge?
Shivering on the beach in the lashing wind and rain, I cringe as the 52°F water of San Francisco Bay kisses my toes. Why do I do this? I ask myself, and on winter days like this. Why don’t I wear a …
RIP to the Remarkable Karen Morss
Karen Morss, aka the Lemon Lady, an author, pilot, and pioneering Silicon Valley–entrepreneur-turned-farmer, died in December 2018. Karen was a passionate producer of the most fabulous Meyer lemons …
Winter Stews for Office Lunches
The short, cold days of winter often have us craving warm, nourishing meals—the kind we refer to as “comfort food” for good reason. I’m a big fan of large-batch winter cooking: making soups, stews, …
Summer Tick Protection
Everything you need to stay safe from ticksSummer is prime time for hiking, camping, horseback riding, and exploring the beautiful outdoors. But even if you’re only in your backyard or walking …