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jmariellewrites · 5 years

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Barbara Jane Edwards (Morrison)

Family Bonds and Connections

Before I even knew what the word truly meant I knew that I was adopted. My mother had always told me that another woman had given birth to me. I had an older brother and knew he was also adopted and that he had different birth parents. These memories go back to my earliest childhood. It's a relatively complex concept for a three or four year old. I didn't really understand the nuances of birth parents or adoption at that time. Later I just knew that I was grateful I had been told at that age so it never came as a shock to me. Beyond that, I simply was aware that I had a family, a warm bed at night, clothes, toys to play with and food on the table, even if some nights it was only pancakes and eggs or macaroni and cheese.

My first years were spent on a small farm in Port Angeles, Washington where I was born. My mother and father had both been born in Burlington and Edison in western Washington state respectively; however, my father had been transferred to Port Angeles for his job so my adoptive parents were already living there before my birth. It took a few hours to reach Burlington by car and even ferry, but we made the trip frequently on weekends to visit other family, most of whom lived in Burlington. We made the trip even more often when my father was transferred briefly to Olympia and especially when we moved to Bellingham, which was a relatively short drive away. Often we would pass by or travel to Mount Vernon, which is just to the south of Burlington.

Skagit Valley is a large, fertile agricultural district. The two largest towns are Mount Vernon and Burlington. Back then they were both sleepy little communities. At that time there were massive strawberry fields, pea patches, apple orchards and other fruit, vegetable and flower growers scattered throughout this lovely valley that most people had never even heard of. In the Spring through the Autumn there were endless farm stands offering fresh picked produce, berries and even dairy products.

The views in this valley are always glorious no matter where you look. The Skagit river flows through the entire valley, and there are views of majestic Mt. Baker far off to the east. Skagit Valley is now famous for the endless tulip fields and annual festivals held there each year, and has become a thriving bedroom community for Everett and even Seattle.

As my family and I would travel on US Highway 99 and then later I-5 after it was completed, we would pass by a large farm that was situated just off the highway. I don't know why this farm, out of all of the hundreds of farms in the area, stood out to me but it did. The entire valley was nothing but farms that were scattered along the highways. There was no logical reason this one should have me take notice, however, this is the farm that spoke to me. It was not noble or colorful. There was nothing spectacular about it that should have made it exceptional compared to the surrounding farms, yet to me it was a grand and magnificent place.

The expansive farmland just had an unremarkable home and an even more unremarkable barn and some other outbuildings that looked like so many others in the area. Yet to me it was special. I didn't know why it was special, it just was. I could sense something. As we drove by I would just stare at it to the point that my mother would ask why I was so fascinated with it. I didn't have an answer. My enchantment was always with horse ranches, not produce farms. There were no horses in sight here, so that added even more to the mystery of why I would just focus on this stretch of land. Occasionally as we approached this farm she would say something along the lines of, “We are almost to your farm, Nanie (her nickname for me when I was very young). Are you looking?” I was. I always looked. I always stared.

We moved to Alaska when I was still in grade school, but we would fly into Seattle every summer while I was growing up. We would drive up along I-5 to Burlington to visit relatives. As soon as we approached Skagit Valley I started looking off to the right. Yes. It was still there. My farm, as beautiful as special as always was still there. It seemed as if there were endless green fields of various crops surrounding it. If I had been old enough to drive, I would have just stopped the car and looked at it, but I never had that opportunity.

As I became an adult, I moved to Maui. I would occasionally return to Skagit Valley to see family. My travels would take me north on I-5 again and right past my farm. It was the first thing I looked for when I came down the hill to the valley floor as I drove north of Seattle, and it was the last thing I wanted to see when I traveled back to the airport on my way south before the road started to wind up the gently sloping hills leaving the valley. I was too shy to actually approach the farm house even though I wanted to tell the owners that they were so fortunate to have such a special piece of land, a lovely home to live in and to be surrounded by such a peaceful setting.

I traveled this road less frequently as the years passed and life events interfered, yet every time I journeyed that way, I always checked out my farm. Additionally, during all of these years I had always wondered about my birth family. I knew there was at least a mother, however, I wondered if I had siblings and even an entire other family out there. I wondered if my mother was still alive, what she was like, and especially wondered if she ever thought about me. I always wondered about my heritage and who else was out there. Were other family members still alive? Was there a medical history I should know about? Where were they and what were they doing? Was there anybody at all still alive that was related to me? Was I the only one who was looking?

I had a great adoptive family and was so fortunate to have a wonderful mother and father who had always worked hard to provide for us. Yet, for me, there was something missing. I never felt truly complete. There was a curiosity about who I really was. I didn't even know what nationality I was. Was I French, German, English? Some or all of the above? None of those things? Perhaps I was even part Asian? My mother had always thought so because of my fascination with Japan and its culture from the time I was very young. I had no way of knowing. I would ask my mother occasionally about my birth mother. She would say that she didn't know because the birth records had been sealed. The two mothers had never met and nothing about my birth mother had been disclosed to her. The questions I asked bothered her as if she was insecure about me wanting to know. I had room in my heart for two mothers, yet it was difficult for my adoptive mother to understand that. I tried not to ask often because it would even rattle her a little if I asked questions out of the blue. All I knew is that I was on my own on this quest, I would need an attorney to even try to uncover my adoption records, and it would be expensive, and may not even yield any results.

Then, in 2012, Washington State opened up adoption records for anyone born before 1975. My parents had both just passed so I didn't have to hide my actions from my mother. I immediately sent for my actual birth certificate looking for some answers. I waited for two weeks for the document, and opened the official looking envelope from the Washington State Department of Health Statistics with a trembling hand. I was looking at a nearly blank piece of paper when I unfolded it. All that was on the birth certificate was my mother's name, Barbara Jane Edwards, her approximate age of 17 and that perhaps she was from Oregon. Nothing else. The rest of the certificate was a complete blank. No father, no address, actual birth date, nothing else at all. However, now at least I had a name to start with.

I started looking but there was precious little to go on. I didn't even know where to begin looking. I had been told that my mother probably didn't ever actually live in Port Angeles, so I didn't have a starting point. I found no clear direction as a reference, no leads or anything whatsoever that guided me to her. She could have come from any state in the United States, or perhaps even Canada. Given that proving identity back in those years was so very different, I began to wonder if she had even given her real name or if she had checked into the hospital under an alias. Her name seemed to be completely elusive. I knew that if she had married, she had most likely taken another name, so that complicated my search even more.

Completely apart from this I had my DNA tested through Ancestry about the same time. I was so curious about my heritage that I wanted to know the answers to my questions about ethnicity. As part of that, Ancestry then shows you close DNA matches. It was an unexpected bonus when I realized I might be able to use my test results to help find blood relatives. Nothing closer than a possible 3rd or 4th cousin appeared in my matches for years. If a lead looked promising, I would send a cryptic message to someone asking if they had ever heard of Barbara, but no one had until in December of 2017 when a first cousin by the name of Scott Edwards appeared. Edwards! The same last name as my mother. It was the very first time that had happened, and he lived in Portland, Oregon, just south of the Washington border.

I sent a brief message to Scott, never mentioning that Barbara was my birth mother, just asking if he had ever heard of her. I told him to not bother responding if I was invading his privacy or if I was otherwise being intrusive. This was a couple days before Christmas of that year. I heard nothing back for a few days. Then shortly before New Year's day I received a message from Scott. Barbara was his aunt. Most important to me was that in the message he gave his phone number and said, “We need to talk, cousin!” He told me to call him as soon as I was ready to do so.

Scott and I spoke for over two hours when we first connected a couple days later. I was shaking and my nerves were rattling. I was experiencing such a wide range of emotions I didn't even know what to think. Scott filled me in on many, long lost details and told me I also had an Aunt Evelyn, an Uncle Clarence (Eddy), and two other first cousins by the names of Steve and Stephanie, who were his siblings. Then I found out I had two half brothers and a half sister, Keith, Darrin and Jill. The half brothers were farmers in Skagit Valley just south of Mount Vernon, and my half sister worked as an electrical engineer and lived east of Seattle.

Scott offered to call my half brothers and half sister and make all of the introductions. He would tell everyone about me as a way to break the ice for me, and said he would do that within the next two days. And so he did. Within two or three days, news of me had spread like wildfire through the family. I learned that the family name of my siblings was Morrison. Things started to click a little, but I didn't quite make the connection just yet. I had over fifty friend requests on Facebook from cousins, half brothers, my half sister, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles and even second cousins. I was totally overwhelmed and didn't even know who belonged to who as I attempted to piece together names and family connections. It seemed as if half of Skagit Valley was related to me, as well as several people scatted across the country as far reaching as Texas and even the Eastern seaboard.

I learned that my Aunt Evelyn, my mother's older sister, had kept the secret of me her entire life. She had never told a soul. She was the only one who knew about me. She was delighted to hear that we as a family had finally connected after 64 years. I asked her once if she had any idea about who my father was, and she just chuckled. Her reply was, “Oh, Honey, your Momma was in the back seat of a car on a lot of Friday nights after school dances and such. It could be anyone from the captain of the football team to some wheat farmer's son! Your Momma was always out having a good time.” I had to laugh along with her. That also explained why there was no father listed on my birth certificate.

I spoke with my half brothers first before I spoke with my half sister. Both Keith and Darrin told me about the family farm and that they were 5th generation farmers and had Morrison Farms, a large operation that grew potatoes, grass and spinach seed, barley and other crops over a vast expanse of land. Keith described in general terms where they were located and asked if I remembered the area. As he spoke I nearly dropped the phone. Morrison Farms was precisely where my farm was located. Could it be? How was this possible? He was talking about my farm. He was calling from the farm I had been fascinated with from the time I was a young child.

While I was talking with them, I would start to describe the house and barns to them as we spoke. I described just about every detail to about the last leaf on the tree outside the main farm house, which is now where Darrin lives with his lovely wife Marily. I had chicken skin as I recalled the farm from my childhood and even adult days. Darrin and Keith were both silent when I described the farm. Keith was utterly fascinated. It was Darrin who said, “How did you know? When was the last time you were up this way?” I said that it had been a few years but that I knew the farm well. I tried to explain that it had always held a fascination for me for some unknown reason that was now perfectly clear. My mother had always been there as I gazed upon the farm, as were my half brothers and half sister. Back then I didn't know what I knew. I just knew that I sensed something. I sensed family. I could feel the connection deep in my bones. I didn't know how to process that information as a child. As an adult, I assumed the connection I felt was simply a fond childhood memory of a place special to me.

Over the next year few months I would grow closer and closer with my family, as would my adult son. My half brothers became true uncles to him. Their wives became his aunts. My half sister and her husband connected with us too. It was amazing. We all actually ended up meeting in the fall of 2018. Everyone traveled to Nevada to spend time with us and meet us, bringing along the best potatoes I have ever eaten, fresh picked out of the fertile farm land of Skagit Valley by their hands. My half sister actually wanted to spend her 50th birthday with me as part of her celebration. We had all developed a closeness and a bond that was remarkable. I had been welcomed by absolutely everyone with open arms and I was treated as a sister as well as a dear friend. I was part of a new family. It was as if we had known each other our entire lives. Marily and Wendy, Keith’s wife, were more like sisters than sisters-in-law. Paul, Jill’s husband, became a brother. It was all just so remarkable.

I don't know what there is about a blood bond, but it feels different. It is something tangible, something you can feel down to your bones. Blood is definitely thicker than water and it means something. During this period of discovery I was fully aware that these meetings and introductions could have gone either way. The doors could have been slammed in my face. But that did not happen. The opposite was true. I was accepted and welcomed by literally everyone as if we had known each other all of our lives. Even the man who would have been my step-father welcomed me and said that he wished he had known about me all along so we could have met sooner.

My birth mother -- I was too late to meet my mother. It was destined that we were never to meet. She had suffered a stroke some years previously and then had developed dementia. I had dealt with dementia first hand with my adopted mother so I knew the endless challenges surrounding that. I did not want to confuse her or do anything that might agitate her, even though it was suggested I could go visit with one of the family and just be introduced as a friend they were bringing along. I felt that was too risky as I knew I would not be able to keep my emotions from showing. Besides, all of us had remarked that I looked like her more than anyone else in the family. What if by some miracle she recognized who I was? How would we explain that? In the long run we decided against a meeting. We didn't want to shock or upset her when she was in a state of mind that might not fully comprehend what was happening.

At least now I had countless photos the family had brought to me or shared through email, and had heard endless stories of her and her wonderful life, generous spirit and gracious manner. I now knew who I was and where I came from and knew the story of my birth family. It would have to be enough. It was enough, yet there will always be a sense of wondering what it would have been like to actually have met her when we were both younger. Everyone in the family remarked that it would have been wonderful if we had found each other sooner. It just was never meant to be.

Passages happen. Events in life don’t always play out the way you would wish them to. My birth mother Barbara Jane Edwards passed peacefully on September 21, 2019, after a rapid decline in her already failing health. She was surrounded by family who were playing soft music for her. The end had finally come. She had been so frail for so long no one was sure how she had held on for as long as she did. She finally let go and passed away without knowing I was asking about her and talking to her family every day, sometimes twice a day during her last week and hours on this earth. No, she never knew I had finally found her or that I had connected with her lovely family.

My wish is that somehow she did sense on some level that I loved her and never held anything against her for giving me up for adoption. She was only doing what a young woman of that day and age was expected to do. I hope she knows that I admire and respect her and above all, that I thank her for giving me life -- a good life. I know it’s a long shot, yet I hope she sensed me even as I sensed her when I drove by that farm many times and felt her presence. Perhaps she looked out a kitchen window or glanced up from a flower bed just as the car passed by that I was riding in, and perhaps she smiled at me, wondering why it was that particular car that grabbed her attention out of all of the other cars on the road. It is my belief that she did.

#Adoption #Finding Family #Birth Connections #Family Connections #Lost Family

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karmarelationship931 · 3 years

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E-mail this articlePrint this article Other links Businessman prospers along with 'my people'State's Hispanic population doubled in past decadeA sampling of two counties' Hispanic population growth

YAKIMA - A local woman named Esmeralda has seen her future, and it involves a man called Roberto.

So with love on the brain, she does what any modern woman would do: She calls her local radio station and requests a love song.

Matchmaking duties, in this case, fall on the shoulders of Luís Ezequial Muñoz , also known as 'El Cheque,' who at the moment is cooing into his mike: 'Hola! Quién me llama?'

The 23-year-old Mexican transplant and former Los Angeleno has arrived in the state's agricultural heartland, inspired by another sort of bounty: Hispanic radio listeners.

Here in the Yakima Valley and the rest of Eastern Washington, among the hops and apples and wine grapes, Spanish-language radio is the latest cash crop.

There are now at least 11 such stations, broadcasting from the valley, Walla Walla, Wenatchee and northern Oregon, said Mark Allen, president and chief executive of the Washington State Association of Broadcasters.

'Ten, fifteen years ago, there was very little Spanish-language programming,' said Allen.

By all accounts, especially the 2000 census, the airwaves are ripe for the Spanish-language surge.

Call it the Latinization of the nation, if you will. The Hispanic population has climbed by 58 percent since 1990; at 35 million, it is larger than the population of Canada.

In Washington, the Hispanic population doubled in the last decade and now numbers 441,509, about 7.5 percent of the population. Those numbers will keep rising: Hispanics, by far, are the youngest of the state's racial or ethnic groups, with 40 percent under 18.

In Adams and Franklin counties in Eastern Washington, nearly half the population is Hispanic. More than 35 percent of Yakima County is Hispanic.

More Central Americans

The state's Hispanic population continues to be made up largely of Mexicans and Mexican Americans. But community leaders and social-service workers have noticed more and more Central Americans: Guatemalans in Shelton, for example; Salvadorans in Aberdeen.

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There also are more indigenous people from Mexico, who speak neither Spanish nor English but their native Indian dialect.

The number of Hispanic-owned companies in Washington grew 64 percent from 1992 to 1997, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Hispanic businesses in 1997 employed 18,830 people, compared with 8,065 five years earlier.

'There's a maturation of the Latino community,' said Onofre Contreras, executive director of the state Commission on Hispanic Affairs. 'It's the same process you see that European immigrants went through. They start off at the bottom, at entry-level jobs. Then the working class becomes a business class and then a stable middle class.

'Having grown up in California, I see some of the same parallels happening here. It's nothing that hasn't occurred in other places. It's just that it's Washington's time.'

If the surge in population surprises some, broadcast companies have realized the market potential for some time here in sagebrush and orchard country.

All of the Spanish-language stations with the exception of one, Radio Cadena, were once Anglo stations that switched formats and languages.

'It's basic numbers. When you look at a market like Yakima, which is 35 percent Hispanic, you know there's a market that needs to be served,' said Bob Berry, general manager for Butterfield Broadcasting in Yakima, which operates five stations in Eastern Washington and plans to start a sixth by mid-April.

Berry used to run a talk-radio and country-music station in Grant County. It was Faith Hill before Las Tucanes de Tijuana, one of his favorite music groups now.

When his company, Mirage Communications, merged with Butterfield in September, Berry began overseeing Zorro Broadcasting, which plays contemporary music known as regional Mexican: some norteño, some tejano, some grupos, some banda.

Zorro caters to listeners between 18 and 49 years old. In its promotional materials, it estimates the disposable income for Hispanics in the Yakima and Tri-Cities areas - not including an estimated 100,000 migrant workers in any given year - is $554 million.

Granger's Radio Cadena or KDNA, in its 22nd year, is the only full-time Spanish-language public radio station in the United States. Billing itself as a news and educational resource for a vast farmworkers community, it broadcasts programs that touch on everything from labor rights to pesticide safety.

Because its listeners may be illiterate or semi-literate, the station has also produced radionovelas, or dramas, encouraging healthier lifestyles, warning of the consequences of unsafe sex or alcohol abuse.

In the early 1980s, KSVR Radio, broadcasting from Mount Vernon's Skagit Valley College, noticed a flurry of listener response whenever its student disc jockeys would speak Spanish.

The story was that older, non-English-speaking residents would leave their radios on 24 hours a day, hoping to hear something they could understand, said Rip Robbins, the station's general manager.

What used to be a part-time college radio station is now a full-time station with half of its programming in Spanish.

'Our radio is on in virtually every business in this valley, because the people behind the scenes are Hispanic,' said Robbins.

'People setting up in restaurants have us on. At the farms. In the warehouses and packing plants. I know, because our phones ring off the hook with people calling in for dedications.'

At the Zorro studio in Yakima, one mile from downtown, past the Greenway Bingo Hall, Arturo from Pasco is on the line. He wants something for his wife, and Carlos from Yakima wants something for Cristina.

Elite matchmaking in baraboo wisconsin. 'A lot of people who call us work en el campo,' said DJ Martin 'El Primo' Ortiz. 'We've heard stories about people listening on their Walkmans, calling from the fields on their cell phones.

'It's part of our nostalgia, this music. We are far away from our homeland. Our Mexico.'

Whistling while you work is one thing but, if you can, why not groove to Juan Gabriel instead?

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So at La Petunia bakery, the panaderos, arriving in the wee hours to make conchas, campechana, teleras and other pastries, flick on a flour-soaked Panasonic and listen to Julio Preciado on Radio Zorro.

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At La Doncella, a house turned hair salon with a map of Mexico on one wall and an Aztec calendar on another, stylist Selena Balentínez switches off a telenovela at her customer's request and turns on the radio for a noontime show featuring música romántica.

'There's a saying, `To remember is to live,' ' said Balentínez, a student at Yakima Valley College who is originally from the Mexican state of Michoacán.

'Sometimes I'll hear a song, and I remember it was, say, a song my sister used to listen to. It transports you to another time. It reminds me of my father, say, or el rancho.'

In the broadcast booth, DJ El Cheque, on the air from 3 to 7 p.m weekdays, bellows: 'Gracias, Washington! Gracias, Oregon! Llámame!'

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The phones ring.

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It's Teresita from Milton.

'Que rico!'

Florangela Davila can be reached at 206-464-2916 or at [email protected]

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Times data-base specialist Justin Mayo contributed to this report.

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perfectirishgifts · 3 years

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How Julia Collins And Moonshot Snacks Are Using The Power Of Regenerative Agriculture To Tackle The Climate Crisis

New Post has been published on https://perfectirishgifts.com/how-julia-collins-and-moonshot-snacks-are-using-the-power-of-regenerative-agriculture-to-tackle-the-climate-crisis/

How Julia Collins And Moonshot Snacks Are Using The Power Of Regenerative Agriculture To Tackle The Climate Crisis

Moonshot Snacks

Julia Collins made history when she became the first Black woman to co-found a unicorn company (Zume Pizza, valued at $2.25 billion). But when she became a mother, she knew she needed to find a way to bring delicious food to people in a way that helped heal the planet for everyone including her son.

Today, she shares her journey with her new company Planet FWD to launch Moonshot Snacks, a groundbreaking line of food products that use regenerative agriculture techniques which help tackle the climate crisis – and which has also created a unique software platform to encourage more brands to join the movement.

Starting with three flavors of carbon-neutral crackers that are certified USDA Organic, Kosher, plant-based, no sugar added and non-GMO, Moonshot crackers are now widely available for purchase online for $5.99 a box.

The crackers are certified USDA Organic and made with regeneratively grown ingredients. Moonshot is setting a new precedent by forging direct connections with farmers to source ingredients. For example, Moonshot sources its crackers’ main ingredient, stone-milled Edison Wheat, from Hedlin Farms, a 4th-generation farm and 1st-generation regenerative farm. Moonshot Snacks is also a certified WBENC woman-owned business and BIPOC-founded and owned.

I caught up her to find out more about her inspiring journey.

Afdhel Aziz: Julia, welcome! For those who don’t know what regenerative agriculture is, could you just explain briefly what the thinking is behind it?

Jullia Collins: So, regenerative agriculture is a method of farming that helps to improve the health of the soil. And it’s called regenerative, because over time, over cycles of farming, what happens is that you actually improve rather than deplete. You regenerate, you heal. Some of the practices that are associated with regenerative agriculture are reducing tillage – less interruption of the soil. Improving biodiversity. Keeping roots in the ground year-round. Intercropping, cover cropping. And even some livestock integration to help promote that wonderful microbial activity in the soil, which is the source of life on the planet. Regenerative agriculture is a method of farming that helps to improve the health of soil and the relation to climate change is that at scale, regenerative agricultural practices can actually help draw down carbon and bury it in the soil.

Julia Collins, Founder and CEO, Planet FWD

Aziz: Was that at the back of your mind when you thought about creating a regenerative agriculture-based snack brand?

Collins: Absolutely. I mean, there’s no silver bullet to the climate crisis. Everyone has to make that disclaimer. But you know, between 25 and 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are coming from our food system. There’s a tremendous opportunity there. Not just to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our food system, or decarbonize, but also to use the power of these magical robots called plants, to draw carbon down and store it in the soil And that is what’s been so exciting for me about this movement.

Aziz: Very cool. So, what can you tell us today about Moonshot Snacks?

Collins: We’ve built the world’s first explicitly climate friendly snack brand. We went and found ingredients that are grown using these regenerative agricultural practices. We quantified and measured the greenhouse gas impact of every element of our company and product down to the seal on the package. And we’re bringing to market a product that’s not only absolutely delicious and organic and good for you, but also completely carbon neutral and climate friendly. And what we hope to do with Moonshot Snacks is to create a new category of food called ‘climate friendly food’. Because everybody has the right to take action on climate change. And we think with eight billion people eating every day, rethinking the way that we eat and rethinking our food choices is a great place to start.

Aziz: Can you talk about the other part of it as well, which is the software tools you’re building to make this more of an open-source movement so other companies can benefit from it?

Collins: So, Planet FWD (the parent company of Moonshot Snacks) is building software that makes it easy for brands to understand how they rank in terms of climate friendliness. And then the tool also gives them recommendations for how to improve. Either by connecting them to alternative ingredients, alternative suppliers, alternative materials that are lower in terms of greenhouse gas impact or more beneficial according to other sustainability criteria. But the tool just makes it really easy for any brand to create their own climate friendly products or to improve the climate friendliness or overall sustainability of their existing products.

Hedlin Farms Wheat Harvest

Aziz: And you’ve really thought deeply on how to properly engage and incentivize the farmers you work with as well, correct?

Collins: Exactly. When we thought about how to source the product, we wanted to make sure that we were creating value and rewarding farmers who were using regenerative practices. And the best way for us to do that was to actually go and work directly with the farmer, because that de-risks the proposition for that farmer. So, ahead of the harvest, we said to our farmers, please set aside this many acres to plant this organic Edison wheat using your beautiful regenerative practices and we will buy it from you.

I think another thing is that in trying to make the product climate friendly, we wanted to reduce the food miles on it. Our wheat is grown by Dave and Serena in Skagit Valley in the state of Washington, and then it travels one mile to the mill. And then it travels 85 miles to be baked. And this is an 86-mile food supply chain, which is magnitudes shorter unfortunately than most food supply chains that you see for a given ingredient, which are sourced from all over the place. We intentionally tried to co-locate growing, processing, and then baking all in the same area to reduce the carbon impact.

Aziz: And how about the packaging? How did you think about that as well?

Collins: That’s been the hardest part for us. We have a compostable box that’s printed with vegetable-based ink. The box itself is compostable, but the interior sleeve is recyclable but not compostable yet. We are committed to getting to compostable. The hardest part has been trying to find a reliable source where the carbon impact is not bigger. For example, our best source was coming from Malaysia, but by the time you source the product from Malaysia, ship it to Washington, now you’ve sort of undone the beneficial impact. Looking for domestic sources of compostable film that can be manufactured easily that’s what we’re working on now. But there’s so many great startups that are working on it, we’re confident that in the next few years we’ll move to totally compostable. Right now we’re recyclable and compostable.

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Aziz: The audacity of what you are trying to do is perfectly summed up in the name of your new venture, Moonshot snacks, right?

Collins: Right. We’re called Moonshot and we make snacks. And there’s a funny juxtaposition between moonshot and a snack, right? Something very audacious and something very simple. But with the name, we wanted to convey the sense of audacity and also the action of being lifted up. Shooting for something and going for something as opposed to staying in that paralyzed fear place. Frankly, when you do a lot of reading and research on climate change, it’s easy to go to that place.

Aziz: I love how that framing of it helps us move beyond this fear state where we become paralyzed by the enormity of climate change and be able to get into the audacity of what we can do to tackle it, right?

Collins: Absolutely. Fear paralyzes you. It can stop you in your tracks. And then there’s this other thing, which is shame, which also blocks almost everything good. And the shame can come in from, how did this happen? How did we let this happen? What have I done wrong? And of course, it’s important to take ownership and responsibility. But I think moving beyond fear and shame into this place of audacious hope and action, for me, is a more powerful framework to bring to bear on this problem.

From CMO Network in Perfectirishgifts

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grafxchick · 6 years

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#365daysofgratitude Year 1. Day 104. “In this hope we were saved.” Romans 8:24 #hope ✨❤️✨ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 📸 📸 📸 #gratitude #joyful #pray #nature #abundance #photographer #tulips #photography #seattlegirl #pnw #love ❤️ #seattle #grateful #abundance #bereal #bepositive #positivethinking #positivity #positiveenergy #bepresent #blessed #family #beautiful #life #bluesky #nofilter (at Skagit Valley Tulip Festival)

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nwbeerguide · 4 years

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Oregon Brewers Guild members launches the Quarterly Collaboration series, starting with State of Excitement No. 2

How do you collaborate on a beer during a global pandemic? Very carefully.

Twenty-seven Oregon’s breweries recently united to brew a statewide collab, State of Excitement No. 2, a hazy IPA brewed at Portland’s Baerlic Beer Co. The beer release marks the launch of the Guild’s quarterly collaboration series, which builds on the fun everyone had cranking out the Zwickelmania beer the past two Februaries. “Collaborations are a little different right now, but I suppose just about everything is,” said Baerlic Beer Co. Brewer Stephen Helwig, who led the charge on brewday. “Fortunately, the modern miracle of the internet helped us to communicate, stay organized, and craft a damn delicious beer that shows off the best ingredients Oregon has to offer.” The 6.5 percent hazy IPA includes Crystal, Cascade, Amarillo, Idaho 7 and Triumph hops donated by Crosby Hop Farm, Goschie Farms and Yakima Chief Hops; malts donated by Mecca Grade Estate Malt and Skagit Valley Malting; the Barbarian/Juice yeast strain combo, pitched in by Imperial Yeast; and printing, cans and packaging donated by Rose City Label, Craft Canning and WCP Solutions. State of Excitement No. 2 will be available for purchase at each of the particiatping breweries and all of the proceeds benefit the Oregon Brewers Guild, and its efforts to protect and promote the state’s craft beer industry. Like many organizations, the Guild has experienced financial turmoil as all of its annual events have been canceled due to COVID-19. “We're honored to have the opportunity to support the Oregon Brewers Guild during this challenging time,” says Crosby Hop Farm CEO Blake Crosby. “OBG is a leader in driving education, guidance, and connection for the Oregon brewing industry and its stakeholders. We expect this project to resonate with craft beer drinkers across the state and contribute to the continued excellence that OBG represents nationally.” Brewers communicated via email and met via Zoom meetings to determine the style of beer and formulate the recipe. Participating breweries include: Allegory Brewing, Baerlic Beer Co, Barsideous Brewing, Bend Brewing Co, Bevel Brewing, Breakside Brewery, Brewery 26, Buoy Beer Co, Deschutes Brewery, Gateway Brewing, Gigantic Brewing, Heater Allen Beer, Hopworks Urban Brewery, Laurelwood Brewing, Leikam Brewing, McMenamins, Ninkasi Brewing, Sasquatch Brewing, Stickmen Brewing, Three Mugs Brewing, Threshold Brewing & Blending, Unicorn Brewing, Von Ebert Brewing, Weekend Beer Co, Wild Ride Brewing, Wolf Tree Brewing, and Yachats Brewing. “The Oregon beer industry has been built on community coming together for the love of craft beer,” says Christina LaRue, Executive Director of the Oregon Brewers Guild. “This project is an exciting way to bring our brewers and industry partners together, even if only virtually for now, to celebrate that community through the art of collaboration. Stay tuned for two additional beers this year.” The State of Excitement collabs, launched in February for Zwickelmania, will now be released four times a year, and sold at participating breweries. State of Excitement No, 3 will be a fresh hop beer released in the fall. About the Oregon Brewers Guild

The Oregon Brewers Guild is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and protect the state’s craft brewing industry and the common interests of its members. Founded in 1992, the Oregon Brewers Guild is one of the nation’s oldest craft brewers associations.

from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/3aBko4q

#Beer #News #Brewery

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wallpapernifty · 4 years

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25 Ugly Truth About Tulip Garden Washington | Tulip Garden Washington

With the communicable attached accessible gatherings, the Albany Tulip Festival is activity online this year.

The burghal appear a basic Tulip Festival anniversary on Saturday, May 9th, featuring agreeable performances, Tulip garden tours, bounded business takeout specials, prizes and more.

On March 23rd, the burghal canceled the Washington Park basic that usually brings bags of bodies to Albany.

City Hall says the 2020 Albany Tulip Queen and Court will be presented at a after date with their own celebration.

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celsiaflorist-blog · 4 years

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The Best of Skagit Valley: A Visitor Guide

Growing with Landscape FabricHere in the Skagit Valley, the tulip fields are about to burst into the most phenomenal show of color. Even after living in this area for nearly 20 years, I still can’t get over how beautiful it is. No wonder every year over a million people come from all over the world to experience the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. This annual event started as a three day festival and has grown into a month long celebration that now features art shows, concerts, street fairs, bike rides and more.

Today I’m excited to share our guide for visiting this incredible area. As our farm is closed to the public, I’m happy to share some of our favorite restaurants, shops, and other places of interest. There are so many wonderful things to do in this area! You could easily spend a few days exploring and having fun. If you can’t make it for the Tulip Festival, not to worry since all of these spots are great any time of the year.

A few things to take note of when visiting the Skagit Valley during tulip season:

Weekdays are best! We’ve found that the traffic can be pretty bad on the weekends, so try to plan for a mid-week adventure if you don’t want to spend hours in grid lock. If you brave the weekend crowds be sure to pack snacks and note that there are limited restroom facilities along the way.

Respect the signs, farms and notices around the tulip fields. There are designated areas to stop and enjoy the beauty. Please don’t go walking into any fields that are marked “No Trespassing” just for a photo. The tulip fields are a photographer’s dream, just be sure to enjoy them in the designated areas. Information for seeing the tulips can be found vancouver florist.

Check ahead. As always, hours of operation are subject to change so before you head out, verify your plans with the businesses you intend to visit.

Places to visit with your kids

Padilla Bay Research Reserve: As a living field laboratory with support facilities and professional staff, Padilla Bay Reserve has a free indoor aquarium with lots of opportunities for kids to see what plants and animals are native to this area. Be sure to call (360) 428-1558 for their hours of operation. You’ll also find lots of wonderful nature trails and places to explore.

Drive or hike up Mount Erie: Either drive to the top, or enjoy a hike. Mount Erie is a favorite for the locals and the views at the top are incredible! If you’re in the Anacortes area, you’ll enjoy this spot.

Visit Deception Pass: One of our personal favorite places in the park is Rosario Beach. My grandfather was a biologist and taught there, so I’ve been visiting this amazing place as long as I can remember. It’s worth planning to spend at least a few hours exploring the park and the beaches. If your family enjoys camping, you’ll want to come back in the summer.

Please note that you’ll need a Discover Pass to access the Washington state recreation lands.

Storvik Park, Anacortes: This playground has a huge place for the kids to run, climb and get all their energy out. During the summer it’s a favorite, as there’s also a splash pad for the little guys.

Washington Park, Anacortes: Located along the water, this is a beautiful place to bring your picnic. Enjoy views of the boats going in and out, while the kids play on the playground.

Places to go for a walk or enjoy views of the valley

Padilla Bay Trail: Stroller and bike friendly, you’ll enjoy a beautiful and flat walk along the bay, where the Skagit River meets the Salish Sea.

Little Mountain Park: A covered viewpoint provides a spectacular look at the Skagit Valley, San Juan Islands, Olympic Mountains, and the tulip fields. The park also provides miles and miles of hiking trails.

A few must-dos when you visit this area

Christianson’s Nursery:. One of my all time top favorite places, this is the ultimate stop for every gardener. In addition to having an amazing selection of plants, they have a beautiful garden themed gift shop, vintage glass greenhouses and the largest selection of potted garden roses in the state. Bring your checkbook and plan to stay a couple of hours!

Enjoy Chuckanut drive: This 24 mile curvy route hugs the Chuckanut mountains. Chuckanut Drive overlooks Samish Bay and offers gorgeous views of the San Juan Islands and Chuckanut Bay.

Take a ride into the San Juan Islands on a ferry: From Anacortes you can park your car and walk on the ferry for a fun day trip. Enjoy a relaxing ride, while watching for whales. You can also drive on and then spend the day or take a longer vacation exploring one of the islands.

The Red Door Antique Mall: Located in historic downtown Mount Vernon, this is one of the best places to look for unique treasures. The gals who own it are a riot and I always find so many wonderful things to take home. With 20 vendors under one roof, inventory changes on a daily basis and the selection is unmatched. Many of the props and vases that we use in our studio and photoshoots come from the Red Door. If you get a chance to visit tell the ladies we sent you!

Recommended places to eat

Seeds Bistro in LaConner: Featuring seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farms, free-range chicken, grass-fed beef, and fresh seafood from our local fishing community, there are a million reasons to visit this charming place. It’s one of our favorite restaurants in the area.

LaConner Pub and Eatery: For the best fish and chips and a beautiful view while you enjoy your meal, LaConner Pub and Eatery is the place to be. Call ahead of time and have them save you a spot right on the water.

Nell Thorn in LaConner: A little jewel of northwest! They offer a fresh, daily menu of artisan made, sustainable, farm to table NW fare, craft cocktails, fine wines, & microbrews on tap. Awesome food with incredible views!

COA Mexican Eatery: We love this place! Everything is super fresh and they have awesome margaritas. Locations are in LaConner and Mt. Vernon.

Il Granaio: If you’re craving amazing Italian food, this is your place. Having earned the reputation as the Skagit Valley’s best authentic Italian restaurant, Il Granaio incorporates the flavors of fresh, local ingredients into traditional Italian recipes. The bonus is that it’s located in the old grainary building of Mount Vernon. A true beauty!

Skagit Valley Food Co-Op: If you’re looking for a sustainably sourced deli or some wonderful grocery items, go here. This is the natural marketplace for our community and it features something perfect for everyone.

Valley Shine Distillery: Valley Shine Distillery provides an inviting atmosphere to enjoy small batch spirits, craft cocktails and unique tapas. They offer a delicious lunch and dinner menu that they refer to as “Farm to Market Classic Comfort Food with a Twist”. All ages are welcome.

C•Square and Third Street Cafe: C•SQUARE is a wonderful marketplace of specialty food shops and a farm-to-table restaurant, the Third Street Cafe. Bonus tip- try their coffee!

Snowgoose Produce: Known for their “Immodest Ice Cream Cones” Snowgoose Produce is a seasonal, family run, country market located in the Skagit Valley. They offer incredible organic produce and local fare such as fresh and smoked seafood, baked breads, artisan cheeses and carefully selected wines. When you stop by be sure to tell the owner Vico hello! What a nice guy he is!

The Donut House, Anacortes: A fun little stop before heading to a park or onto one of the San Juan Island ferries. This shop has a huge selection of fresh baked goodies and very affordable prices.

Taylor Shellfish: If you like oysters, you’ll love this spot. Since the 1890’s Taylor Shellfish has been farming high quality, sustainable shellfish. Feast in the waterfront picnic area, or take your goodies to go.

Slough Foods, Edison: Awesome for wine, fancy meat and cheese. Our good friend John owns it- tell him we sent you!

Breadfarm, Edison: Located in the small village of Edison, Washington, just off of scenic Chuckanut Drive in beautiful Skagit Valley. Breadfarm is an artisan bakery focusing on naturally leavened breads, rustic pastry and pantry staples. Every item is beautifully handcrafted.

Tweets Cafe, Edison: Tweets has great food, especially breakfast and ice cream. Featuring an artisan cafe, organic coffee, and farm to table northwest cuisine. Cash or check only!

As you enjoy the beauty of Skagit Valley, I hope these ideas help you feel welcomed, and a little bit more like a local.

And if you’re from around here, and you have a few favorite places you’d like to share, please post them in the comments below!

Read more: Growing with Landscape Fabric

#vancouver florist

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altughuner-blog · 5 years

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If there’s one thing I love, it’s a good road trip. There’s something so be said about the freedom of an open road- a fresh playlist to jam out to, a selection of good snacks to munch on, and if you’re really lucky, a few companions that enjoy the spontaneity of venturing to new places as much as you do.

After gaining inspiration from Seattle Met Magazine’s “The Prettiest Road Trip in the Pacific Northwest” I figured what better way to see the fall foliage than a day trip around the Cascade Loop. I rallied a few friends and off we went.

This trip can be navigated in a handful of ways, but we decided to stick to the outline highlighted in Seattle Met’s article. We started from State Route 20 just outside of Burlington, a small city about an hour north of Seattle, and headed east.

We decided to make our first stop for a quick leg stretch at a picnic area just outside of Rockport State Park, a public recreation area home to over 600 acres of old-growth forest to hike through.

Views overlooking the Skagit Valley River and Northern Cascade peaks in the distance Alex Simon

The southwestern edge of this park was a highlight for me in its own right – after cruising past the soft rolling mountains that greet you at the foothills of the Northern Cascades, we turned around a bend and were immediately faced with views of jagged peaks off in the distance and the flowing Skagit Valley River. We took a moment to enjoy the crisp, fall air and then back to the route we went.

Close-up views of North Cascade Mountain peaks Alex Simon

Did you know the Northern Cascades extend north 700 miles from California, through Oregon and Washington, to southern B.C., Canada? Alex Simon

About 90 minutes and one U-turn later, we found ourselves on an unexpected, but greatly appreciated detour across the Diablo Dam. At 540 ft. high and 1,300ft. long, we were surrounded by stunning views of Diablo Lake’s turquoise waters.

Sunbeams shining down on runoff waters from the Diablo Dam Alex Simon

There is a small foot ferry located on the northern side of the dam that makes runs from Diablo Lake to Ross Lake twice daily. We arrived in-between crossings and instead of waiting for the next departure, we took the opportunity to soak up some sunshine alone on the dock before continuing on.

Views overlooking the west end of Diablo Lake Alex Simon

Fall foliage contrasting against turquoise waters at Diablo Lake Alex Simon

There couldn’t have been a better day to make this journey. The green, yellow and orange foliage in contrast with the blues of the water and sky was completely mesmerizing. Once back on State Route 20, we were only about 15 minutes away from “beach” access to Thunder Arm, a narrow extension of Diablo Lake. Eager to be up-close to the water, we pulled off into the gravel parking lot of Thunder Knob Campground and followed a path to the water’s edge.

Beach access at Thunder Knob Campground Alex Simon

We spent some time wandering around the lake, finding creeks of run-off water and enjoying how fortunate we had been to be one of the few small groups out there. Knowing that we still had another view of this lake to be seen from above, we continued east on our route and were soon greeted with a vista viewpoint that seemed to have called in travelers from all over.

Looking down on Diablo Lake from the vista point Alex Simon

Diablo Lake Vista Point was a highly informative stop with a handful of plaques that highlight the various peaks surrounding the lake and an insight to the different types of trout that live beneath the surface.

When we started this journey, Diablo Lake was to be the end of our trip; We had expected to circle back at this point and head home the way we had come. However, a desire for hot food (and the closest gas station calling us further east), we made the decision to fully commit to the loop. Much to our delight, we found ourselves headed west towards Winthrop, Washington; a small town reminiscent of days long-passed.

A friend to greet you outside of Sheri’s Sweet Shop in Winthrop, Washington Alex Simon

The whole town is something right out of a 1960’s western film. If you find yourself passing through, be sure to stop by their Shafer Museum and learn a bit about the history of the families that settled here long ago and the legacy they left behind.

We hung around the area until dusk, popping in and out of saloons and mom ‘n’ pop shops before we had to say goodbye and begin our 4-hour trek back to Seattle.

If there’s one piece of advice I’d leave the next traveler inspired by this journey, it would be to allow yourself more than a day to experience the full loop. Give yourself the flexibility to spend more time at your destinations! In eagerness to get home, we opted out of a small detour through Leavenworth, a Bavarian inspired village tucked into the foothills of the Cascades famous for their alpine-style buildings adorned with Christmas lights and bier gartens serving authentic German cuisine. I would have loved to stay and linger longer, but luckily for this local, Levenworth is just another day trip away and I know I’ll be back.

The post A Day in the North Cascades appeared first on Visit Seattle.

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