Methow Made 2021 by Methow Valley News

METHOW MADE

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Pixie Mead

bottles sunlight and nectar in new valley product

Food & Drink

Natural, nutritious & tasty

Arts & Crafts

Creativity on a personal scale

Home & Health

Surround yourself with well being

food, beverage and artisan craftsmakers profiled in pull-out section

New for

2021

A SUPPLEMENT TO

THE METHOW VALLEY NEWS SPONSORED BY METHOW MADE A PROGRAM OF TWISPWORKS

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METHOW MADE NEW FOR 2021

METHOW MADE Don Nelson, publisher/editor Natalie Johnson, managing editor Sheila Ward, advertising Tera Evans, office manager Joe Novotny, design CONTRIBUTORS Natalie Johnson Ann McCreary Marcy Stamper Ashley Lodato Steve Mitchell Joanna Bastian

4 6 11

Lifting each other up

Community, businesses come together to get through pandemic year

From bees to bottle

Pixie Mead bottles longtime love of bees, honey

Made here, sold here Valley Goods is home for small Methow makers

Middle Pages

Methow Made Guide

A publication of the Methow Valley News P.O. Box 97, 502 S. Glover St., Twisp, WA 98856 (509) 997-7011 • fax (509) 997-3277 www.methowvalleynews.com ON THE COVER: Photo by Steve Mitchell

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Stronger than before Artisans adapt to changing pandemic market

‘The pollen is the flavor’

Elderflower liqueur one of Methow’s newest alcoholic offerings

Wild Plum Farm

Every animal has a job at this farm

Methow Made business directory

Methow makers adapt, grow, thrive In the last year and a half, businesses of all kinds have had to reevaluate the most basic parts of their operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Foot-traffic to studios and retail spaces dropped with temporary closures and social distancing measures, while virtual traffic to websites exploded. Holiday craft fairs were all but eliminated, but Methow Valley Goods is now a permanent fixture at TwispWorks (page 11). Things change, but some change is good. Methow Made was created by TwispWorks to help Methow Valley makers, artisans, farmers and more market their work and grow their businesses in and out of the valley. During the pandemic, Twispworks expanded its efforts to reach out to area businesses and awarded $115,000 in small business grants to 60 businesses to help them ride out the pandemic year. Artisans felt an upswell of local support during the pandemic, as shoppers sought out meaningful gifts or ways to support their community (page 13), or local produce and meat products (page 19). Though some businesses slowed down, Methow makers were just as creative as ever. In the past year, two new alcoholic products have harnessed the flavor of pollen. Longtime bee lovers and honey producers Benjamin Pixie and Maeyoka Brightheart are bottling several varieties of Pixie Mead in the Lower Valley (page 6), while Peggy Porter and Laurel Spelman spent last June scouring hillsides for the best elderberry blossoms for their elderflower liqueur (page 17). As restrictions start to loosen, makers in the Methow are looking forward to things getting back to normal, but say their pandemic adaptations have made them even stronger than before. For a full listing of Methow Made members, see the Methow Made Guide in the middle pages of this magazine, or go to http:// methowmade.com for more information. 3

Another unprecedented year for TwispWorks and the Methow Valley By Don Linnertz Executive director, TwispWorks

T hardly seems like there was a time before the pandemic, but as we emerge from the past 15 months, 2021 is shaping up to be a good year. Looking back, 2020 was like no other in TwispWorks history. It is true that extraordinary efforts were made in the past to establish the Public Development Authority that acquired our 6.4-acre campus from the U.S. Forest Service. And anyone who has watched the campus transform into a community hub of creative economic Photo courtesy of TwispWorks development over the past 12 years can’t deny the innova- BCS Livestock, which specializes in lamb and wool products, is a Methow Made member. tion and generosity that rose chance to stop by the store, you up from our incredible com- can visit methowvalleygoods.com and shop the many product lines! munity to make it happen. But 2020 was an unprecMETHOW INVESTMENT edented year for TwispWorks NETWORK in so many ways.

METHOW MADE Incredibly, our local makers program, Methow Made, grew its membership by 54% and expanded its reach to more than 80 vendors through the establishment of the Methow Valley Goods store on the TwispWorks campus. The store, traditionally a holiday pop-up, will remain open yearround and has become a vital sales channel for local makers and artists. If you missed your 4

During the pandemic, investor sentiment cooled, but interest in local investing heated up. The Methow Investment Network grew to more than 75 members who have made $4 million in loans to growing Methow Valley businesses. You may be sipping a beverage, toting your goods or having your auto maintained right now by one of these small companies that are an important core in our local economy. During the relaunch of pitch

Photo by Natalie Johnson

Valley Goods carries pottery, textiles, art, candles and more made by Methow Valley artisans.

nights this past February, six prospective businesses presented to an eager group of investors and four of the businesses were fully funded with mentors rising up from the group to help the other two refine business models and pitch techniques. You can learn more or become a member by visiting www.TwispWorks. org/Methow investment network.

BUSINESS OUTREACH EXPANDS These tried-and-true programs are what TwispWorks is most known for off of our beautiful campus, but the challenges of 2020 called on us to expand our reach to virtually every business and sole proprietor in the Methow Valley. We started with every list of businesses we could get our hands on and began a massive outreach campaign to raise awareness of new programs designed to help entrepreneurs cope with the challenges presented by the pandemic and to share the latest safety protocols. Through this effort and word of mouth, we developed a list of 525 small businesses and established a critical communication pipeline that kept our local business community strong and resilient. Our Small Business Emergency Grant program raised and awarded $115,000 in small grants to 60 local businesses to

Photos courtesy of TwispWorks

Old Schoolhouse Brewery is located on TwispWorks’ campus. A total of 60 businesses benefited from Small Business Emergency Grants from TwispWorks in 2020. help them navigate the most trying times. As of this writing, 524 of our Methow Valley businesses are still operating – a true success story! We look forward to developing these important relationships and expanding our programming to meet the emerging needs of our local business community.

WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER Long-time TwispWorks Partner and radio celebrity Don Ashford is well known for saying “We’re all in this together!” As we put the pandemic in the rear-view mirror, we once again celebrate the profound truth of this phrase.

509 Automotive participated in TwispWorks’ Methow Investment Network. As it has in the past, the Methow Valley community has shown up in extraordinary ways that have hastened our recovery and will continue to help create a vibrant

and resilient economy that works for everyone. We are so grateful to our supporters and community partners for making this possible. Thank you, Methow Valley! 5

Pixie Mead bottles several varieties of its product here in the Methow Valley. 6

All photos by Steve Mitchell

Benjamin Pixie made his first mead at 18. Now Pixie Mead brews the beverage using honey from his own bees.

FROM BEES TO BOTTLE Pixie Mead debuts unique new Methow Valley products By Joanna Bastian

IXIE Mead is more than just sunlight and nectar gathered by bees and collected into bottles by the Pixie family. Pixie Mead is a bee sanctuary nestled in the foothills of the North Cascades. Here, Benjamin Pixie, Maeyoka Brightheart

and their children nurture the land and their treatmentfree hives. This act of reciprocity culminates in unique botanical meads that celebrate both plants and bees. Pixie made his first mead when he was 18. He described the experience as a gateway drug to beekeeping. To continue making mead and

to learn more about the process, he partnered with beekeepers to learn the art of caring for pollinators and harvesting gifts from the hive. He captured his first swarm a few years later and started Pixie Honey Company. Mead is often described as a honey wine — made when honey ferments with water — but is technically in its own class of alcoholic beverage. The alcohol content is on a range similar to wine. The

taste depends on the honey, and on any other ingredients added by the brewers.

A BEE-CENTRIC APPROACH For a time, Pixie worked for a large almond pollination company. “It was heart-breaking and eye opening,” he says. Because of that experience, Pixie dedicated himself to learn how to listen to 7

At Pixie Mead, the whole family gets involved in beekeeping.

the bees and support their needs. He developed organic, treatment free, bee-centered methods of care, including frequent splitting to break up the brood cycle, a smaller foundation to mimic a natural cell size, and access to an abundance of various types of organic pollinator habitat in remote locations. These practices enrich the health of the bees and the products harvested from the hive: pollen, propolis, wax and honey. With his background in botanical medicine, Pixie looks to the bees as an inspiration to create food as medicine.

A FAMILY AFFAIR Pixie and Brightheart initially met at a Skalitude resort gathering near Carlton. The two connected

over their shared love of bees — Brightheart was a beekeeper working on small farms. The couple kept returning to Skalitude, a place where their children took their first steps, and where the couple held their commitment ceremony. When the opportunity blossomed, Pixie and Brightheart moved to Skalitude. High above Libby Creek at the end of Smith Canyon, Pixie knew this land wanted to make honey. The name “Skalitude” is a Salish word that translates as, “to be in harmony with nature.” Pixie Mead is a family business. The youngest two children of the Brightheart-Pixie family, 7 and 8 years old, enjoy working with the bees. The young ones enthusiastically suit up in their own childsized bee suits and examine frames

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of brood. The older two siblings assist with extracting honey and bottling product. Between the Methow Valley and the western side of the North Cascades, Pixie Mead cares for 60 to 100 hives at any given time. The different ecosystems yield a myriad of flavors each season. Maple Blossom Honey is produced on the west side of the mountains when the maple trees flower and the nectar flows. A strong maple blossom season only happens every three to four years, when the spring weather is just right. Brightheart and Pixie agreed, the maple honey and mead were personal favorites. Wildflower honey and mead is primarily produced from Skalitude’s meadows and surrounding forests.

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A POLLINATOR SANCTUARY The Pixie style of beekeeping can best be described as a conscientious practice of reverence towards plants and bees. As noted on the Pixie Mead website, www. PixieMead.com, the production of mead benefits the ecosystem from where it was harvested. As honeybees pollinate and fertilize plants and flowers, the land becomes, “more diverse, more fecund, and more abundant…” Brightheart sees Skalitude as a pollinator sanctuary — an example of what is possible through reciprocity with the land and pollinators. “We bring together bee medicine and plant medicine. We like to make things that taste

Benjamin Pixie works at the Pixie Mead bottling facility. Their products are available at select retail outlets in the Methow Valley. really good, and we want to inspire more people to have reverence for bees.” In a normal year, 5% of Pixie Mead profits go towards building and restoring habitat for honeybees and other pollinators. The effort increased ten-fold in 2020, despite a decrease in profits as a result of COVID pandemic precautions. Historically, most sales occur at annual festivals. COVID precautions closed the festivals in

2020 and Pixie Mead shifted gears to weather the change. Pixie Mead focused on distribution to retail outlets through Methow Made and providing online sales for customers. The Methow Investment Network made it possible for Pixie Mead to expand critical resources through the purchase of equipment and additional plantings to expand pollinator forage. The slowdown in business gave

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Pixie Mead uses treatment-free hives to havest the honey for its products. them time to build and plant. “We have not traveled this year and we’ve been able to focus on the land and bees,” Brightheart said. Walking towards the meadow, an expansive plowed garden came into view. Pixie gestured to the meadow and growing plants. “We planted more pollinator forage and drought tolerant plants to feed bees and native pollinators during the dry dearth of summer,” he said, listing drought tolerant native species, such as Russian Sage, that are critical to pollinators during dry summer months.

Farm

WHERE TO BUY Pixie Mead offers a wide range of organic products from the hive. Honey is available in a variety of flavors: Skalitude’s wildflower honey, blackberry and maple honey from the west side, and infused honeys with flavors of rose, arrowleaf balsamroot, hawthorne berry and more. Customers will find high-quality beeswax and candles, pollen, salves and specially formulated tinctures and tonics. And, the highlight, Pixie Mead craft meads are brewed using an array of different honeys and infused with

wildcrafted botanicals to create a delicious collection of honey wine. The Pixie Mead Club offers members a complimentary tasting flight at the Skalitude Honeybee Sanctuary tasting room, a first taste of Pixie Mead’s newest creations, and the option to purchase last bottles before a batch sells out. Pixie Mead products can be found at Methow Valley Goods on the TwispWorks campus, on the Methow Made displays in retail stores, and online at www.PixieMead.com.

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“I really want to take this opportunity to share the news of our up-and-coming distillery in Okanogan County,” Pixie said. In the future, The Spirit of the Hive distillery will produce honey spirits infused with botanicals that Pixie grows, or wildcrafts. Customers can look forward to tastings at the Skalitude Lodge featuring Pixie Honey Mead and future Spirits of the Hive products like honeyshine aged in oak, and honey absinthe. To learn more about Pixie Mead, visit www.PixieMead.com.

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MADE HERE, SOLD HERE Valley Goods provides home for small makers, outlet for seasoned artisans By Natalie Johnson

HETHER you’ve got an established business, a hobby or a side hustle, Methow Valley Goods probably has a spot on its shelves for you. Valley Goods, in Building O at TwispWorks since November, is the storefront arm of Methow Made, a marketing program designed by TwispWorks to promote local products of all stripes. The vendors at Valley Goods aren’t all Methow Made members, but they’re still benefiting from the program when someone strolls through the shop. “We don’t really turn anybody away,” said Lindsey Bryson, retail operations and events manager at TwispWorks and the manager of Valley Goods. “Basically we just make room for anybody that wants to sell here.” Right now, the store is packed full of books by local authors, scarves, T-shirts, hats, pillows, pottery, greeting cards, original art prints, photographs, soap, candles, honey and of course, local beer, wine, cider and mead. Some of the store’s inventory comes from established Methow Valley businesses — like Old Schoolhouse Brewery. Others are artists or crafters who are just getting started. For them, Valley Goods is a sort of incubator space to help them get their business going without having to make a commitment to getting their own storefront. Valley Goods sells their items on commission — Methow Made members get a slightly better rate, and sellers who volunteer to work shifts at the shop get another boost in commission. “We definitely want to make it worth it for the artist,” Bryson said. “That was the whole point,

All photos by Natalie Johnson

Valley Goods is located at TwispWorks and is an outlet for numerous Methow Valley artisans.

Methow Valley Goods

Building O of TwispWorks — the South Warehouse, Unit 1 Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday (509) 997-2053 https:// methowvalleygoods. com/ Valley Goods carries a variety of cards featuring local art.

Valley Goods artisan profile — Jan Kittleson

Lindsey Bryson is the retail operations and events manager for TwispWorks, and manages Valley Goods. to try to make them sustainable for themselves.” The store also brings together items that can be found from Carlton to Mazama, but never before in the same place. “A central location is really important,” Bryson said. “So many people have commented that they love it that they don’t have to go to Mazama, go to Winthrop, go all over the valley to get things they’d like to purchase.” Valley Goods opened its store on Nov. 24, 2020, just in time for the holiday shopping season. In past years, it had been a holiday season pop-up shop, but this is the first time it’s had a permanent storefront. TwispWorks really wasn’t sure what the community’s reaction would be, especially during

the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s been a really great response,” Bryson said. “It exceeded the budget by eight times (for the Christmas season.)” TwispWorks has more planned for Valley Goods. The website is online but still getting updated, Bryson said, and they’re hoping for more traffic and orders through that site. Bryson said she’d also like to expand the shop’s offering from Methow Made’s agricultural and food-producing members, though right now they’d need more cooler space. “I think it’s definitely worth joining (Methow Made) just to be supportive of the valley and the people,” she said. “There’s so many people that are talented in this valley, it’s crazy.”

Textile artist Jan Kittleson sells her Ochre at Home line of pillows, table runners and other home items at Methow Valley Goods. A former occupational therapist, Kittleson said she’s always been motivated to work with her hands to create something, which she said is vital to a person’s mental and physical health and their quality of life. “What I’ve done my entire life is work with my hands,” she said. Many of her pillows and table runners on display at the store this spring were made from Mali mudcloth she purchased while on a trip to Africa. The cloth is hand-spun by women and woven by men, Kittleson said. “This is all hands on stuff,” she said. Kittleson’s love of travel helps her find the unique fabrics she uses for her products. She’s been to Africa, Europe and the Middle East, among other places. She also enjoys working with vintage indigo fabric and Kanthas, or repurposed saris from India. Her love of working with unique fabric was inspired by her mother, who made all of her clothes while she was growing Jan Kittleson, a textile up on a Swedish-made Elna artist, brings her fabrics sewing machine. back from travels in Africa, “I’m using the same machine India and elsewhere. to make my fabrics,” she said. “The sucker’s 70 years old and it’s still running like a trooper.” Kittleson has lived in the Methow Valley for four years and previously lived on Vashon Island and in Port Townsend. “Part of what attracted me … to come here was TwispWorks,” she said, adding that she appreciated the organization’s support of local artists. “I got to learn about the other folks, meet people. This is kind of who I am.”

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PULL OUT THIS HANDY GUIDE AND TAKE IT WITH YOU WHEN YOU SHOP

Methow Made makes it easy for people who love the Methow Valley to experience local products and flavors and to support our local economy. This 2021 Methow Made Guide connects you to the manufacturers, farmers, artisan food and beverage producers, artists and craftspeople who make their products with ingredients and/or labor from right here in the Methow Valley. For more information, visit MethowMade.com or call us at (509) 997-3300.

RETAIL PARTNERS UPPER VALLEY Mazama Store Aspen Grove Methow Cycle & Sport Methow Valley Thriftway

Rocking Horse Bakery Sun Mountain Gift Shop Twisp Daily Business The Winthrop Store Glover Street Market

Hank’s Harvest Foods MID & LOWER VALLEY Sweet River Bakery

Methow Made is a program of TwispWorks, whose mission is to increase economic vitality in the Methow Valley through programs in agriculture, education, technology and art. Learn more at TwispWorks. org, or visit our campus at the intersection of Highway 20 and Glover Street in Twisp.

METHOWMADE.COM B1

LOOK FOR DISPLAYS OF METHOW MADE PRODUCTS AT VARIOUS RETAILERS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY

ARTISAN GOODS

BRISTLE & STICK

Betania of Bristle & Stick Handcrafted Brooms makes magical sweepers the old way- from the forest to your floor, woven & tied by hand. Visit their studio on the TwispWorks campus or check out their website - www.bristleandstick.com

ANNE ACHESON PHOTOGRAPHY

BURNT GINGER STUDIOS

Anne Acheson has been an “accidental” photographer since her teens. She specializes in photos capturing contrasting colors and unusual lines and shadows. You can find her work at Methow Valley Goods, local farmers markets and on her website www. anneachesonphoto.com, facebook: anneachesonphoto & Instagram: @anneachesonphotography

Methow-based jewelry designer Paris Lilly founded Burnt Ginger with the idea of creating unique pieces of jewelry that are not only beautiful but also durable. You can find her work at Methow Valley Goods. Email Paris - mauiburntginger@gmail.com.

ANNE PECK WATERCOLORS

CONFLUENCE POETS

ART BY MASHA FALKOV

CULLER STUDIO

Anne Peck specializes in whimsical, colorful, watercolors that often feature chickens, range cattle, pigs and other farm animals. She frequently shows at local galleries and you can find her work at Methow Valley Goods. You can reach Anne at peckanne44@ gmail.com

Masha Falkov is an artist working in digital media, lampworked glass, and ink. Inside her TwispWorks studio you’ll find otherworldly curiosities including lampworked glass organisms, a Molecule Zoo, and vivid ink and digital color canvases. Contact Masha: (509) 978-9037 - email MashaFalkov@gmail.com or visit her website www.mashafalkov.com

BEADING BY SONORA JANE

Twisp based beading artist Susan Finn creates jewelry, ornaments, & trinkets using semi-precious gemstones, Czech glass, Japanese seed beads & Chinese crystals. You can find her work on line at beadingbysonorajane.com, at Methow Valley Goods in Twisp and at the Sunday Market in Winthrop. beadingbysonorajane@gmail. com.

Confluence Poets incorporates a diverse group of poets and writers from throughout the Methow Valley. You can find their work at Methow Valley Goods and on their website – www.confluencepoets.com.

Textile/surface design Artist Sara Ashford uses solely natural dyes for her one-of-a-kind wearable & ﬁne art pieces. Visit Sara’s studio and dye garden at TwispWorks and learn about her many classes. 502 S. Glover St. (Twisp) (509) 341-4042 Cullerstudio@gmail. com. Follow her on Facebook!

DAWN HEATH STUDIO

Upcycle artist Dawn Heath turns vintage and repurposed materials into fun and unique accessories for the home. Contact Dawn at dawn.heath@rocketmail.com

ARTISAN GOODS

DOG PAW KNIVES

FOXTAIL POTTERY

DRAGONFISH ARTS

GARDNER GARDENS

EMILY POST POTTERY

GRACE ASHFORD DESIGNS

EQPD

HANNAH VIANO STUDIO

FIREWEED PRINT SHOP

HARVEY’S HUMBLES

Career –bureaucrat turned knife maker Phil Millam handcrafts custom hunting and kitchen knives for clients, using a range of materials and designs.

Winthrop-based glass artist Chris Duke creates beautiful pieces for the home and garden. You can find Dragonfish Art at Methow Valley Goods and other local retailers. dragonfish_arts@hotmail.com

Emily’s distinctive “sgrafﬁto” carved mugs, plates, large mixing bowls, tumblers, vases, and other handmade vessels are a reﬂection of her love of clay, nature, cooking and the Methow Valley. (509) 341-4710 www. emilypostpottery.com

Honest designs, durable construction. Building great bags in the Methow since 2013. LastBags, WideTotes, BasketBoxes, StadiumBags and more. Visit us on the TwispWorks Campus - open M-Sat 10-4 www. eqpdgear.com

Artist Laura Gunnip helps students of all ages engage in the radical act of creative self-knowledge through letterpress and printmaking classes. Fireweed Print Shop is a community resource as well as a retail space of Laura’s handprinted items. Visit Laura at her shop on the TwispWorks Campus and find Fireweed products at Methow Valley Goods.

Foxtail Pottery’s distinctive dark colored stoneware clay body contrasts with lush glaze colors and highlights Mandy Shoger’s bold pattern designs. Her work is primarily functional and is designed for everyday use. 502 S. Glover St. (Twisp) www.foxtailpottery. com.

Beekeeper Dave Sabold harvests beeswax from his backyard colonies to create Gardner Gardens Beeswax Skin Cream, using allnatural coconut, almond oils and vitamin E. Available at Methow Valley retailers. (509) 996-2522 www.gardnergardens.com

Grace Ashford is a Twisp-based jewelry designer who works in sterling silver, copper and stones such as turquoise. You can visit her studio on the TwispWorks campus and find her work at Methow Valley Goods and on her website - www.graceashford.com

Hannah Viano is an adventurous artist, author, and illustrator making art in the Methow Valley. You can visit Hannah at her studio on the TwispWorks campus or find her works at Methow Valley Goods or her website – www.HannahViano.com

Twisp-based fiber artist Linda Harvey is a self-described Compulsive Maker of Things. Linda’s iconic knit hats, booties and critters can be found at local farmers markets and at Methow Valley Goods on the TwispWorks campus.

ARTISAN GOODS

HOTSPOT FIRE PITS

KIKENDALL’S WOOD TURNING

INTERTWINED DESIGNS

LA BOMB!

Tim Odell’s fire pits are locally made by craftspeople and skilled metalworkers dedicated to quality and longevity, with many of the fire pits made from recycled scrap steel. 1211 Cascade Dr. (Twisp) (509) 997-4766 www.hotspotfirepits.com

Intertwined Designs produces high-quality, eco-friendly clothing out of a home-based studio in Mazama. Find them locally at the Methow Valley Farmer’s Market and local retailers including Valley Goods at TwispWorks. Visit on-line or follow on social media to learn about their process of creating sustainably made clothing. (360) 319-0342 www.intertwineddesigns.com.

FOOD & GROCERY

Utilizing wood salvaged from dead trees around his home in Carlton, Washington, Duane Kikendall works on the lathe as a hobby, turning items from bottle stoppers to peppermills, all from the local woods that surround his home. Available at Methow Valley retailers.

Mother and daughter team Melissa and Ally Hovee are the creative minds behind LaBomb bath products. Their line of bath bombs, salves and jelly soaps are all made right here in the Methow Valley and available at Methow Valley Goods. Contact Melissa at mrayeproductions@gmail.com.

FOOD & GROCERY

CINNAMON TWISP BAKERY

Celebrating over 25 years in Twisp! Traditional pastries, vegan delights and savory sandwiches all made with local, organic and wholesome ingredients. Espresso, smoothies & shakes too! 116 N. Glover Street (Twisp) (509) 997-5030 www.cinnamontwisp.com

BCS LIVESTOCK

DOUBLETREE FARM

BLUEBIRD GRAIN FARMS

HIGHWAY 20 HONEY

Using a holistic approach to farming, BCS Livestock produces high quality 100% grassfed lamb and beef meat and wool products. Order meat and wool products as well as a verity of food from other local farms at bcslivestock.com.

Bluebird Grain Farms is your source for the finest 100% certified organic ancient grains, fresh-milled flour, and whole-grain handcrafted blends. CSA monthly deliveries, gift boxes, and more are available at www.bluebirdgrainfarms. com. Products can also be found at local retailers. Find us on Facebook or Instagram @ bluebirdgrainfarms. Call or email us: (509) 9963526 / info@bluebirdgrainfarms.com

Doubletree Farm employs dairy methods that have beneficial environmental impacts and humane animal husbandry at the root of its actions. Their vat pasteurized, nonhomogenized whole milk is available at stores throughout the Methow Valley and Okanogan.

Each of the queens is known by name at this small family-run apiary in Mazama, where the kids help to harvest beautiful, golden honey made from pristine wildﬂower nectar. Found at Methow Valley retailers including at Methow Valley Goods.

ARTISAN GOODS

LEARNED WORKS

LUCINDA’S BOTANICAL SALVES

LUCID GLASSWORKS

MARCIA IVES POTTERY

Kathleen Learned is a ceramic artist inspired by nature – flowing rivers, unfurling ferns and mountains of rock. Kathleen shows her work at local galleries and sells at Methow Valley Goods. Contact Kathleen can be reached at klearned@seanet.com.

Custom, handblown, functional, drinkware made by Samantha Carlin. Available at select retailers, markets and on her website. Cell/ text (509)- 341-9102. Lucidglassworks.com.

FOOD & GROCERY

Healing salves and oils from local plants including perfumes from downed pine branches, moisturizing antiseptics from cottonwood, nerve renewal from St. John’s Wort, muscle relief from Arnica and more. Available at the Mazama Store or by contacting (206) 550 3666 www. reﬂexologyandsalves.com.

Marcia encourages you to eat, drink and be merry with a piece of beautiful handmade pottery in your hands! Her work can be found at private viewings in her studio, on Instagram, and at galleries and shops throughout the Methow Valley. IG: instagram. com/marciaraeives/ MarciaRaeIves@gmail.com (206) 719-2389

FOOD & GROCERY

METHOW GOLD HONEY

TEXAS CREEK PRODUCTS

SUNNY PINE FARM

TWISP RIVER ORGANIC APPLES

SWEET RIVER BAKERY

WILD PLUM FARM

Blane has been producing his Methow Gold Honey for 40 years. From his apiary located on the banks of the Methow River, Blane’s bees are free to enjoy the wide variety of wildflowers that are native to the Methow. Visit Blane at the Methow Valley Farmers market or get his honey at local retailers.

Sunny Pine’s organic goat’s milk chevre, feta, and yogurt is produced on the upper Twisp River, and includes both traditional and unique ﬂavor proﬁles. Find Sunny Pine at various Methow stores and at retailers throughout the northwest including Chelan, Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Seattle, Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, Portland, Eugene and Bend. (509) 997-4812 www.sunnypinefarm.com

A sweet spot at the confluence of the Columbia and Methow rivers – Sweet River Bakery uses fresh local and regional ingredients to make their breads, pastries, sandwiches and pizza from scratch! Espresso too! 203 Pateros Mall (Pateros)

Texas Creek’s award-winning fresh salsa and hot sauces are produced from locally grown peppers and tomatoes. Their Pure Evil Capsaicin Drops add heat to any food without changing the ﬂavor. (509)997-5420 www.purevilproducts.com

Twisp River Organic Apples grows 30 varieties of organic apples. They are selected for full flavored tree ripened qualities. Their fruit is available at the Methow Valley Farmer’s in Twisp or by phone 509 997-2819. Find us on Facebook

Wild Plum Farm specializes in producing high quality pork, chicken and eggs. All of our animals are raised on pasture using low-stress management practices. Visit the website www.TheWildPlumFarm.com

ARTISAN GOODS

MCFARLAND CREEK LAMB RANCH

METHOW MUSINGS

Bill Tackman and Katie Haven raise a small ﬂock of sheep in the lower Methow Valley. They sell sustainably raised meat direct to customers, and their naturally dyed ﬁber products can be found at local retailers and their online store. (509) 449-6898 www. thelambranch.com

Over three decades of teaching taught Boo Schneider to be open to new ideas, the joy of life-long learning, and to create. Using a jeweler’s grade of copper and stones such as labradorite, moonstones, pearls, agates, and more - Boo never designs the same pair of earrings twice. You can find Boo’s work at retailers throughout the Valley including Methow Valley Goods.

MCIVOR WOODWORKS

METHOW PHOTO ARTS

Sustainably harvested and locally sourced wood made into functional art to accompany your daily life—from serving bowls to furniture by Don McIvor. Available at the Winthrop Gallery, the Conﬂuence Gallery, or by commission. (509) 997-9456 www. mcivorwoodworks.com

BEVERAGES

Sherry Malotte has been a photographer all her life specializing in abstract, fine art and mixed media work. You can view her work at the Winthrop Gallery, Confluence Gallery and online at www.sherrymalotte.com. 360-3032076.

BEVERAGES

LOST RIVER WINERY

Lost River Winery produces high-quality wines at excellent prices. Pick up a bottle at Methow Valley Goods or visit their tasting room in Winthrop. 26 Highway 20 Winthrop (509) 996-2888 www.lostriverwinery.com

BLUE STAR COFFEE ROASTERS

METHOW VALLEY CIDERHOUSE

LARIAT COFFEE ROASTERS

OLD SCHOOLHOUSE BREWERY

Artfully roasted coffees, including the awardwinning Espresso Blend, available at their coffee bar and roasting plant just off Hwy 20. 3 Twisp Airport Rd. (Twisp) (509) 997-BLUE (2583) www.bluestarcoffeeroasters.com

Award-winning coffees roasted in Winthrop. Try our fan favorites, Cowboy Mud, BarrelAged Limited Reserve or Black Colt Cold Brew. Visit our Winthrop store or order online we’ll ship to your door. 265 Riverside Ave (Winthrop) (509) 996-4240 www.lariatcoffee.com

The Methow Valley Ciderhouse is a family and dog friendly restaurant featuring our own award-winning ciders, as well as a selection of beers & wines on tap. Lunch and dinner with gluten free and vegan options. Live music Friday and Saturday nights, usually free. www.methowvalleyciderhouse. com

Award winning beers, created with the choicest hops, perfectly malted grains, and the Methow’s famously delicious unﬁltered, North Cascades water. 155 Riverside Ave. (Winthrop) 502 S. Glover St. (Twisp) (509) 996-3183 www.oldschoolhousebrewery.com

ARTISAN GOODS

MITCHELLIMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY

NICE NESTS

MOLLY’S SOAP

OCHRE AT HOME

Light, place and time are three photographic tenets that Winthrop-based photographer Stephen Mitchell lives by. He is especially known for his talent capturing the Methow’s beautiful night skies. Mitchellimage photography -www.mitchellimage.com 360-391-2394

Keeping the Methow clean since 1982, Molly’s Soap continues to make gentle, versatile and long-lasting soaps. Time-tested recipes driven by homegrown herbs, natural ingredients, and nothin’ nasty. Delivered fresh from the farm to retailers valley-wide. (360) 420-8132 info@mollysoap.com www.mollysoap.com BEVERAGES

PIXIE MEAD & HONEY

With a background in botanical medicine, Benjamin Pixie crafts unique and potent botanical meads that celebrate the plants and the bees, while returning reverence, magic, and medicine to the imbibing of alcohol. Find Pixie Mead at Methow Valley Goods and learn more at www.pixiemead. com

SINCLAIR ORCHARDS & CIDERHOUSE

Organic ciders, farm crafted in the Methow Valley. Available at retailers throughout the Methow. Their Taphouse in Winthrop is currently closed, but they are planning to reopen this summer. Deliveries by the case or keg are available by leaving a message at 509 996 3862 or emailing us at askknot@ sixknotcider.com. Thanks for your support.

WATERSHED SPIRITS LLC

Gathered in early morning along the rivers of the Methow Watershed, our Elderflower Liqueur captures warm floral notes, citrus and a hint of anise. 100% of profits from the sale of this product to benefit Methow Valley nonprofits. Find Watershed Spirits at Hank’s Harvest Foods in Twisp and the Wine Shed in Winthrop

Nice Nests are species-speciﬁc nest boxes crafted from salvaged scrap wood and funky found hardware. Patrick’s studio can be found on the TwispWorks campus. 502 S. Glover St. (Twisp) (509) 699-0349 www. nicenests.com

Textile artist Jan Kittleson of Ochre at Home creates wonderful accessories for the home. Find Ochre at Home at Methow Valley Goods on the TwispWorks campus. Contact Jan at jkittwinthrop@gmail.com

PA’NANA SOAP

Carly Reiser is the positive force behind the PA’Nana Soap Co. PA’Nana makes 100% hand crafted, individually designed, cold-process, small batch soaps right here in the Methow Valley. Available at Methow Valley Goods and on her website – www.panana-soap-co. square.site

PINETOOTH PRESS

We make awesome clothing. Every Saturday from July through August they’ll do it live! Drop in to shop and maybe even print your own shirt! Glover and 2nd Ave. Twisp Insta: @pinetooth www.pinetoothpress.com 541-337-5107

RED UMBRELLA DESIGNS

Red Umbrella Designs creates PNWinspired designs for you and your home and aims to inspire all humans to seek beauty, keep hope, and give kindness. Available at select local retailers and online at www. redumbrelladesign.com.

ARTISAN GOODS

SAWTOOTH RIDGE WOODWORKS

TRUE NORTH LETTERPRESS

SHE LOVES PRETTY

VITTORIA PALAZZI

SMILING WOODS YURTS

WATERSTONE WOODWORKS

STUDIO BESPOKE

WEATHERED SOUL

THERAPY CHICKEN ART

WILD ROOTS DESIGNS

Noelle and Jeff create beautifully crafted, functional home décor from their woodshop in Twisp. Known for their contemporary mantels, rustic floating shelves and vanity mirrors, Sawtooth Ridge also handles custom orders. www.sawtoothridgewoodworks.com

She Loves Pretty is a handcrafted accessories business founded by Olivia Cronin. From her studio located in Pateros, she designs and creates beautiful earrings and necklaces that embody her personal motto, “just make something pretty that you love.” Visit her website www.SheLovesPretty.com

Smiling Woods is a family-and-friend-owned business in Winthrop, offering solutions for people seeking to live in the round. Their yurts are durable, energy efficient, and aesthetically appealing while using high quality and environmentally friendly materials. www.smilingwoodsyurts.com 509996-9878.

Studio Bespoke’s one-of-a-kind handbags, dog wear, throw pillows, meditation pillows and home decor combine designer Teresa Mitchell’s passion for creative upcycling with her mission to both educate and mitigate the ecological and social impacts of the fashion industry. You can find Studio Bespoke at Methow Valley Goods on the TwispWorks campus.

Digital artist Tedra Hamel is a true “henthusiast”! Her pet chickens serve as inspiration and muses for her line of prints, greeting cards and paper products. Available at Methow Valley Goods and on insta @ therapy_chickens

Purveyors of handprinted cards and stationery that showcase the sumptuous, tactile qualities of letterpress printing. Find original art, books, prints, and cards at the True North studio shop located close to the Methow Valley Farmers Market. 117-B W 2nd Ave (Twisp). (509) 449-1081 www. truenorthletterpress.com

Vittoria Palazzi is a Methow Valley based photographer whose beautiful shots of horses inspire, enlighten and draw the viewer in for a closer look at her magnificent subjects. Find her prints, cards and art at Methow Valley Goods. Learn more about Vittoria at vittoriapalazzi.com

Nils Knudsen creates custom furniture and cabinetry showcasing the natural beauty of locally sourced wood. He now provides cabinetry exclusively for Methow Valley builders, however you can find his smaller furniture pieces for sale at Methow Valley Goods on the TwispWorks campus. (509) 683-2009

Weathered Soul Jewelry is where sassy cowgirl and vintage collide. Jewelry designer Jenni Tissell crafts quality for a lifetime with a look of time gone by and a bit of cowgirl or Native American flavor. Find her jewelry at Methow Valley Goods or online at www. weatheredsouljewelry.com

Cindy Ruprecht, the creative force behind Wild Roots Designs, is an artist, poet, and teacher. Cindy works in numerous medias including painting, beadwork, basketry, pottery and leather work. Her iconic notecards can be found at local retailers throughout the Valley. CindyRuprecht13@ gmail.com

Photo by Natalie Johnson

Laura Gunnip works in her shop on the TwispWorks campus.

STRONGER THAN BEFORE

Artisans adapt to changing market during pandemic By Ashley Lodato

HEN COVID-19 closed non-essential businesses, retail outlets, craft fairs and holiday bazaars, artisans and makers who were selling in those types of location-based venues wondered if their businesses would survive the pandemic.

“I

found that the art community rallied to make sure we all had access to support” – Laura Gunnip

Now, thanks to community support, strategic networking, and a willingness to adapt to changing sales environments, some of those small businesses are stronger than before. Although some Methow Valley artisans and makers did not previously have an online presence

established, those who did “saw huge support,” said Sarah Prochnau, director of partnerships and marketing programs for TwispWorks. “There was a real feeling of folks wanting to support local. Our community already does that, and then people in urban areas were looking for something

other than Amazon—which saw a huge uptick in sales anyway—so those artisans with websites saw strong support.” Silversmith Joanne Marracci, of Marracci Designs Handmade Jewelry, found this to be true. Thanks to custom orders and increased website traffic, Marracci said her 13

bottom line was higher than expected for a normal year, let alone a pandemic year. Marracci attributes increased sales to customers’ desire to support small businesses, but also toward a priority shift. “They seem to lean toward more meaningful pieces from local producers and makers they know rather than toward mass-produced costume jewelry,” she said. Customers are also more interested in quality products, Marracci said. “I found a definite move toward requests for higher quality gold and gemstone heirloom pieces as well,” she said. Marracci hopes that this shift in buying trends will be “a lasting positive after-effect of the pandemic,” saying,“Fingers crossed!” For artists and makers without an established web presence, doing business during a pandemic required new strategies. Almost immediately after pandemic closures were announced, TwispWorks, Methow Arts, Confluence Gallery and other arts-based nonprofits “stepped up to mentor artists,” said Prochnau. “A series of free workshops and consultations showed artists how to set up online stores and increase social media presences.” Silversmith Nicole Ringgold, for example, was hired by Methow Arts to offer free Zoom-based workshops familiarizing artists with using Instagram to promote their work and drive sales. Nearly all of Ringgold’s sales take place online, and she has for years

“They

seem to lean toward more meaningful pieces from local producers and makers they know rather than toward mass-produced costume jewelry.” – Silversmith Joanne Marracci

Photos courtesy Joanne Marracci

Joanne Marracci is suited up to work on her gold and silver jewelry designs. aggressively established her brand and promoted her work on Instagram and Facebook. Ringgold walked workshop participants through setting up Instagram accounts, advised them on

curating photo feeds, and helped them navigate the relationship between their social media accounts and their websites. “The goal of all these arts organizations was to mentor and

shepherd artists through that challenging time,” Prochnau said. “This community put its arms under our artists and makers. We have a really talented pool of artisans and expertise. We all worked together to figure out how to make sure artists could make it through.” Prochnau points to the recently-established Methow Valley Goods shop at TwispWorks, which features the work of more than 70 artists, makers and producers from the region. “Since the bazaars were shut down, we pulled together to make Valley Goods year round,” she said. “This was a way to help support those artisans who typically only sell at the holiday craft markets.” To some degree, the creation of Valley Goods also made shopping easier for consumers, as well as providing makers with a venue for selling their products.

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“There

was a real feeling of folks wanting to support local.” – Sarah Prochnau, director of partnerships and marketing programs for TwispWorks

Jewelry artist Joanne Marracci saw an increase of online orders during the pandemic. Lucinda Tear of Lucinda’s Botanicals said, “I am so grateful to Methow Made for creating Valley Goods and putting all our products in one place where people can find them all the time. It makes all the difference for me.” Laura Gunnip of Fireweed Print shop agreed. “The Valley Goods store really helped with artwork sales as well as online sales of a calendar for a local mutual aid project,” she said. But still, canceling the small, local markets hurt many artisans. The holiday bazaars and seasonal markets are “our micro economy,” Prochnau said. “For artists and makers, they come to rely on that couple of thousand dollars they make at those markets to see them through the lean months.” When those venues were closed, it had a ripple effect, Prochnau said. “A small maker selling at a bazaar is a small thread in our community net. When you pluck at one thread, it’s OK, the fabric still holds up. But if you pluck at a whole bunch at once—like what happened when markets and holiday shows were closed—you affect the economy of our whole community.” For some artists, shortages and increased costs in the supply chain were more a deterrent to production than pandemic-based closures were. Clay, for example,

said Prochnau, grew increasingly difficult to source during 2020, creating issues for potters. And “gold, silver and other raw goods prices are high and keep climbing,” said Marracci. “This issue has made me consider alternate materials and sources, like melting more old gold and silver to make new pieces. It is more laborintensive to do that, but it solves the out-of-pocket expenses of buying new materials.” Despite the many challenges, Prochnau said, most artists and makers were able to pivot to adapt to making and selling in the COVID era. Some, like eqpd, which makes durable everyday bags and accessories, temporarily shifted its business model, turning the bag-making studio into one that manufactured a range of high quality masks. Throughout the pandemic, eqpd continues to improve and refine the masks for increased safety, comfort and adjustability. Intertwined Designs, which makes hand-crafted organic clothing, also fabricated a mask, made of 100% hemp cotton. Although the demand for masks is already ebbing, some form of seasonal and temporary mask-wearing quite likely lies ahead for a number of years. “I don’t think masks are going away entirely,” said Prochnau, noting that in some countries,

such as China and Thailand, situational mask-wearing is quite common and was long before the COVID-19 pandemic. Another notable pivot came from the Old Schoolhouse Brewery (OSB). Prochnau said, “Before COVID they had a small canning operation but the majority of their business was wholesale kegs. They shifted and launched an amazing line of canned craft beer, with incredible artwork.” OSB had always planned to offer a line of canned beer, Prochnau says, and COVID forced the timeline on this project. “Instead of making time farther down the line, they had to shift priorities immediately,” she said. Prochnau points to this business pressure as a silver lining of the pandemic. “The great thing

about COVID is that it gave artists and makers a kick in the rear to get their online stores started. Online sales aren’t going away, and nearly everyone selling something is going to need to have some sort of online and social media presence. The economy is changing and the way people shop is changing. COVID lit a fire and ultimately that’s going to be a good thing.” Online retail makes shopping more convenient for customers, but it has some notable

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drawbacks. For one, purchased goods must be shipped, adding to the cost of the products, both for the direct shipping cost and the time it takes to package a product and get it ready for delivery. A large online retailer can absorb shipping costs, but a small artisan can’t, especially with bulky, heavy or fragile products like pottery, large paintings or custom ironwork. Artists also say that online sales arrest one of the most meaningful aspects of their transactions with customers: the personal interaction. “It is the personal connections that make this industry such a joy to be in,” Marracci said. The Methow Valley social services, arts and business community was aggressive about seeking funding for artists and makers through various channels, Prochnau said, noting that TwispWorks, Methow Arts, the town Chambers of Commerce, Room One and others helped small business owners navigate the complexity of processes like applying for PPP loans, unemployment and individual grants. Methow Arts, for example, asked a private donor to fund 30 grants of $1,000 to support local artists whose sales avenues were immediately cut short by the pandemic. A subsequent award from Leavenworth’s Icicle Fund provided 37 additional relief grants. “TwispWorks assembled a database of 400 local businesses and send them e-blasts with information about relief grants,

Joanne Marracci is seen at her workbench. She noticed a change in her customers’ tastes during the COVID-19 pandemic. loans, unemployment, and other sources of support,” said Prochnau. “There was such a deluge of information at that time. We tried to help those businesses filter out the noise and get the precise information they needed. Not every community has that resource.”

“I found that the art community rallied to make sure we all had access to support,” said Gunnip. “I would not have been able to keep my studio without getting [Pandemic Unemployment Assistance] and a grant from Methow Arts.”

“We made a promise to our partners at TwispWorks,” Prochnau said. “We promised to help them get through the pandemic. They’ve now stabilized and some are stronger than before; they’re seeing great sales. So now the question is, ‘Is this an anomaly? Can I count on these numbers?’ It makes it tricky to run a business. It’s probably going to take a few years to see what the effects are, and what are the ramifications for how people shop.” The Methow Valley Farmers Market rebounded quickly, Prochnau said, initially with a virtual market, online sales and a scheduled pickup time at the TwispWorks campus. Later the market reopened for in-person shopping, with social distancing measures in place. Both weekly markets—Twisp’s Saturday market and Winthrop’s Sunday market—are back this year, and Prochnau anticipates a return of the holiday bazaars as well. Prochnau is optimistic that the support that buoyed artists and makers through “the first few scary months of COVID” will continue. “Artisans and small businesses are still something to invest in and support,” she said. “If the artists and small makers go away, it changes the nature of our community in a way we won’t ever get back. What they do contributes to everyone’s quality of life in the valley—that should be at the forefront of our minds when we are decided how and where to shop.”

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‘THE POLLEN IS THE FLAVOR’ Methow wildflowers flavor Watershed Spirits Proceeds of ‘COVID project’ go to nonprofits By Ann McCreary

N cool mornings in June last year, Peggy Porter and Laurel Spelman headed into the hills and fields of the Methow Valley to collect elderberry flowers.

They had been keeping an eye on elderberry bushes as they began flowering in the valley, developing umbrella-like sprays of delicate cream-colored blossoms. When the flowers reached full bloom and were filled with pollen, the women chose three mornings to harvest. They snipped off the clusters of flowers, called umbels, and placed them in paper bags. After a morning of gathering, they took the blossoms home and carefully picked each tiny flower off the stem, then combined the flowers with sugar water and lemon. They let the flavors blend for 48 hours, then strained out the flowers and froze the infusion. That infusion became the basis of a new Methow Valley sourced product – Watershed Elderflower Liqueur. The first bottles of liqueur were produced last December, and have been on sale locally at Hank’s Harvest Foods in Twisp and the Wine Shed in Winthrop. Most of the 72 bottles from the first production have been sold. “We’ve been surprised and excited by how well it’s been received,” Spelman said. “We’ve had a great reception from people

Photos by Natalie Johnson

Peggy Porter, left, and Laurel Spelman created Watershed Spirits last year, picking wild elderflowers from Methow Valley hillsides precisely at their peak to make the botanical liqueur. who want a local, hand-made, artisanal product.” Spelman, a part-time Methow Valley resident with a home up Finley Canyon, and Porter, who lives near Winthrop, have been friends for more than a decade. At the beginning of 2020, they began talking about creating an elderflower liqueur. “We like to make cocktails and mix things up,” said Porter. Spelman had made elderflower syrup in the past, and the women were intrigued with the idea of developing their own line of liqueur from elderflowers that grow wild in the valley.

A COVID PROJECT As the coronavirus pandemic shut down so many other activities last year, Porter and Spelman began investigating how to go about turning their vision into reality. Gathering flowers together and creating the infusion was something that was possible to do

even during the pandemic. “It was a COVID project,” Spelman said. The new enterprise was incorporated last year as Watershed Spirits LLC. The primary obstacle to producing their liqueur was the lack of a distillery in the Methow Valley. They researched options and discovered a compatible partner in Letterpress Distilling in Seattle, a company specializing in producing small batches of herbal and botanical liqueurs. Porter and Spelman provided the elderflower infusion, which they had kept frozen, and the distiller, Skip Tognetti, mixed it with different types and portions of alcohol to create different flavors. After Tognetti had perfected several different combinations, he held a tasting for Porter, Spelman and her husband, and himself. They unanimously agreed on their preferred recipe. The result is a honey-colored

liqueur with a complex flavor that the women describe as slightly sweet and floral, with touches of citrus and a hint of anise. At the bottom of the bottle is a trace of sediment from the pollen in the flowers, “typical of a botanical liqueur,” Porter said. The liqueur is meant to be mixed in cocktails rather than sipped straight, and Porter and Spelman enlisted a well-known Seattle bartender to create several cocktail recipes using the elderflower liqueur. Some of the cocktails have names that may sound familiar to Methow Valley residents, such as “Finley Canyon Spritz” and “Up on Cedar Creek.” The cocktail recipes are printed in a little booklet and attached by string to the bottle. Local graphic artist Corin McDonald designed a bottle label with an image of an elderflower.

LONG TRADITION The flowers and berries of elderberry bushes have long been used for culinary and medicinal purposes. Food historians trace elderflower cordial back to Roman times. Today it is popular in Europe, including Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and England. Spelman and Porter are continuing a long tradition of hand picking the flowers of elderberry bushes, which grow wild throughout the valley from Pateros to Mazama. The bushes, which can become as large as trees, develop flowers and berries at different times, depending on their location. Picking at the right time is key to making the best possible elderflower infusion, Porter said. The flowers must be in full bloom and full of pollen. 17

“We try to pick at the absolute peak,” Porter said. “We collect in the early morning when they have the most concentration of pollen. The pollen is the flavor.” At the end of a morning of harvesting and picking the flowers off stems, “we are pretty much covered in pollen,” she said. The women are both gardeners, and Porter, who is a cancer researcher, has an undergraduate degree in botany. “The quality of the flowers is a passion of hers,”

said Spelman. “Let’s just say I’m the QC,” Porter said. Collecting the flowers can be challenging, they said. Elderberry bushes “grow on steep slopes, they’re very tall and seem to be surrounded by nettles,” Porter said. Last year they used a rake to pull down the higher branches to reach the flowers. This year they’ve upgraded to long-handled pruning shears. They don’t want to reveal where

they find their preferred bushes for harvesting flowers. “Those are secret. We’re like bears,” Spelman said. Last year, the women collected flowers on three mornings, producing enough infusion for 72 375-milliliter bottles of liqueur. This year, they plan to harvest on 10 mornings in June, with help from friends gathering and picking the flowers. “Picking the flowers from the stems is like a quilting bee,” Porter said.

PROCEEDS TO NONPROFITS They expect to gather enough flowers to produce more liqueur this year – 72 of the smaller 375-milliliter bottles and 72 larger 750-milliliter bottles. In addition to selling at local grocery stores and the Wine Shed, they want to get Watershed Elderflower Liqueur into local establishments that serve mixed drinks. That wasn’t possible when bars and restaurants were closed as a result of Covid-19 restrictions. “We will be working hard to get this in bars and restaurants in the valley, now that we will have more product and Covid restrictions are being lifted,” Porter said. “There are also some Seattle bars interested and we will market there if we have enough this year.” When they began planning their new venture, Porter and Spelman decided to donate any profits from the sale of the liqueur to Methow Valley non profit organizations. Learning of their plans,

Profits from Watershed Spirits’ Elderflower Liqueur will go to area nonprofits. their distiller “hardly charged anything” for his work, Porter said. “He liked the idea that the profits are going to a good cause.” With start-up costs and small production, there wasn’t anything left to donate from the first batch. But this year, Porter said, “we’re looking toward bigger production and real money that we can put back into the valley.” The entrepreneurs admit they are a bit surprised at their success in moving from a concept to a product in one year – especially such an unusual year as 2020. “It’s pretty incredible that we pulled this off,” Spelman said. “It has been quite an experience,” Porter said. “We learned so much last year…and we’ve had a lot of fun.”

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Every animal has a job at Wild Plum Farm By Marcy Stamper

ILD Plum Farm specializes in pigs and chickens, but the flourishing ecosystem at the farm also embraces ducks, geese, horses, goats, and even a few goldfish, who earn their keep by eating algae in the water troughs. “I just collect misfit animals,” said Deb Jones-Schuler, who coowns and co-operates the farm with her daughter-in-law Gabby Beaudin. Wild Plum Farm started eight years ago with a drift of Tamworth pigs, an Irish breed that does well foraging on pasture, Jones-Schuler said. Two years ago they added chickens to produce both eggs and meat. Today they have about 80 layers and 200 meat birds. Depending on the season, the farm has between 40 and 80 pigs, which are replenished by

All photos by Marcy Stamper

Deb Jones-Schuler checks on Winifred, the 800-pound matriarch.

Wild Plum Farm keeps chickens for eggs and meat. 19

Wild Plum Farm keeps up to 80 pigs each year.

a breeding stock of six sows and two boars, all carefully selected for temperament. Litters of eight to 10 are born in the spring and fall. Tamworth pigs are a fairly

docile breed. “But pigs are just all about themselves – they’re not herd animals,” Jones-Schuler said. The breeding stock contains the most productive and cooperative pigs. “We looked at how quickly they grow on pasture and how well they mind the electric fences,” she said. “Pigs that are crazy or mean go to freezer camp – they become sausage really quickly,” JonesSchuler said. The pigs do have a mentor, Winifred, who came with the first group of pigs. Now an 800-pound matriarch at almost 11 years old, Winifred teaches the others to behave and respect the fences. She is particularly robust, since most pigs weigh just 250 to 280 pounds when they’re slaughtered at seven to nine months. Jones-Schuler had no formal apprenticeship in pig-rearing, although she’s gotten valuable advice from a farmer in Vermont, supplemented by online resources and rigorous on-the-job training. “It’s a very steep learning curve,” she said. “Gabby was here early on when I was in chaos mode.” The pigs and chickens cohabit well and benefit from a symbiotic relationship. Layers and retired

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Deb Jones Schuler said she collects “misfit animals.” chickens scurry around on pest control, although that means that collecting eggs can become a scavenger hunt, Beaudin said. The meat birds – fast-growing Cornish Cross chickens – reside in movable paddocks that allow them to feast on bugs and grass. They’re typically ready for processing at eight to 12 weeks, at 4 to 8 pounds, Beaudin said.

Wild Plum Farm sells pigs by the whole, half or quarter to customers who reserve them ahead of time. Shares can include smoked meats and sausage. Although lots of people would love to buy just bacon or pork chops, by law, the farm can sell only as “custom-exempt.” Custom-exempt processing takes place at meat plants certified and inspected twice a year by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Sales are only to individuals who purchase the animal while it’s still alive. Selling to stores or restaurants requires facilities with federal certification and daily inspections. Wild Plum Farm uses pretty much everything they raise. The chickens eat nonmarketable pig parts, and guts and feet are composted. Beaudin also owns Molly’s Soap, where she’s been creating scented soaps made with lard. Everyone has a job. The goats help with weed management. Geese turn out to be good guard animals. And food – even from their households – is never wasted. “There’s always some critter that will eat your leftovers,” Jones-Schuler said.

METHOW MADE barnfunk.com

(509) 699-0349 patrick@barnfunk.com confluencegallery.org

(509) 997-2787

info@confluencegallery.org 104 Glover Street S., Twisp

(509) 341-4710

emilyapost@gmail.com

LucidGlassworks.com

(509) 341-9102

SherryMalotte.com

(360) 303-2076

BARN FUNK Barnfunk is free-range art, digital design, and metal manufactory, inspired by the colors and textures of the natural world. I can design, build, install. CONFLUENCE GALLERY Since 1988, The Confluence has brought artists, students, and viewers together to enrich the lives of all. We proudly feature artists of Okanogan County and beyond. SEE AD, PG 8

EMILY POST POTTERY Handcrafted ceramic wares inspired by nature. For yourself, and for your home.

Artists & Artisans

emilypostpottery.com