by Ashley Lodato, Bluebird Grain Farms staff writer photos courtesy of Portage Bay Cafe Chef Dave Miller of Portage Bay Cafe has jokingly commented that in his family, his career choices were entering the service or restaurant work. He’s only half joking. “I’m the first male in my family not to join the military in… Continued
Fall is here, both officially and weather-wise, and we are excited! The cool temperatures have been a welcome relief to the heat of the summer, and the mountains look beautiful with their first dusting of snow. We have a little harvesting left to do at the Big Valley fields, so we’re hoping major precipitation holds… Continued
by Ashley Lodato, Bluebird Grain Farms staff writer On a foggy day last February after skiing the Echo Ridge Loppett, my kids and I stopped at the Lake Chelan Artisan Bakery (LCAB) to fuel ourselves up for the drive home. My friend, the owner and chief baker of LCAB, Lindsay Evans, was not at the bakery… Continued
The heat of summer is on! The rush of spring planting is over and now we’re waiting and watching as the emmer and einkorn head out and start to ripen. Of course, we’re still busy with irrigation, fertility management, and keeping the granary running, but we do fortunately get a little respite before harvest season… Continued
That fast it seems a couple months have passed since I last wrote Farmer Notes. By golly, it is true! I last wrote in late April when we were just getting rolling on the fields and here we are in the last week of June. Ahh, sweet, sweet June. Seldom a month that disappoints! What… Continued
by Ashley Lodato staff writer, Bluebird Grain Farms Fewer work days start earlier than those of a baker, and the bakers at Winthrop’s Rocking Horse Bakery are no exception. In order to stack the cases with yeasted loaves like the Stehekin Seeded bread or the Sawtooth Sourdough, those working the ovens need to begin by… Continued
Spring is (finally) heating up here in the Methow Valley! We spent April and early May tiptoeing around rainstorms that (mostly) kept our fields a little to wet to work. We were able to plant a little emmer in our Barron fields, but now the sun is out and the race is on to get… Continued
by Ashley Lodato Bluebird Grain Farms staff writer When I call Bob Bird and introduce myself he commands me to “Say it like an Italian!” Startled, I introduce myself again, this time with the proper accents and flourish, “Mi chiamo Ashley Lo-DAH-to!” My name is Ashley Lodato. Then he starts rattling away to me in rapid-fire Italian.… Continued
Spring is here! Bluebirds are returning and the snow is melting away, so we’re thinking about farming. Before we enter the whirlwind of field preparation and spring planting, we like to take time to reflect and give thanks for our family, friends, and customers. Thank you to everyone who makes Bluebird the amazing business it… Continued
By now you readers may know I tend to gauge the season by birds. At present, chickadees have shifted to their more springy song. At least they’ve shifted octaves and I’m calling it “springy.” That said, to date I’ve yet to hear or see the redwing blackbirds down at the pond?? Without fail, regardless of… Continued