Category Archives: Environmental

Pepper Festival returns with more pep than ever

Posted on October 3, 2013 by didaniel

Somehow, regretfully, I end up being out of town every year for one of my favorite events — the Pepper Festival in Chatham County, so please go for me! This year’s fest, on Sunday, Oct. 6, from 3 to 7 … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Chatham County, Environmental, Family travel, Farmers, Food, Orange County | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Dig deeper with Taste Carolina food-farm events

Posted on April 25, 2013 by didaniel

I got to hang out with some of my favorite food purveyors last night — Farmhand Foods, which distributes local, pasture-raised meats, and April McGreger of Farmer’s Daughter Brand, sweet-and-savory queen of all that is preserved or fermented. And I … Continue reading →

Posted in Cooking, Durham County, Environmental, Farmers, Food, Livestock, Orange County, Recipes, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Help fund farm on wheels — and youthful idealism

Posted on February 11, 2012 by didaniel

Not to be all middle-aged about it, but I do get a warm and fuzzy feeling when learning about cool projects that energetic young idealists are doing. One of those projects is the nonprofit Sol Food Mobile Farm, in which … Continue reading →

Posted in Durham County, Environmental, Gardening | Leave a comment

Can you afford fresh food? Heck, yeah

Posted on July 29, 2011 by didaniel

I don’t always have an answer for people who say that eating organic, seasonal meals is too expensive. From now on, I’m telling them to check out Linda Watson‘s “Wildly Affordable Organic.” The book’s subtitle is key: “Eat Fabulous Food, Get … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Dining, Environmental, Recipes, Wake County | Leave a comment

Bee there, freshest fish, food tours and more

Posted on July 27, 2011 by didaniel

It’s time again for Quick Bites, a harvest of Farm Fresh news. How sweet it is: TONIGHT, July 27, at 6 pm (movie at 9:15), Market Restaurant in Raleigh will host a music and movie night in its parking lot, featuring … Continue reading →

Posted in Bees, Books, Dining, Durham County, Environmental, Food, Food policy, Forsyth County, Guilford County, Orange County, Wake County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

America’s most famous farm welcomes you

Posted on October 7, 2010 by didaniel

UPDATE for 2010: There’s now a tour fee of $10.50 for everyone age 13 and higher, and now more tours. Well worth it! Want a guided tour of, arguably, the country’s most famous farm? Well, it’s yours for the asking, … Continue reading →

Posted in Environmental, Food, Poultry, Virginia | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Food miles drive him to thinking

Posted on August 24, 2010 by didaniel

Virginian and “liberal curmudgeon” Stephen Budiansky had a piece published in the New York Times op-ed page last week about food miles that has, not surprisingly, riled up a lot of folks. Budiansky, who, raises his own lambs and most of … Continue reading →

Posted in Environmental, Food, Virginia | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Walk this way to way fresh seafood

Posted on November 10, 2009 by didaniel

Can you believe that even in coastal towns, most of the “fresh seafood” on restaurant menus isn’t even from this country, much less the county? Some 80 percent of seafood served in America is imported and much of it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Coastal Region-Sandhills, Environmental, Food, Triangle | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Big reward for little effort at Great Smokies

Posted on October 13, 2009 by didaniel

October is a peak season at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most heavily visited national park in the country, with more than 9 million visitors a year. Despite all those people milling about, it’s still amazingly easy to get … Continue reading →

Posted in Environmental, Family travel, Road travel, Tennessee, US/Canada national parks | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

In the Smokies, a magical hike through time

Posted on August 10, 2009 by didaniel

A “step back in time” is such an overused phrase accompanying many a historic town or exhibit. But in the Cataloochee Valley of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, it’s truly possible. The descendants of Cataloochee, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Environmental, History, US/Canada national parks | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A joy ride, complete with pain

Posted on July 23, 2009 by didaniel

At 74 years old, our beloved Blue Ridge Parkway has its problems. But it is still a glorious 469-mile joy ride along the Appalachian Mountains, from Virginia to North Carolina. Next year, during the 75th-anniversary hoopla, there will be the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling, Environmental, Road travel, US/Canada national parks, Virginia | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

More farm-fresh fun in North Carolina

Posted on April 30, 2009 by didaniel

While we don’t suggest that mere mortals try this, Wessel and I managed to visit 10 farms in five hours during the 14th Annual Piedmont Farm Tour in central North Carolina. That’s because we’re seasoned pros. When you’re researching a … Continue reading →

Posted in Environmental, Family travel, Food, Triangle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Paint this hotel bright green

Posted on February 11, 2009 by didaniel

Below is a little ditty I wrote for “The Boston Globe” (it ran Feb. 8, 2009) about what could these days be called North Carolina’s most famous lodging: Proximity Hotel in Greensboro. The farm connection? Its Print Works Bistro menu contains lots … Continue reading →

Posted in Environmental, Guilford County, Lodging, Triad | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments