This meal was created with love and intention, it took years to prepare, months to grow, and hours and hours to harvest. As I plated each course and set them in front of our friends that gathered at the table underneath the pines on our farm, I felt fulfilled and proud of my role as a farmer, of the community that I am a part of, and the willingness of my friends to trust us with feeding them and theirs.

Autumn is David’s favorite time of year in the garden. There is so much to harvest after months of plant growth. From cooking with carrot or turnip tops to saving seeds, here are a few of his tips to get the most out of your harvest.

Sniff, swirl, sniff, sip, swish, swallow, close eyes in pleasure, repeat. These eight actions can allow one to enjoy a wine on their own, but when performed alongside others, they open the door to a communal experience. By sharing a toast, taste or bottle, wine can be a conduit for deeply rooted community connections.

Tim Schotzko was already closely — “but not obsessively” — following barbecue when he tasted the life-changing bite of brisket. And that’s when it turned from a backyard hobby to an obsession. Four and a half years after that inspirational bite of brisket and about a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the Shotzkos opened Miss Huddy’s Barbecue, bringing a taste of central Texas to the people of the Palouse.

You might remember summer days spent sucking all of the flavor out of a Popsicle, leaving only ice left on the stick, but it might surprise you to know this was part of the original marketing plan.

Settlers Creek in Coeur d’Alene boasts the largest collection of woodfired cooking equipment in the Western US, drawing events and visitors from around the country. Residents of the Inland Northwest are uniquely fortunate to have this mecca of wood-fired cookery in their collective backyard and can attend From the Ashes Idaho, a festival featuring Anthony DiBernardo of Swig & Swing and others showing off their BBQ skills each summer.