Love is a strange beast.  Feelings of indifference can mutate into full-fledged ardor at a moment’s notice, only to fade in the sterile light of morning.  Desire can become obsession, leaving us feeling insecure and exposed.  And of course, it can simply be frightening as hell.  Though this column thus far might lead you to believe I’ve been kidnapped and replaced by some kind of foodie Carrie Bradshaw, that’s not the case.  It’s simply that I’ve had my world completely turned upside down.  By beets. More...

Around the end of summertime, gardeners start playing jokes on one another.  Neighbors donate apples to each other, and receive their produce back in the shapes of homemade pies or crumbles.  Baskets of free tomatoes grace office tables, and Craigslist posts about excess pears abound.  The best way to get rid of extra fruit and veg that I’ve heard of, though, involves zucchini:  put them on your neighbor’s porch, ring the doorbell, and run.  For the record, if anyone out there would like to play this joke on me, just email me and we’ll work something out. More...

I firmly believe it’s nearly impossible to divorce a thing from the context you experience it in.  Sixteen means drivers’ licenses,  early morning cartoons are for Saturdays, and cake and ice cream spells birthday party.  That being the case, few things are as synonymous with sultry summer days as watermelon.  The sweet, juicy, messiness of this gourd is embedded in most of us as common picnic or dessert fare, and there’s little that can do as much to cool you off as much as sinking your teeth into a ripe slice on a sweltering day. More...

While walking to work this morning, I heard one my favorite sounds – bees buzzing away while collecting their tax of pollen.  Even better, they were buzzing away on one of my personal favorite plants – the lovely lavender.

Lavender, like the roses we discussed not so long ago, has also been cultivated for ages.  Part of the mint genus (which explains its square stems and poignant fragrance), lavender is native to the Mediterranean region.  This makes it a perfect match for Oregon’s modified Mediterranean climate.  Growing your own lavender plants is relatively simple, too – you can purchase plants from a nursery, or simply look for a friendly neighbor with a plant.  Often, lavender plants will send up their own tiny shoots, which can be dug up and transplanted.  If there aren’t any shoots, you can usually just divide the plant in half (carefully, of course). More...

One of our best-loved herbs is basil.  Perhaps that’s because it’s not only reliable –  blooming abundantly, until autumn, when it dutifully reminds us of its annual status, and fades away within days – but also because it’s so versatile and varietal that we can add it to any number of dishes. More...

Starbucks, that monolith of suburban caffeine culture, announced today that due to a faltering economy and slipping share prices, 600 low performing US stores will be closed in the next year. Additionally, a mere 200  stores will open in 2009, instead of the 400 originally slated, according to the AP. What does this mean for social and environmental standards such as Fair Trade coffee, of which Starbucks is the largest purchaser in North America?

Coffee drinkers, read on... More...

As far as city nicknames go, Oregon state capital Salem’s is more respectable (and tastier) than most.  Jerome, Arizona, is America’s “Most Vertical City,” Dubach, Louisiana is the “Dogtrot Capital of the World,”  and Kelso, Washington is the “Smelt Capital of the World.”  “The Cherry City” (Salem’s nickname, for those not in the know) is certainly more exciting than Paducah, Kentucky’s claim to fame as “The Quilt City,” at any rate.

Why cherries?  Sure, they’re delicious and they make a mean pie… but there must be something more to this tiny, tree-born treat. More...

With temperatures soaring lately, it feels as though summer’s finally come.  We can shake off the shackles of limiting our seasonal menus to forced greens, potatoes, and jams from last year, and start thinking about what’s ready now.  When I think of summer, I know that one fruit in particular leaps to the forefront of my culinary imagination:  the strawberry. More...

We've all heard about Oprah's 21 Day Cleanse, which calls for veganism. But for the  newbies, the limited recipes listed on her website are not going to cut it for 21 days or longer. Vegans, thankfully, have started a slew of excellent online food blogs. I've rounded up my favorites to take you through your day, from lunch to dinner party, and from  BBQ to birthday. More...

Chris James, Chief Farming Officer of Fresh Earth Farms in EcoMetro cities Minneapolis/St Paul, offers readers this recipe for later in the summer, when all the ingredients will be ready at the same time. More...