Summer is traditionally a time of delicious, moisture filled fruits and vegetables. Depending on where you grew up, you might remember road side farm stands selling freshly ripe vegetables just waiting to be served up on your evening dinner table. In case this isn’t your reality, Binkley’s Restaurant and farmer…

So, we all know that growing your own food can be healthy and rewarding….but grinding your own cacao beans? Now that’s delicious. That’s what Scottsdale’s Beehive Chocolates is up to. Crafting homemade dark chocolate and raw Arizona honey into a bite-sized, mouth-watering confection. Owner Ian Horvath grinds cacao beans and…

Ah yes, that last breezy week of spring in Arizona can lull you into thinking that, for a moment, we’ll have a cool summer. This is hard news to break, but you’re only kidding yourself. Summer is almost here and due to the high temperatures, you’ll likely want to revisit…

Did you know you can make butter? Really delicious butter compounded with herbs from your garden? Yes, you can. Though it’s slightly more complicated than simply mixing a stick of butter and some herbs, it’s a fun process that yields tasty outcomes. Nourished is a company run by Shelly Vie…

Spring is a common time for folks in the Valley to think about getting chickens to begin their own “backyard flock.” Hence, that whole “spring chicken” saying. Even an article in the New York Times recently highlighted rules of owning chickens in the city. Owning chickens is fun and rewarding…

If you compulsively shop local or hit up farmers markets on the weekend with reckless abandon, as we admittedly do, you might have noticed some awesome new stuff. Lots of businesses have expanded with new offerings to seem to have come out of nowhere. From books to botanicals, we’ve been…

Having recently traveled to Asia to attend classes at a few cooking schools, I brought back a number of great recipes, memories and a long list of ingredients not available at Fry’s. While in Thailand I had the opportunity to attend day long classes at two very different schools. Chiang…

Justin Pfeilsticker, executive sous chef at ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho, has an enviable garden. He has passion for taking care of his produce and uses unusual (and often discarded) parts of the plant in his dishes. Lucky for you, Pfeilsticker gave us a sneak peek into his garden and…

If you’ve got a bit of room in your yard and a hose or water source, you can compost and possibly save hundreds of dollars a year on soil and garden soil enhancers. “Composting is a pretty easy sell to anyone who is actively gardening. If someone is spending money…

Having traveled abroad recently for a series of cooking classes, it became apparent to me that there are some things to “know before you go.” Here it is, stuff you should keep in mind as you book a trip of a lifetime to learn how to cook native cuisine in…

Spring is one of the best times in the desert and with it comes a fresh stock of great things for your garden. This warm weather is an inspiration to get growing and take on new projects. Whether you just like the practical stuff, or need fresh ideas, here’s what…

So, you visited the farmers market and came home with a tomato plant? Yep, even inexperienced gardeners can grow tomatoes, and now is the time to get going in Arizona. If you grow one thing this season, grow tomatoes! Salads, sauces, stews, and even jams can be made from tomatoes!…

Longing for the “good old days?” If you happen to listen to country music these days, you’ve likely heard a song by Miranda Lambert with the lyrics “Whatever happened to… Doing it all by hand?…It’s only worth as much as the time put in…. it all just seemed so good…

If you’re visiting local nurseries in hopes of picking up new starter plants for your garden, you’re typically confronted with an array of tomatoes, peppers, and basil. But this spring, follow our lead and try planting something new and different. We love rosemary, lavender, and zucchini as much as the…

If you love Thai food but lament that pandanus leaves and pineapple can’t be grown easily in Arizona, cheer up! A recent trip to some cooking schools in Thailand brought me the revelation that in fact, there are many herbs and ingredients you can grow right in your backyard. Even…

There’s no kidding about kidding, it’s serious business. Does give birth to one and two kids in one kidding — and so, it’s all hands on deck at The Simple Farm, where kidding season lasts from mid-January through February. Eventually, the little ladies born will assist in making the milk…

About a month ago, one of our favorite growing Instagrammers, Tony Kasowski, (@TonyGrowsFood) posted this update along with photos: “Spent the morning at St. Vincent De Paul Watkins campus, building garden beds, and harvesting chard with some amazing people! Also got an opportunity to tour the facility which provides over…

Last week, we brought you tips on how to grow your own citrus, and this week, we’re giving you the easy way out. After consulting our favorite places to enjoy local citrus freshness, we now have three recipes to share with you. If you don’t have a citrus tree available…

On Thursday, January 23, 150 guests, five chefs, and their kitchen teams gathered at Phoenix Art Museum for the Ripe Awards, hosted by the museum’s Men’s Art Council…

It’s that time of year again. Scented citrus blossoms fill the air with intoxicating aromas, and your neighbors’ trees are bursting with lemons and grapefruit. Want to get in on the action but don’t want to get in over your head? Already planted a citrus tree and are afraid you’re…

Want to stay on top of trends? It seems 2012 was the year of the chicken and 2013 was the year of the greenhouse. So, what’s on the agenda this year? Here are some “trends” we predict will gain speed in 2014…