Farm to Everywhere — Part of the charm of Humboldt is its rural landscape of farms and ranches, not to mention their bounty. Our county was doing farm-to-table before it was cool, partly because our tables are never very far from the farm.
In this issue, we’ll introduce you to some folks for whom local sourcing and starting from scratch come naturally. Take, for example, Rhonda Weidenbeck, founder of Beck’s Bakery and the subject of this season’s Profile. She took her love of cooking and started a business that bakes up still-life-worthy artisanal loaves using grains grown right here in our county. Then there’s Jacob Pressey, who grows much of the ingredients for his Humboldt Regeneration brewery. (Bring a growler. Or two.)
We’ll take you down to Ferndale’s beef-centric Ridgetop Café, owned by boss-lady ranchers who raise cattle in nearby pastures. (The burger may ruin you forever.) You’ll also get a taste of locally made cheese at Folie Douce, where wood fired pizzas and cheesecakes feature chevre from the adorable goats at award-winning Cypress Grove, whose creamery is just a stroll away.
All this gorgeous produce may spark your desire to cook for yourself, or at least nibble some fresh fruit and vegetables. If that’s the case, you’ll want to check the list of area farm stands and peruse Take it With You for a selection of Humboldt-produced salts and seasonings.
In Just Browsing, everything old is new again. Pop into a paper goods shop turning out lovely prints and stationery using a vintage press and a furniture maker who gives new life to reclaimed wood and other materials.
And it wouldn’t be a trip to Humboldt without tipping your head back to view our tallest local product, our trees. Lace up your boots and dress in layers for this season’s Adventure: a hiking tour of ancient conifers that will take you back in time. Not that redwoods are our only trees, as you’ll discover in Perfect Trips. Surprise! We’ve got some beautiful maples, too, including the world’s tallest. Who knew? You’ll also visit Bigfoot’s woodland hangouts and find out where you can sample the fruits of our apple orchards.
So enjoy the abundance of Humboldt’s late summer and fall. It’s a bumper crop.