Macaroni and cheese, pulled pork and collard greens from Mama Lo's Barbecue in Great Barrington sit on an outdoor table in the sun. Photo by Kate Abbott

Food

Here are the Hill Country Observer’s articles about food, listed from newest to oldest. We look into local food and foodways — farms and farmers, local markets and restaurants, food security, native plants and more.

  • Issue:

    German delight, made in Vermont

    Quest for gluten-free spatzle leads to specialty food business Marty and Julz Irion started trying to create a gluten-free version of German spatzle noodles seven years ago. The trial-and-error effort led to a tasty recipe and a home-based artisanal food business.Joan K. Lentini photo   By STACEY MORRISContributing writer ARLINGTON, Vt.On an April afternoon, Arlington’s read more

    German delight, made in Vermont
  • Issue:

    A slice of Vermont to sip and savor

    In a former dairy barn, Poultney vineyard bottles wine, creates memories The rows of grapevines stretch out beneath a moody sky at Whaleback Vineyard in Poultney. The vineyard’s large barn, renovated last year, now provides space for weddings and other events.Joan K. Lentini photo   By STACEY MORRISContributing writer POULTNEY, Vt. On a quiet autumn read more

    A slice of Vermont to sip and savor
  • Issue:

    State rewrites manure rules for large farms

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    After legal fight, many N.Y. farms opt for alternative set of regulations State environmental regulators in New York have drafted new rules aimed at preventing water pollution from large dairy farms — after a judge tossed out an earlier rewrite of the rules. Rob Barendse file photo   By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer   New York read more

    State rewrites manure rules for large farms
  • Issue:

    Fruit and fulfillment

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    An orchard’s attractions keep growing, covering apples to art Peaches grown at Love Apple Farm are among the attractions in the weeks before apple season begins at the Columbia County orchard. The farm has been a local destination since the late 1960s, but like many other pick-your-own operations, it has been expanding its scale and read more

    Fruit and fulfillment
  • Issue:

    An escape route from dairy farming’s crisis?

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    Some see hope in shift to organic production, but economic pressures remain Samantha and Chris Kemnah walk among the cows at Clover Bliss Farm, their 2-year-old organic, grass-fed dairy operation in Argyle, N.Y. Joan Lentini photos   By TRACY FRISCHContributing writer ARGYLE, N.Y. The name of Clover Bliss Farm refers to the contentment its abundant read more

    An escape route from dairy farming’s crisis?
  • Issue:

    A soothing crop for stressful times

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    Lavender becomes focus of couple’s back-to-the-land enterprise David and Diane Allen opened Lavenlair Farm to the public two years ago. The farm in the Washington County town of Fort Ann grows lavender and produces an array of lavender products that the Allens sell at an on-site gift shop, at farmers markets and online. Joan K. read more

    A soothing crop for stressful times
  • Issue:

    A farm transformed by and for artists

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    At Salem Art Works, the attractions evolve with the growing creative cast The staff and artists in residence at Salem Art Works gather on the Mark DiSuvero sculpture “Ringer” (1987) with SAW founder Anthony Cafritz, right. The sculpture is one of many displayed at the 120-acre former dairy farm that was transformed into a working read more

    A farm transformed by and for artists
  • Issue:

    Bottling a revolutionary spirit

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    Southwest Vermont’s lone distillery stresses tradition, local history Ken Lorenz shows off some of the products made by Spirits of Old Bennington at its distillery in the old Vermont Tissue mill building on Route 67A. The distillery is open for tastings on Fridays and Saturdays. Joan K. Lentini photo   By TELLY HALKIASContributing writer BENNINGTON, read more

    Bottling a revolutionary spirit
  • Issue:

    With goats and grit a new farmer finds joy

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    Leah Hennessy takes time out to pet Little Sister, one of her Alpine goats, at Moxie Ridge Farm & Creamery in Argyle, N.Y. Joan K. Lentini photo   By STACEY MORRISContributing writer ARGYLE, N.Y. Leah Hennessy made her way toward the barn at Moxie Ridge Farm, expertly dodging a hissing gander whose mission was to read more

    With goats and grit a new farmer finds joy
  • Issue:

    A pioneer of local cheese making

    Consider Bardwell Farm aims to grow while keeping focus on flavor Leslie Goff, the creamery manager at Consider Bardwell Farm, inspects 10-pound wheels of cheese in the “cheese cave” where the farm’s Pawlet variety, made from raw Jersey cow milk, is aged. Joan K. Lentini photo   By STACEY MORRISContributing writer WEST PAWLET, VT. The read more

    A pioneer of local cheese making