Starting eating right this year. And by right, we mean “only the best local stuff.” There’s a wide variety of great farm-to-table products and menu items, what follows is just a smattering of local goodness. If there’s something on this list you haven’t had, it’s time to try or take…

Yep, 2014 is coming on strong. Might we suggest that taking a class on growing food or other earthy practices is easier than losing weight — and more fun, too. It might even help you get in shape. Here are several great classes to sign up for now with a…

There have been a few changes this year at our beloved Valley Permaculture Alliance (VPA). The public is mostly familiar with the public programs the VPA sponsors like the Tour de Coops and the Shade Tree program in conjunction with APS and SRP, and there are many classes and programs…

Honey adds a certain richness and delight to a garden’s bounty. It pretty much never spoils, and lucky for us — it’s in abundance from local sellers in the Valley. Zack Funke, of The Health Foodie has been beekeeping for a little more than two years and studying bees for…

Of course it’s wonderful to take a holiday vacation, but um, hey- don’t forget your plants. You’ve poured time, money and water into growing something awesome. But not planning ahead means they will die while you’re gone and if you have veggies, you’ve basically lost the veggie season. Here are…

We’re picky about a lot of things — for example, our homegrown food and who we follow on Instagram. Here are five Instagram-ers in metro Phoenix we can get behind following. They provide a special look into what’s it like to grow food in Metro Phoenix. From fancy full-scale farms…

If you garden in the Phoenix area this time of year, you likely have a bed or two full of basil, sage, oregano, and other herbs. Of course, herbs are delicious, but you may be surprised that some plants and herbs in your own yard, or nearby, can help you…

What? Not done with your holiday shopping? Yeah, neither are we. But we’ve been making lists — and checking them twice — and we’ve got some suggestions for the nice people on your list. Today, Chow Bella’s Gift Guide for the home gardener…

From time to time, Chow Bella’s contributors challenge one another to a showdown: Make the best dish you can, using one common ingredient. This time (naturally), it was pumpkin. For the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing the results, and at the end, we’ll let you know who won. Today:…

Preparation is a big part of being able to handle 350 strangers wandering into your backyard. It’s also a big part of being a stop of the Tour de Coops on Saturday, November 16. The tour is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: Guests purchase a ticket and take…

For a twice-yearly tour that focuses on edible gardens, the Arcadia Edible Garden Tour happening November 23 also includes a heck of a lot of animals. This tour offers a variety of examples of sustainable living in Phoenix with orchards, front-yard gardens, large properties, small properties and animals; from chickens…

By now, pretty much everyone knows about the anti-wheat/anti-gluten “movement,” but not too many people know about a new “local food movement” that values the craft processes, ingredients, artisanal practices, and people involved with heirloom grains. Rise of the Grains is a documentary inspired by the Native Seeds SEARCH/Hayden Flour…

Persimmons are the “hot” fruit. You can look for them this time of year at a few farmers markets, including the Old Town Farmers Market in Scottsdale. That’s great because they’re pretty to look at and in season, but, um, what do you do with them? Don’t worry. We’re here…

Sure, the Arizona State Fair is full of fun rides, greasy food and some of the best people watching around. But, for a moment let’s return to a “Charlotte’s Web” sort of agricultural era, where the State Fair was about judging animals, food, and animals that make or become food…

Caroline Van Slyke over at Boho Farm & Home is getting busy on her property this October. In case you didn’t know, Van Slyke is an Arcadia-based designer, urban farmer, cheesemaker, jam-maker, soon-to-be beekeeper, mother of two, and tender of a bunch of chickens, a Scottish Terrier, a farm cat,…

Chef Ken Arneson of Rico’s American Grill at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak created a garden and started composting green waste via Singh Farms upon his arrive three years ago. The restaurant’s patio has a large garden and it serves as inspiration and educational backdrop for the Garden Lunch Series…

The wait for convenient, fresh produce is over. October brings changes to metro Phoenix farmers markets, both in terms of hours and activity. Most markets are seasonable and start up again this month or change their hours to reflect the cooler mid-day temperatures. Can’t keep track? No worries. We’ve gathered…

Here’s the thing. When it comes to gardening in Arizona, our climate differs so much from the rest of the country you can’t rely on advice from someone in Ohio. You might find that your favorite seed catalog just doesn’t offer what can be grown here in the fall during…

If you’re ready to get your grow “on” for Fall, but aren’t sure where to start or are looking to develop new skills, The Simple Farm is the place to be. You can spend a lovely morning in late September or October on the farm and take a “simple inspiration”…

We love growing things to eat, and there are lots of great growers here in Phoenix. But you might not know Monika Woolsey. She’s a dietitian and head of Hip Veggies, an educational collaboration between artists and food professionals that aims to promote locally grown produce, support local artists, and…

In case you’ve missed previous Valley Permaculture Alliance’s mesquite pancake breakfasts, make this the year you show up. For starters, there’s a new venue (O.H.S.O.), and at $10 for the buffet, it’s a nice deal for a Saturday morning. Unlike in past years, tickets are not being sold in advance…