Ferguson Fruit Orchard—As sweet cherry trees begin to produce fruit in late May and June, farmers across Utah are crossing their fingers that the sporadic spring frosts are finished for the year. This is also the time of year when Bill James, owner of the 100-acre Ferguson Fruit Orchard in Santaquin for 44 years, takes stock of his own, slightly different crop: Tart … [Read more...]
Restoring the past, preserving a legacy—The Richard W. Erickson Foundation Museum
Passion for acquiring leads to eclectic collection Wallsburg, Utah—On a tip from Utah antique picker Matt Binyon of American Rust Company, I visited what he described as “one of the most amazing ranches/museums I’ve ever seen.”, Richard Erickson's 300-acre ranch in Wallsburg, Utah. I don’t know Matt as someone who uses hyperbole or conjecture, but he has seen a lot of cool … [Read more...]
Solar farms present opportunity for sheep ranchers in Utah
It's not unusual to see sprawling solar farms now-a-days but, what the heck are those sheep doing? Tradition thrives along with new technology Hearing someone refer to themselves as an entrepreneur usually conjures up a certain stereotype: the young, hoodie-wearing, manic visionary pushing the latest techno breakthrough, or everyday types in their best suits … [Read more...]
Utah: The Road Tripping Capital of the World
According to MMGY Global, between 2015 and 2016 the percentage of Americans going road tripping nearly doubled. From 22% to 39%. Domestic vacations have increased by 14 million, with Americans now spending $5 billion on leisure travel. Overseas vacations have declined. Speaking to farmers market vendors, I learned they cancelled their European vacation plans due to their … [Read more...]
Helper, Utah: a Diverse and Artistic Community
In 1881, the historic town of Helper, Utah, was born as a result of the arrival of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. The town got its name from the fleet of ‘helper’ engines that were stationed at the mouth of Price Canyon, ready and waiting to assist the trains on their way to Soldier Summit. With the steep grade of the canyon, the steam engines were unable to climb … [Read more...]
Moab’s Moonflower Community Cooperative
Moonflower Community Cooperative in Moab, has come a long way from the years it spent in a building made of old ammo boxes in the early 80’s. Back then it was called Life Stream, but was referred to locally as “The health food store.” The store and co-op originally opened in 1975 and was organized by longtime resident Conrad Sorensen. For years it was run on a volunteer … [Read more...]
Sweetwater Kitchen Blossoms With Farm-To Table Dining in Boulder, Utah
It’s tough to find good food when road-tripping small towns in Utah. This isn’t the case in the UK or France, where small towns can offer better food than big cities, because everything is farm fresh and better attention is paid to detail. But in Utah, despite all the farms, just about every town has a local greasy-spoon joint, with copious piles of hash browns, eggs, … [Read more...]
Museum Display Documents Life on Utah’s Rails
When you think of miners and railroaders, you don’t typically think of artists or historians. But a trip to the Western Mining and Railroad Museum in Helper, Utah, will change that. Last year, the museum added a large gallery of photos that document life on Utah’s rails from the late 1800s to the 1940s. The photos were made by miners and rail workers. As such, they offer an … [Read more...]
Moab’s Back of Beyond Books Proves that Indie Book Sellers Can Still Make It
“There are two ways to die in the desert,” says Andy Nettell; “thirst and drowning.” He is repeating one of his recent summaries of a favorite book called The Secret Life of Water, by Craig Childs. Nettell is without a doubt a book lover and enthusiast, and his joy of books is contagious. Books are losing ground to electronic media, and independent bookstores are falling by … [Read more...]
Enjoy Life. Eat Pie. The Sunglow Cafe—a Small-Town Diner Serves up a Twist on Homemade Tradition
Amble into the Sunglow Café in Bicknell (pop. 322), and you’ll think you’ve walked onto a movie set and into a world both familiar, but different. Mustard colored walls echo the sandstone outside. Large, teal painted arrows on the walls are reminiscent of ancient Native American symbols seeming to guide you on the path to wisdom. Inside this modern day Kiva a few miles … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 5
- Next Page »