Defa’s Dude Ranch is for sale. If a corporation buys this historic Utah dude ranch it is hard to imagine that the authentic mix between Wild West saloon and “Disneyland for rednecks” character of this place will not be lost forever. “You know that saying, ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’?” asks a man seated at the bar. “Well, that saying originated at … [Read more...]
Highway 28 to Levan, UT — Intermountain Farmers Association Mill
Driving on Highway 28 from Nephi to Levan, the strong contours of the Wasatch Range mellow out and the land and sky stretch wide. A single facility stands in the plain like a lone watch tower. Several silos rise over a hundred feet tall. A plume of vapor rises from the top into the blue sky. As I approach, the smell of corn permeates the air. I pull in and it feels as if … [Read more...]
The Loss of Utah’s Green Belt
Discussing the topic of growth with employees at Young Living Farms, in Mona, Utah they agree that the appeal of Nephi and Mona comes from what you don’t see: an absence of billboards and traffic jams, big box stores and tract homes. Instead, people want to live in the quiet valleys around farms, rivers and lakes in the still largely rural West. From my perspective, I … [Read more...]
Wild West Beef Jerky Stand, Levan, Utah
Levan is the very center of Utah, which is why Levan is navel spelled backwards. Highway 28 leads to the navel of Levan which happens to be the Wild West Beef Jerky Stand. A sign outside reads, “You can beat our prices but you can’t beat our meat!” This is just the type of place I need right now. My stomach is rumbling. Another sign reads that they are open but will be … [Read more...]
How to Supersize Your Tomatoes
A few simple tips to get great big results in the garden this year. There is nothing better in the summertime than vine-ripened, home-grown tomatoes. Tomatoes love heat and sunshine, and despite our short growing season, Utah has the perfect climate for growing large, healthy plants that can start producing tomatoes before 4th of July picnics. But, like any venture … [Read more...]
Why Community Supported Agriculture is Great for Utah Farmers
Community Supported Agriculture or CSAs have caught on big among Salt Lake City localvores. “It is absolutely worth the cost!” Joanna Mull is talking about the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program of which she is an enthusiastic participant. Joanna is trying the CSA program for the first time this year and is signed up with 3 Squares Produce. When she picks up her … [Read more...]
Sandhill Farm: Pete Rasmussen’s Clove of Garlic
Farmer Pete is the bane of vampires and the hero of chefs. Ask an old-time farmer in Ogden Valley how he decided what crop to grow. Chances are he’s not going to say that the beauty of alfalfa captured him in a moment of deep spiritual recognition. But that’s how farmer Pete Rasmussen tuned in to the living organism Allium sativum, or garlic. “I had a connection to the plant … [Read more...]
Ancient Fremont Farming in Utah
The Fremont Indians of Utah adopted farming technology that would be wiped out by their conquerors, the Utes. One of the most mysterious discoveries found in ancient Utah is a technological and lifestyle regression that occurred around 1250 -1300 AD, when the Fremont Indians’ culture vanished in less than a century. The Fremonts were likely an offshoot of the Aztecs, but … [Read more...]
Lavender Fields of Deceit?
Driving into Mona, Utah on I-15 the fragrance of fresh lavender through an open car window is enchanting. Just fifteen minutes from all of the construction madness in and around Utah County, remnants of road-rage and stress fade away as the vast expanse of farms begins to unfold. From early spring through September breathtaking rows of majestic purple lavender extend like a … [Read more...]
Utah Farmer Talks Turkey
A peek inside a Utah family farm let’s you see what goes into raising the turkey on your table. The turkey of grade school Pilgrim scenes is an iconic brown bird with white, banded feathers. “That’s a heritage bird,” Carol Hess of Wight’s Farm Fresh Turkey explains. “They were the first bird to be bred for commercial purposes.” Over the years, breeding has been influenced … [Read more...]