I was going to send this month’s newsletter out yesterday, but due to the horrific events that happened yesterday in Minneapolis with the murder of Renee Good by ICE agents, I decided to wait a day. Like most of you, I am in disbelief that our government has been taken over by power-hungry oligarchs bent on destroying our democracy.

I urge you to call your state’s elected officials—the number for the Capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121—and demand that they take action to stop the illegal actions of this administration.

It’s only going to stop if we demand it. Thank you.

The end of a year is, as I noted in last month’s newsletter, always fraught with holidays, kids on Christmas break, to-do lists out the wazoo and obligations personal and familial.

To make the season a teensy bit less stressful, I put together lists of holiday gift suggestions that stressed eschewing the big box stores and instead supporting local makers as well as giving the gift of generosity to non-profits supporting our food system, our neighbors and the environment.

If you’re inundated with company, or just need something warm and comforting to start your day, Dave’s latest scone recipe is nothing short of miraculous. Incorporating toasted oats with the option of adding sautéed apples or the dried fruit of your choice, you may be tempted to hide them or, better yet, make a double batch.

There’s also a recipe for what may be the best chowder I’ve ever had courtesy of my friend, author Nancy Harmon Jenkins, who granted me permission to reprint a Northwestern adaptation of her lobster chowder recipe that uses our own Dungeness crab. Happy crustacean season!

Like most people who partake of (or are overwhelmed by) social media owned by right-wing, anti-democratic billionaires, one reason I still have accounts with at least a few of them is that they can amplify voices seldom heard from in the mainstream media. I put together a list of a few of those that center Indigenous voices and posted a link to support a petition demanding recognition of the Chinook Indian Nation.

Looking ahead, you’ll be reading about the issues affecting our local food system that will come before the legislature this session, as well as new developments in the ongoing encroachment of data centers on our agricultural lands and the continuing water crisis in Morrow County caused by pollution from industrial agriculture, not to mention delicious ways to celebrate local, seasonal ingredients. I hope you’ll consider supporting this always-free source of news with a monthly Patreon subscription, and thanks to those of you who already have.

Thanks, as always, for reading!

Best,

Kathleen Bauer