Jackrabbit Journal

Grafton, UT

DJ — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:00:52 +0000

Grafton, Utah is a ghost town not far from Rockville, near Zion National Park. It was settled in 1859, wiped out the following year when the Virgin River flooded, and resettled in 1862. The settlers were supposed to grow cotton for the Utah economy, but soon learned that they needed all their land just to grow food for themselves. Today, all that remains are a few buildings and a cemetery. This church doubled as a schoolhouse for the frontier community.

Share/Bookmark

Many cheeses

DJ — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:43:48 +0000

We’ve been busy this week, making and packaging more cheese. Last night we made cheese curds, both Plain and Jalapeno. All four farmers markets have them today.

We also have the new soft cheeses: Hot Pepper-Tomato, Honey- Raspberry (only in Springdale), and, by popular demand, Garlic-Leek. And we packaged a Farmstead Jack that is excellent. Stop by one of the farmers markets and check them out!

Share/Bookmark

Great Deals!

DJ — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:13:44 +0000

I had to laugh at this price sign at our local Walmart! Unfortunately, whatever it was seemed to be sold out.

Share/Bookmark

We may have gone overboard with soft cheese…

DJ — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:56:36 +0000

We haven’t been able to keep up with the demand for our soft cow cheese, so we decided to make a big batch this week. It’s bigger than we realized! We’ve used everything we can think of to drain it in. Yes, those are (washed and sanitized) pillow cases. Lol!

The good news is, we’ll have plenty of soft cheese for spring, including the usual – Plain, Rosemary-garlic, Jalapeno, and Habanero – and also Garlic-Leek and Tomato-Basil. Enjoy!

Share/Bookmark

Spring in southern Utah

DJ — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:59:00 +0000

Virgin Falls Park in Virgin, UT.

Share/Bookmark

Zion Canyon Farmers Market

DJ — Sun, 12 May 2013 18:43:00 +0000

Yesterday was a glorious day in Springdale, and the farmers market was in it’s third week. Besides our cheese, three were two vendors with fresh greens and other veggies, Marti the Jam Lady with her fabulous jams and jellies, honey, pecans, eggs, locally-roasted coffee, quiches, scones, and more. If you’re in the neighborhood next week, be sure to check it out. It runs from 9am until noon, on the lawn next to the Bit’n'Spur Restaurant.

Share/Bookmark

River Rock Roasting Wows Springdale

DJ — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:34:21 +0000

River Rock Roasting Company in Laverkin made its debut today at the Zion Canyon Farmers Market in Springdale today, featuring mini quiches, scones, and of course coffee. Above: spinach & Swiss quiche, made with organic spinach. Also available: bacon, corn & green chili quiche, made with organic corn, and it’s wheat free.

Share/Bookmark

Chimney Meadow Blue Cheese

DJ — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:06:49 +0000

We live near what was one called Chimney Meadows, where pioneers dug their homes into the ground so only the chimneys were visible. I think this was an early form of geothermal heating and cooling – the homes would have been about ground temperature year round, about 55 degrees. That’s an improvement over the temperature extremes outside, which can range from -30 in the winter to 110 in the summer.

We decided to name out latest attempt at blue cheese after this early and mostly forgotten community. The cheese is our own recipe, made in the style of the d’Auvergne region of France. It has the bloomy rind and creamy texture of Brie, with blue veining and a subtle blue flavor. It’s a lovely cheese, and we’re very happy with it.

Right now, it’s at its peak of creaminess. Stop by our booth at one of the farmers markets for a taste – we have free samples!

Share/Bookmark

Spring in southern Utah

DJ — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:05:00 +0000

Snow on the mountains, water in the low areas. On a beautiful Saturday, we went to Upper Bear Valley to skip rocks in a pond.

Share/Bookmark

Monsanto Scores Again… And Again

DJ — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 21:56:12 +0000

Earlier this month, Lisa Kahn reported that the Obama administrations five-year investigation into alleged anti-trust practices by agri-giant Monsanto fizzled, and were quietly closed last fall. She characterizes one former DOJ lawyer’s opinion, saying the administration “may have been reluctant to wage a close fight given Monsanto’s political connections.” The result: Monsanto retains “almost total control” over our nation’s seed business, and has suggested it will keep raising its prices, which have almost doubled since 2001. It also retains near-total-control over what are euphemistically called “genetic traits” – genetic modifications, which have had little scientific scrutiny as to their effects on either the environment or consumers.

This week, Monsanto scored again, big time. A rider to the federal budget contained language that gave virtual legal immunity to Monsanto for ill effects from its GMO seeds. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT is quoted as telling the Senate,

The provision says that when a judge finds that the USDA approved a crop illegally, the department must re-approve the crop and allow it to continue to be planted regardless of what the judge says.

Tester requested that his fellow Senators debate removing the rider from the budget, but, according to the article, Senate leaders refused to allow debate. This article, too, notes that Monsanto “spent more than $6 million last year to influence decisions in Washington.”

Monsanto’s political clout is paying big dividends. President Obama signed the budget bill into law last week, along with its little-debated Monsanto protection clause. Monsanto, it seems, can now do whatever it wants, with little or no risk of legal repercussion.

Share/Bookmark