MURAL MONDAY: Favorite Childhood Books

How many characters from children's books can you find?

Here's the panoramic view (above) with individual sections (below)

All of these favorites, and more, are available at the Walla Walla Public Library.

PEAS ON EARTH: A brief history of vines

Learning on the Land--Part 1

Learning on the Land is the community education program of the Blue Mountain Land Trust, a non-profit organization whose mission is to "collaborate with communities and landowners to conserve the scenic, natural, and working lands that characterize the Blue Mountain region." This series of outings offers a wide variety of topics and events to connect the greater Walla Walla community with the surrounding land. Peas on Earth is one of these.

Long before the first wine grape was grown in the Walla Walla valley, another plant grew on vines--peas. While wheat has been the undisputed agricultural king in the Blue Mountain area as long as the land has been farmed, peas have been among the other crops that have played important roles in the life and economy of the Walla Walla Valley. But their heyday as a agricultural headliner is almost a memory. 

Due to a loss of food processors in the region over the years, less and less acreage is devoted to growing green peas. Today, the H.T. Rea Farming Company, a four-generation family farm, operates one of the largest farms in the area that still grows green peas.

An abundance of rain in May caused pea vines to grow and swell; however a week of 100+ degree temperatures in June caused these same vines to stress which can be seen in the subtle yellowing. Time to harvest!

 Working ahead of the multiple viners, the swather (back center) cuts down the vines leaving them in neat rows. 

Next come the viners that crawl along the rows of downed vines, each one offset from the other, and in a multi-task operation pick up the vines, then shake, beat, roll and vibrate the pods which releases the peas into a holding tank.

 Finally, the spent pea vines and pea-less pods are spit out the back.

Yes, those pods look in tact, but when they exit the viner, they are indeed without the individual peas. 

As the holding tank fills up, a tractor pulling a large bucket-wagon pulls up along side the viner, and the peas are off-loaded. On this day, one wagon serviced seven viners which meant the driver was constantly busy collecting peas and then . . .

. . .dumping the full bucket into a waiting pea truck which will take them to Smith Frozen Foods where they will be processed. 

From field to frozen takes only four hours! Stay tuned for Part-2, a tour of Smith Frozen Foods, the lone green pea processor in the area where in 1952 there were 20 food processors in the Blue Mountain region.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL REPORT--SUMMER 2015

Becoming a Part of the Process

I attended my first general meeting of the Community Council this week where the results of the current study--Enhancing Outdoor Recreation Activities--were presented. What an impressive organization!

The Community Council facilitates a citizen-driven, consensus-based problem-solving process to prepare the greater Walla Walla area for future growth, change and challenges. The Community Council encourages the participation of all residents of the region. 

The study process is carried out by three committees each composed of community members: the program committee, the study committee and the implementation task force. The results of the study committee presented at this week's annual luncheon meeting has now been turned over to the implementation task force. The board of directors commits the Community Council to support this implementation effort for two years.

These are the topics studied and implemented since the beginning of Community Council in 2007. Each year the Community Council seeks suggestions from its members, community leaders and the general public to help determine the topic for its next Study. 

THE SALAD DAYS OF JUNE

Local Produce Grown by Local Farmers

It Can't Get Much Better Than This!

MONDAY MURAL: WINDOWS ON THE PAST

Preserving Walla Walla's History

In a forward-thinking move in 1993, the Blue Mountain Arts Alliance (a non-profit arts organization now known as ArtWalla) rescued this hand-carved sandstone facade of the 1902 Henry Osterman-designed Odd Fellows Temple in Downtown Walla Walla before the building was razed. The facade was relocated to Heritage Park on Main Street where it stood empty until 2010 when the colorful "Windows on the Past" was installed.

Historical photos, many depicting the ethnic and cultural diversity of people in the Valley form 1850-1950, are inserted into the spaces where there were once windows. According to the artist in charge of the project, Jeanne McMenamy, "The over-arching goal of this project was to build intercultural understanding in the creation of a compelling, permanent public artwork designed to celebrate the community's multicultural ancestors. Previously underrepresented and alienated groups are now included in a major downtown installation, and see their family treasures depicted in a rich tapestry of pattern and color." 

Each window is made using a porcelain enamel-on-steel process which renders the finished product extremely durable and low maintenance. For more info: https://www.codaworx.com/project/windows-on-the-past-artwalla

AIN'T NOTHIN' LIKE THE REAL THING, BABY

An American Favorite

During my travels, the Italian food was incredible and the French food fantastic, but nothing beats a good ole' American hamburger and fries from Marcy's in Walla Walla. Especially when it's a 'Crunch Burger' made with a custom-grind all beef patty from Walla Walla's Blue Valley Meats and served on a toasty bun by John's Wheatland Bakery along with bacon, sweet frizzled onion, Tillamook cheddar, bbq sauce, tomato, and lettuce. Mmmmm!

 For a slightly healthier version, substitute a side salad instead of the fries.

Add an icy cold vodka-cran from the Happy Hour menu, and I'm a happy camper.

THINGS THAT DRIVE ME CRAZY #2

Who Does This?

 Leaves one lone shopping cart . . .

 four parking spaces away from the cart corral.

I guess it's job security for these two guys.

GEE BUT IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK HOME

These little piggies had a good soak . . .

these little piggies were painted red . . .

and all the little piggies cried "Hip, hip, hurray" all the way home! 

HUNTING THE MORCHELLA ESCULENTA

As Seen By Susan at Olive on Main

CDP THEME DAY--JUNE, 2015

Freeway of Love by Aretha Franklin

We goin' ridin' on the freeway of love
Wind's against our back
We goin' ridin' on the freeway of love
In my pink Cadillac
  

For me, a pink Cadillac convertible reeks retro-style and is so fitting a photo for this Walla Walla girl who grew up in the 50s and 60s in the Motor City, aka Detroit, Michigan, also the home of Aretha Franklin. While not pink, I do remember having a series of Cadillacs in our garage over the years since my father worked for General Motors for 30+ years. Sweet memories!