By Stephen Buller One of my readers wrote in, disagreeing with my claim that the United States dollar is a “fiat” currency. Firstly, let me say thank you for your interest! My mission in writing these columns is to educate my community about the monetary system as it exists today, and on how we could…
By Jane Valencia Our conversation with Thomas Vroom and Jordan Ashley Beck of Fernhorn Bakery has ranged through many topics. From the origin of their bakery, to concerns regarding commodity wheat, to benefits and connection with the exciting prospects of Vashon grown-grains and possibilities for strengthening Island resilience, we return to where Fernhorn Bakery is…
By Stephen Buller The cry has fallen on deaf ears for many years, but as the Fed struggles on both sides of its “dual mandate” to promote maximum employment and stable prices, more and more Americans are becoming aware of our central bank, what its role is, and its impact on our daily lives. It’s…
By March Twisdale Dear Vashon Island Visitor, Tourist, and Summer People, Roughly one year ago, I began a series of articles about “Bank Taxes.” This is what I call the predatory and increasingly ubiquitous money extraction technology also known as “transaction fees.” Wherever you live, these are impacting you negatively and directly, but even worse,…
By Caitlin Rothermel On June 20th, I listened in to the Vashon-Maury Community Council meeting. It completely grabbed my attention. Topics included the electric undergrounding proposal being presented to Puget Sound Energy, the planned Thunderbird drug rehabilitation facility, and the status of the Vashon Health Care District. If you didn’t attend, and are interested in…
By Jane Valencia Fernhorn Bakery’s story interweaves with that of Island resilience. In our conversation with owners Thomas Vroom and Jordan Ashley Beck, we chat about Vashon-grown grains. Did you know that it’s possible to grow wheat on Vashon? Several Islanders are growing wheat already, and work is underway to support Island grain-growing. In 2022,…
By Stephen Buller The official annual rate of inflation reported in April 2024 was 3.36%. That word “official” usually gives credibility to facts and figures, but if you know anything about inflation, you know the opposite holds true here. The consumer price index (CPI) tracks “a chosen basket of goods and services.” Chosen by whom?…
By Caitlin Rothermel In February 2024 in The Vashon Loop, Jenny Bell reported on Puget Sound Energy’s “tree wire” project, a PSE program working to clear roadside vegetation and upgrade Vashon’s power infrastructure. “Tree wire” is sturdy and well-insulated, and considered likely to fare well in storms, resist tree falls, and reduce the need for frequent…
By Lyndsey Braun-Palmer Everything spring-like is springing into action, including egg production! I’d like to introduce a favorite method for creating shelf-stable eggs – dehydration! Dehydrating eggs when you are producing more than you need is a great way to store this food essential for future use. Here’s my step-by-step guide. Ingredients Fresh eggs Instructions…
By Jane Valencia Thomas Vroom and Jordan Ashley Beck own and run Fernhorn Bakery. In true Island fashion, the story of their bakery is nested within several stories related to the local economy and resilience. In Part 2 of this series, we learn about the wheats that Fernhorn uses to create their delicious, nutrient-dense, and…