By Nichole Banducci Saying that Vashon feels like home has so much more meaning than we could have realized. Our family first visited the Island back in June of 2018. The trip was a part of a “top secret” future home search, disguised as a family vacation. Our older kids were going to college in…
By Dr. Leigh Siergiewicz Equisetum, or horsetail, is the only remaining genus in the prehistoric plant family Equisetaceae. I certainly think it looks like it belonged with dinosaurs, with its crusty texture and poky, bottle brush appearance. It is extremely persistent, with very deep rhizomes that make it extremely difficult to eradicate. It does not…
By Nichole Banducci In honor of Strawberry Festival, I wanted to share my favorite strawberry-filled baked treat. Rolled oats, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, strawberries, chia seeds, and lemon juice are the main heroes that make these bars delectable. The cool part is you can substitute your preferred flour, sugar, butter, or fruit filling to…
The fruit and berry season is in full swing now and making bubbly refreshing shrubs to make it through the hotter days ahead will be a delight. Here is my recipe that I use for most things shrubs, and of course you may have your own twist, too! It’s easy and the shrub mixture should…
By Marjorie Watkins When we lived in Crete, there were little white churches scattered over the hills. Their doors were always unlocked and you could go in any time to say your prayers, although you might not find chairs to sit in. The priests were always tall. Greeks are not noted for being tall, but…
By the Footloose Foodie I am especially excited about the subject matter of this month’s article. I love a good burger! Footloosing it, I meandered uptown in search of a good burger. What makes a burger good? There are as many answers to this question as there are burgers! Everyone has a personal set of…
The Vashon Way: How to Be Mistaken for a LocalBy Gayle Kellner When you run out of almond milk and have to go purchase more, put on a loose-fitting dress and mismatched sweater, preferably hand-knit. Finish off your outfit with a pair of rubber boots. If they look new, walk through a couple of mud…
By Jane Valencia Are you curious about learning how to use herbs in your yard or around the Island for medicine? A great way to start is to learn with your kids. And here on Vashon, chances are they know some herbal remedies already. Start there! Do they have a favorite remedy for a nettle…
By Daniel Hooker A man goes to Australia after meeting a U.S. couple that shared tales of a town in the Outback called “Life.” The town had a tea called Koala that had rejuvenating properties. It took a week’s worth of travel with buses and jeeps to get to the town. Once the man arrived,…
By Marc J. Elzenbeck The Pacific scales in at about 70 million square miles. Thousands of islands, far fewer than you’d expect, scatter across its vast third of the Earth. Ours is nestled deep into the ocean’s easternmost pocket, bobbing on maps like a jagged splinter of cork near the bottom of a curvy wine…