Generosity

IN TWO of this issue’s stories, financial donations from the community were key to ensuring the ongoing viability of small local businesses. For Bagelfeld’s, it was a Kickstarter campaign that allowed owner Charles Blonkenfeld to transition from a temporary rented kitchen to a brick-and-mortar location. For Maya’s Farm, contributions to the Phoenix Land Preservation Program saved the farmland for the future.

Examples of generous gestures abound in other stories as well. For Hassayampa Vineyard and Farm, neighbor Ella McCracken helped to establish and set up their cheesemaking operation. Mixologist and Garden Bar PHX owner Kim Haasarud was hosted by honey makers across the country to learn more about bees and honey varietals. And even the Romans got in on the act by disseminating the cucumber around Europe.

As the featured image on our last page, from among the many stunning Southwest plants in Jimmy W. Fike’s new book we purposely picked the sunflower—to show our solidarity with the people in the Ukraine. We’ve long been supporters of José Andrés and World Central Kitchen and are amazed by the work they are doing to feed Ukraine refugees. Be generous with your support at wck.org.