Be Water Wise

Conservation is one of our core beliefs as both individuals and as business owners. This summer we have decided to do our part by only serving water upon request to dine-in patrons. We will gladly pour our filtered water for those who intend to drink it. We hope this step will spur others to review their own household’s consumption.

10 Ways to conserve water for the farmers growing our food:

1. Follow local landscape watering guidelines. In Ketchum, landscape watering is prohibited from 10 am to 5 pm, June 15th to September 1st.

2. Practice xeroscaping at your home when planning landscaping. The City fo Sun Valley, Idaho has created a list of drought tolerant species.

3. Install rain sensors on irrigation systems

4. Plant a rain garden for catching storm water runoff from your roof, driveway and other hard surfaces

5. Install a rain barrel for outdoor watering

6. Only run the washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load

7. Fix leaks

8. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth and shaving

9. Keep a bottle of drinking water in your refrigerator

10. Use water efficient household appliances

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Pancakes

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)

1 egg, beaten

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

Butter or oil for the griddle

1/2 cup grated carrots ***make it Rasberrys-like by subbing sweet potato, parsnip or strained apple***

Maple syrup, butter, extra carrots and chopped nuts for topping (optional)

Grind oats in a blender for a few seconds, until they have a flour-like texture. Combine the oats, milk and egg; let sit for 10 minutes. Stir in baking powder, spices and vanilla.

Heat a griddle or skillet over medium. Spray with oil or melt a pat of butter. For each pancake, drop and spread a scant 1/4 cup of batter into a 4-inch round. Sprinkle evenly with about 1 1/2 Tbsp grated carrots.

Cook pancakes, three at a time, until small bubbles form and pop on the top. Flip, and cook 1 to 2 minutes more until golden on the other side. Serve warm with desired toppings. Makes 2 servings.

Source: April 2021 Costco Connection, recipe by Marisa Moore.

Container Gardening in Sun Valley, Idaho

While we all may not have acres of land, growing is a summer pastime with so many benefits. Containers come in all shapes and sizes and add beauty just as the green things they grow. Clay pots are attractive and sustainable and we mostly use this type. Many veggies flower and are a pretty compliment to non-edibles in a shared container.

A few key considerations when choosing your containers:

• drainage - make sure there are ample holes at the base and drip trays

• substrate - fill your container with compost, soil, gravel, etc. for optimal plant health

• fertilizer - produce and annual crops require lots of food. The smaller the container the more they need.

• sunlight - choose plants for your light conditions. This element is key to the plants thriving.

In our years of backyard gardening in the Hailey, Idaho area, we have found success with the following plants:

• Basil

• Chilis

• Cilantro

• Eggplant

• Kale

• Potatoes

• Rosemary

• Spinach

• Tarragon

• Tomatoes

There are a number of garden stores in the Wood River Valley. They are very knowledgeable and stock a nice assortment of product. Stay tuned for Maeme’s homemade “miracle grow”, she will be making some as the summer gets rolling.

Happy gardening!