Soil Family Farm in Monticello, Florida. The
photo was taken by chef/farmer Chris Wagner.
As I sit here reflecting on the past few months, I become overwhelmed with the response that the premier issue of this magazine has received. A year ago, when this magazine was but a dream, I felt there was a need to tell the stories of the people producing our food. Today I am one hundred percent sure that I was correct in following my dreams and my heart.
The other day as I was driving home from a networking event with my friend (and hopefully future Edible Nature Coast business partner), Christina, I was telling her I had no idea what the cover of this issue was going to be. The spring (premier issue) cover photo was of Jesse and Tyler Rice of Backwoods Crossing restaurant in Tallahassee, and while most Edible Communities titles have photos of food on their covers, I’ve been thinking more about the relationship we have with the people who are producing our food then of the food itself.
Among the people I meet on my publishing journey, some have truly become friends, as is the case with Kevin and Esprit Herbert of Herbert Sherbert. I met them through mutual friends and became a huge fan of their ice pops. They are two people who are each other’s best friend and they share a passion for what they are doing. That passion is contagious. You can’t help but love them and I couldn’t help but put them on our cover. Kevin and Esprit are so busy growing their business that we could not find a time to meet, so I emailed them some questions and wrote up the article as an interview with their own words telling the story.
As you browse through this issue, you’ll find that bartering is alive and well in Northern Florida, as I suspect it is elsewhere in other farming communities. Emma Witmer digs deep into bartering, which hits close to home for her, as her own mother is a barterer. In a conversation Emma and I had about her article, I said, “I hope this inspires more people to barter” and she replied, “Perhaps we can get people just a little closer to a more sustainable world.” I couldn’t think of better words to live by or to sum up the mission of Edible Nature Coast.
We explore the restaurant world in Tallahassee again in this issue with the new field and stream-totable restaurant The Huntsman Restaurant and Bar. Cristi McKee’s piece makes our mouths water as she reels us in (get it?!) with her first sentence about antelope with glazed mushrooms, steak sauce, pearl onions, and tomatoes.
Not be missed is Brian Mitchell’s story about an oasis in the middle of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. Natalie and Kevin Goff of Njoy Spirits invite you into their distillery and farm in true southern hospitality. Time will fly by as you relax by the bar or enjoy food from whatever local food truck is there that day. Cornhole and Snickers the donkey will distract you as you forget about what is going on in the real world. The five-mile drive through the refuge is tedious but well worth it.
You’ll also find two regular features that make me smile: What’s in Season, which was well received in the first issue, and the Last Bite by my good friend Amy McCoy. Her artwork and poems are the best way to bring the issue to a close.
Until next time, happy eating and exploring. Please feel free to share any great finds you may discover by emailing us at hello@ediblenaturecoast.com.
Brian Knowles
Publisher and Editor in Chief
