Celebrating Our Regional Biodiversity
The Beaver Dam Pepper: An Ark of Taste Success Story
The Ark of Taste, Slow Food’s catalogue of more than 800 rare, regional, and extraordinary foods from around the world, has worked to bring back several delicious foods from the brink of extinction.
One such success story is Wisconsin’s own Beaver Dam Pepper. This year the large, crisp fruits, just now blushing red in my gardens, are spicier than I’ve ever tasted them before…maybe the horrid drought & heat is responsible for the extra lovely heat this season.
The Beaver Dam Pepper
Like all foods boarded onto the Ark of Taste, the Beaver Dam was once at risk of disappearing completely from our tables. Now, due to many producers, gardeners, seed companies and Slow Food USA members, this delicious pepper can be found regularly in markets and gardens this time of year and spotted in jars of pickles and preserves in groceries year round. Look for it in the coming weeks at your local farmers markets, along with the other peppers on SFU’s Ark that folks are growing in our region–Fish Pepper, Hinkelhatz Hot Pepper, Jimmy Nardello’s Sweet Italian Frying pepper, Sheepnose Pimiento, Wenk’s Yellow Hot Pepper
Milwaukee Heritage Apple Project
Over 60 heritage apple trees have been distributed to producers & home growers! We’ve got a few trees left to plant in community gardens and centers. If you want to help with planting this fall, contact Jennifer to get involved at jcasey@slowfoodwise.org.
Chuck: Sadly this situation doesn’t surrsipe me. In the past, three of the reasons treatment did not take place were: 1. Too late in the season, by June it is too late, 2. Water is too high due to spring rains, and 3. Water wasn’t taken down in time. Now they can blame it on the beavers. You have UDAG money for one treatment that I believe does not have a fiscal limitation and also the money set forth in the 2012 budget which, if not used by June 30, 2012, may expire. So set your sights on late winter (January) of 2012 and have “all the ducks in a row” by February, then pray for no spring rains and be sure they don’t decide to bring the water back up early, so there will be no excuse not to treat. Oh my goodness, keep up the good work and, Chuck, thanks for keeping me in the loop. Fondly, Martha Craft
Say, you got a nice post.Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged.