2012
Free A supplement to the Methow Valley News
In partnership with
July 20-22 • Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival July 27-Aug 4 • Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival Sept 1-2 • Methow Valley Rodeo Sept 7-9 • Antique Auto Rallye Nov 24-25 • Christmas at the End of the Road
WinthropWashington.com
w a s h i n g t o n
2 MADE IN THE METHOW
A celebration of creativity Marketing matters How to reach potential customers..............................................................4
Home grown The valley is bountiful with local foods...................................................6
Enduring ideas Some local producers have been at it for years....................8
Liquid assets If you can drink it, someone here probably made it.....10 Photo by Sue Misao
elcome to the inaugural edition of Made in the Methow, a special supplement that we intend to publish annually. The Methow Valley is home to a growing variety of unique creative forces. Through imagination, inspiration, idealism, entrepreneurism, spiritual expression or some mixture of motivations, dozens of local individuals and small companies are specializing in products that are noteworthy for their quality and lasting appeal. Made in the Methow focuses on that remarkable range of distinct products, with the intent of helping to spread the word to a world of potential customers. It includes feature stories about local people, local ideas, local marketing efforts and local impacts of the made-here economy. Be sure to also check out our directory of lo-
cal providers – please use it as a resource, and as a means of pointing friends and visitors toward the valley’s products. Special thanks must go to our co-sponsors: TwispWorks, the Twisp Chamber of Commerce and the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce. Their partnership went a long way toward making Made in the Methow possible, and also toward establishing a consistent Methow “brand” that will benefit every aspect of the valley’s economy. We appreciate their willingness to join us in this initial effort to spotlight some of the things that make the Methow a promising place to do business. Made in the Methow illuminates the valley’s passion for originality, and we hope will help raise the profile of everyone who is part of that spirit. –Don Nelson
Rock solid Turning stones into works of art....................................................................12
Why here? How the Methow nurtures creativity.....................................................14
Help is available Assistance for entrepreneurs............................................................................16
Made in the Methow directory.........18 Cover photo by Laurelle Walsh: Agnes Almquist and her husband John have been creating signature pottery from their Winthrop studio since 1976.
mazama store 2012 Don Nelson, publisher/editor Sue Misao, design Robin Doggett, ad sales Callie Fink, ad sales Dana Sphar, ad design/production Linda Day, ad design Marilyn Bardin, office manager Janet Mehus, office assistant
A little bit of everything good... Featuring a variety of local foods and handmade goods exclusive to the Methow Valley
996-2855 Open Daily 7am - 6pm • 50 Lost River Road
Contributors Alison Gillette Mike Maltais Ann McCreary Don Nelson Rose Weagant Norton Marcy Stamper Laurelle Walsh A publication of the Methow Valley News PO Box 97, Twisp, WA 98856 509.997.7011 Fax 509.997.3277 editor@methowvalleynews.com www.methowvalleynews.com MADE IN THE METHOW 3
Finding a global market for local products
A
ttachment, connection, place: These are the values that the Methow’s savviest marketing consultants associate with Methow-made goods. But how can the manufacturer, artisan or farmer get their products from the valley to the consumer who values them? It takes consistent effort and an understanding of modern marketing. “The Methow has more export potential than most small, rural communities,” said Amy Stork, executive director at TwispWorks, an evolving campus for the valley’s artisans and entrepreneurs. “A lot of people travel through here, some live here part-time, and they all develop an attachment to the place … a desire to access the Methow when they’re not here.” “Once people come to the Methow Valley they want to take home something; they want more of it,” said Kristen Smith, marketing director at the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce. “People who visit this place also see the value of supporting the local economy.” Donna Keyser, artistic director at Confluence Gallery, said that people who love the valley want a connection to the place. “A piece of artwork from here holds in it the whole culture of the Methow,” she said. Keyser suspects that technology has removed most people from the fundamentals of making things, so they have a hunger for connection with that process. “There’s a certain desire to be attached to an artist who has spent 90 hours polishing a bowl,” she said.
Go online
The means of marketing wares and getting them to the consumer has changed radically since the invention of the World Wide Web in 1990. 4 MADE IN THE METHOW
“Highlight what makes you stand out from other shops. Select high-quality images. Use meaningful tags (search terms such as ‘father’s day’ or ‘spring cleaning’) to help people find your product. Have a good selection of items for sale,” she said. Ringgold will be offering a class at Confluence Gallery on Aug. 8 from 5-6:30 p.m., designed to help local artisans set up an Etsy shop. Confluence (www.confluencegallery.com) offers professional development classes for working artists throughout the year.
Brand yourself
Photo by Laurtelle Walsh
Liam Doyle of Lost River Winery strolls through the barrel cellar at the Winthrop winery. Lost River also has a retail store near Seattle’s Pike Place Market. E-commerce has become a necessity, and producers of goods in the far-flung Methow Valley can now go after their customers in a more expansive way. Establishing a web presence for your business is a must for any Methow Valley entrepreneur, according to the Winthrop Chamber’s Kristen Smith. “The world today is so digital; the only way they’re going to find you is if you have an online presence,” Smith said. A business owner doesn’t have to spend thousands of dollars on an elaborate website, according to Smith, “A blog is all you need.” Smith also recommends a domain name that contains a word such as Methow Valley, or Methow, or North Cascades. Next, sign up for a Facebook business page. “It’s the biggest and best social network,” Smith said. “It’s free, and it’s all word-of-mouth advertising, which has proven to be the most effective.” For artisans who want to
try their hand at e-commerce, Nicole Ringgold, executive director at Confluence Gallery, recommends Etsy. More than an online shop, the 15-million-member Etsy (www.etsy.com) calls itself “the world’s handmade marketplace,” and offers a way for small producers to display, promote and sell their hand-
made goods online and network with a larger community of artisans. Etsy’s search engine makes it easy to “shop local;” a quick search turned up 10 Methow Valley artisans with shops on the website. Ringgold adheres to basic marketing principles at her own Etsy shop, “Art Simply.”
Photo by Sue Misao
Local farmers markets connect the producers directly with the consumers.
“Marketing is not a layer of paint on top of your business; it’s a reflection of your business’s core values,” TwispWorks’ Amy Stork said. “With branding, you define who you are and communicate that to the customer.” There are a few basic steps a business should take to brand itself, said Stork, adding, “Anybody can do this.” First, identify your customer. How do they get their information? Where do they shop? What else do they buy? Identify their values and articulate how the attributes of your product meet the customer’s needs. Second, develop a visual image that is compelling to your customer, will fit into many formats (labeling, website, business materials), and will show the attributes of your product. Stork says you may want to hire a professional for this part. Third, commit to consistently using that visual branding – typeface, logo and colors – for at least the first couple of years, Stork said. “Act like you are a big business; give a consistent message,” she said. Helping valley entrepreneurs market their businesses fits into TwispWork’s core program of promoting economic development, Stork said. (See
related story, Page 16.) TwispWorks has applied for a federal grant to develop a Made in the Methow brand, which Stork hopes to launch in the summer of 2013. The nonprofit’s board is also “exploring ideas for marketing the products of the valley with the Made in the Methow brand,” said Stork. The trademark Made in the Methow began with a cooperative shop located on Glover Street from 2000 to 2005, and sold members’ wares under the Made in the Methow brand, according to founding member Salyna Gracie, owner of Salyna’s Specialty Cakes in Twisp.
Brick and mortar
The Made in the Methow store may have been ahead of its time, thinks Tess Hoke of Twisp’s Local 98856, but brickand-mortar stores still appeal to shoppers in the real world. And seasonal farmers markets – such as the Methow Valley Farmers Market on Saturdays in Twisp, the Sunday Winthrop Market, or the Mazama Market on Wednesday evenings – feed the customer’s desire for a con-
nection to the producer. All of the valley’s major food retailers regularly carry Methow-made and/or Methow-raised goods – including the Carlton General Store, Hank’s Harvest Foods, Thomson’s Custom Meats, the Glover Street Market, the Red Apple Market, and the Mazama Store – as do other retailers. Local artwork can be found displayed at several retail stores and eateries. Crown S Ranch opened its farm store on Twin Lakes Road in May 2011. There they sell their sustainably raised meat, as well as eggs and produce from their vegetable garden. The Crown S Store also carries goods made by other valley producers, including garlic powder, spices and dressings, cheese, local bread, honey, and fruit. Lost River Winery has two retail outlets: a tasting room at the headquarters in Winthrop where its wine is produced, and another at Seattle’s Pike Place Market opened one year ago. “The tasting room connects us to the customer; it’s where we do our market research,” said Lost River Winery’s di-
Photo by Sue Misao
Glover Street Market in Twisp is among many valley retailers that carry Methow-made or Methow-raised products, including works of local artists. rector of marketing and sales, Liam Doyle. The winery’s key customers – 75 percent of them – live in Seattle and visit the Methow. “They work at their computers 9 to 5 and dream of
the Methow Valley,” said Doyle. Specialty shops, food coops, online sales, farmers markets, community-supported agriculture, and buying clubs are all ways that local produc-
ers are getting creative about marketing their products to the wider world, putting the Methow Valley on the map as a viable place to live, work, create and prosper. '
ROASTER’S CHOICE FOR COFFEE LOVERS ORGANIC & RAIN FOREST ALLIANCE CERTIFIED
A portion of all sales benefit Trout Unlimited’s Washington Water Project Conserving, Protecting & Restoring the Methow and Okanogan watersheds. www.facebook.com/WA.Water.Project.TU
MADE IN THE METHOW 5
The cultivated taste By Marcy Stamper K – we have no bananas. But, despite being in the chillier latitudes, growers in the Methow coax an incredible range of produce and edibles from their fields, including dozens of varieties of apples; arnica, hyssop and peppermint; goat cheese and yogurt; emmer and rye; pork, beef, chicken and turkey; and even food for critters, including alfalfa and catnip. Hanna Kinzle’s six-foot French tarragon plant is vibrant proof of her 36 years as an herb grower. Raised in Germany, Kinzle was familiar with herbs for their culinary and medicinal properties, but when she started selling fragrant fresh herbs to restaurants here three decades ago, “they didn’t even know what herbs were about,” she said. Hanna’s Inner City Herb Garden had one of the first booths at the Twisp Farmers Market, but Kinzle has since branched out, marketing herb vinegars, teas and her own seasonings, including a popcorn seasoning that she is marketing to movie theaters. “I love my herbs,” said Kinzle. “It’s so nice to walk around them – you brush by them and they smell so great. There’s nothing that smells better than peppermint.” Ancestree Herbals concentrates on medicinal herbs, supplying tincture and medicine manufacturers across the country with lush 20- to 50-pound bunches of fresh herbs. Tyler McGrath
6 MADE IN THE METHOW
bought the business this year and is growing 50 herbs on the three-anda-half acres, which were first planted with herbs and medicinal trees in 1999. With its numerous micro-climates, the Twisp River farm is able to grow a remarkable range of North American, European and Asian plants (up to 150 different species), including goldenseal, black cohosh, betony, lemon balm, as well as more familiar varieties such as thyme and lavender. Just down the road, Richard and Jocelyn Murray grow 32 varieties of organic apples, including many oldworld varieties prized for flavor and hardiness. “The older fruits have the taste people remember from their youth,” said Jocelyn. While apple orchards once generously dotted fields and hillsides throughout the Methow, a severe freeze in 1968 killed many of the trees. Richard worked with a veteran orchardist who nurtured a variety that survived the freeze. That resilient specimen became the rootstock for all the Murrays’ trees, since grafted with dozens of specialized varieties and intensely planted on a single acre, along with pears, apricots, cherries and plums. For the Murrays, the orchard is a community effort, where friends often trade labor for fruit. “We explicitly decided not to sell outside the Methow Valley, and we sell all our fruit every year,” said Jocelyn. “It’s successful,
Photo by Sue Misao
Kelleigh McMillan of Sowing Seeds Farm provides fresh-picked organic produce every week to people in need through the grant-supported Red Shed Produce program. but it’s more or less a labor of love.”
Protein-packed
Major commercial wheat operations are common in eastern Washington, but Sam and Brooke Lucy of Bluebird Grain Farms were probably the first in the country to grow emmer, an ancient variety of wheat (some 17,000 years old) that is high in protein and
low in gluten. Even today there are only two or three emmer farmers in the country, said Brooke. Since they started eight years ago, the Lucys have added milling and processing equipment and storage and now farm 200 acres. While the Lucys also grow rye and hard red and white wheat, emmer (also known as farro) remains their primary crop.
pasture and even taking them around the valley to graze on other people’s land. “The sheep are totally portable. I can set up on a grass patch in downtown Twisp if I need to,” said Smith. The Smiths sell what is known as custom-exempt lamb through the Washington agriculture system, sold by halves and wholes and cut to order at Thomson’s Custom Meats in Twisp. Most sales are local or in the Seattle area, but BCS also sells to customers in far-flung places like Georgia and Kansas City. Wool from the lambs is sent to a mill in Canada, where it is made into blankets, which the Smiths sell at local holiday bazaars.
Closed-loop process
the pigs and cows and the grass has a chance to recover. Hundreds of laying hens perambulate around the field in solar-powered, computerized chicken tractors designed by Sukovaty, which move every half hour to a new spot, allowing the chickens to devour bugs and grass and leave behind fertilizer. The vegetable garden flourishes where the pigs rooted the previous year. Even offal and feathers are composted. “We work with nature to find the best balance, from animal rotation to pest control,” said Argraves. “We’re combining traditional animal husbandry and new technology.” The Methow is so prolific that it isn’t possible to list all the agricultural activity conducted by commercial farmers and even home gardeners who sell their bumper crops at local stores, but here is a sampling: After years of growing vegetables and greens, Sunny Pine Farm is concentrating on organic goat cheese – chevre
and feta with herbs and spices – and goat-milk yogurt. Sowing Seeds Farm grows a variety of organic produce and provides free fresh produce to people in need through their grant-supported Red Shed Produce program. Booth Canyon Orchard grows organic apples, pears, raspberries, apricots and cherries. Doubletree Farm raises vegetables, eggs, beef and pork, using draft horses for plowing, planting, and harvesting. There are several types of honey made by local beekeepers and abundant garlic and berries. Check out the weekly farmers markets in Twisp (Saturday), Winthrop (Sunday) and Mazama (Wednesday); produce stands up and down the valley; and local grocers for fresh, Methow-grown fruits, veggies and herbs and locally raised meats. And it is rumored that at least one Methow resident does nurture some miniature bananas in a greenhouse. '
Louis Sukovaty and Jennifer Argraves, the owners of Crown S Photo by Sue Misao Cinnamon Twisp Bakery lets people know Ranch, have blended their backgrounds in where their food came from. agriculture and enWhole-grain farro, which retains gineering to create a nearly its chewiness and nutty flavor in sal- closed-loop process on their ads and pilafs, is the biggest seller, but farm near Winthrop, which Bluebird also sells fresh-milled flours they took over from Sukoand their own pancake, biscuit and vaty’s parents 13 years ago. pilaf blends. Crown S raises chickens, While the emmer is bought by most hatched from their own restaurants across the country, the eggs; pigs; grass-fed beef; Methow remains the foundation of lamb and turkeys. Using both their business. Most local bakeries state and federally licensed and restaurants use their flour – you processors, their meat can can sample it in breads and pastries be sold either in quarters or at the Mazama Store and Cinnamon halves or in more familiar, Twisp bakery, in toothsome crusts at space-saving cuts at the East 20 Pizza, and in pancakes and Crown S store and in local salads at the Twisp River Pub and Old markets. Less-common cuts, Schoolhouse Brewery. such as pork kidneys and Skip Smith and Betsy Devin-Smith chicken gizzards, are availhave been raising lamb on their farm able in their huge walk-in File photo by Joyce Campbell north of Winthrop for 15 years, but Skip freezers. is the fourth generation in his family in Crown S rotates their Jennifer Argraves and Louis Sukovaty draw on their backgrounds in agriculture the sheep business. BCS Livestock prac- livestock to different pastures and engineering to create an efficient, sustainable system at Crown S Ranch. These tices holistic management, rotating so that the chickens eat insects laying hens will ultimately get their turn to feast on bugs and grass (while fertilizing the sheep to different sections of their that would otherwise pester fields) in solar-powered, computerized chicken tractors Sukovaty designed. P R I N T - B O O K - A RT
Fun, handmade printed stuff! Open every Sat. during MV Farmers Market Check us out on Etsy or visit us online
www.doorno3.com
P R I N T - B O O K - A RT MADE IN THE METHOW 7
Handcrafted baked goods & lunch fare Delectable cakes & desserts Locally roasted Coffee
Local innovators who have stood the test of time
M
aking unique products in the Methow is not a recent phenomenon. Many of the blocks that have gone into the foundation for a selfsustaining local economy were laid years ago by innovators and crafts-people who wanted the kind of lifestyle the area offered, and came up with ways to support or supplement their livelihood. They have managed to make it work for, in some cases, several decades. Here’s a look at a few of them.
Culler Studio
Sara Ashford’s one-ofa-kind natural dyed yarns and fabrics were a familiar fixture around Winthrop for decades before she moved her operation to Twisp and opened Culler Studio in the TwispWorks complex. Ashford’s unique designs and use of colors can also be seen in the scarves and art pieces she sells out of her newly renovated drop-in studio. She said the larger work area also allows room for an in-store space to create dyes and color her products. Coming soon will be an attached garden where an assortment of flowers and plants, many used in the dyeing process, will be grown.
265 Riverside Winthrop
8 MADE IN THE METHOW
509-996-4241
Open every day
The Slag Works
Barry Stromberger’s background in business engineering and industrial arts, combined with a gift for working metal with his hands, resulted in the creation of The Slag Works. Founded in 1974, it’s one of the oldest continuous businesses in the valley and turns out mostly custom commissioned pieces from his shop on the Twisp-Winthrop Eastside road. “Junior high shop class where I went to school in Southern California was a major influence,” Stromberger
MV News file photo by MacLeod Pappidas
Barry Stromberger produces a variety of metal creations, many of them custom-ordered, at The Slag Works, which he founded in 1974. said of the road that led to his current line of work – which includes railings, garden gates, fireplace doors “and other cool stuff.” He also devotes time to teaching welding at Liberty Bell High School. While much of his work is of the custom order kind, Stromberger said he also sells “lots of entry snow grates” online. “I think it’s one of the only sites online that offers them,” he said.
Texas Creek Products
Ann and John Wagstaff feature a line of nine specially developed sauces and salsas at Texas Creek Products, named for the creek that runs by their Carlton property. What began as an annual salsa canning project for family and friends in the early 1990s has expanded into an assortment of painstakingly refined creations with beguiling names like Ghost Fire Hot
Sauce. “The Tropical Ghost Hot Sauce Glaze took almost three years to develop and I don’t know how many test batches to create,” Ann Wagstaff shares on her website. The company’s latest release, Pure Evil, is a flavorless sauce that just adds heat to a dish and scores over 1,000,000 units on the Scoville heat scale. That’s a scale developed by pharmacist Wilber Scoville early in the 20th century to measure the hotness of foods like chili peppers. “A jalapeño scores about 4,000, Tabasco about 30,000, habañeros over 200,000, and some chilies over 1,000, 000,” Wagstaff said. “Ours is the only product of its kind on the market that we know of.” Texas Creek Products has a brisk online sales business but the bulk of their sauces and salsas are sold locally.
Gardner Gardens
The Sabolds, Dave and
Marilyn, were knee deep in the nursery business when a casual inquiry from a Western Washington chiropractor turned their attention toward skin cream. “He wanted to know if I had any beeswax,” Sabold recalled. “When I asked him what he used it for he said ‘skin cream,’ then he gave me the recipe.” That’s how Beeswax Skincream got its start. It’s made from all natural ingredients including beeswax, almond and coconut oils, vitamin E, and propolis, a resinous substance collected by honeybees from cottonwood tree leaf buds. Gardner Gardens offers its skin cream in two forms: Regular Beeswax Skincream is a softer variety preferred by most customers for its ease of application; Original is a harder version favored by deep tissue massage therapists for its balance of glide and friction. The same ingredients make up both formulations,
where it got its start.
Molly’s Soap
only in different proportions and both versions carry the same price. While the skin creams are sold mostly through online sales, stores in Winthrop, Twisp, Mazama, Omak and Tonasket carry the products.
Almquist Old Time Pottery
Before John and Agnes Almquist could create a pottery business, they had to get acquainted and they did that when both apprenticed at Jugtown Pottery in North Carolina. Visits to John’s
brother, Frank Almquist, in the valley drew the couple to settle in Winthrop and start Almquist Old Time Pottery in the early 1970s. Still going strong, the business is now seeing second- and third-generation customers who return for the store’s line of products with a practical appeal. “We wanted to make functional, utilitarian ware for everyone to use,” John said. That focus has been a successful one because the business occupies the same downtown Winthrop building
E OF RS O H
A DIFFERENT
CO LO R
Photo by Sue Misao
Sara Ashford works her magic on fabrics and yarn at Culler Studio in the TwispWorks complex in Twisp.
Molly Maxted started making soap casually as a college student at Eugene, Ore. Several moves and many years later found her north of Winthrop on Raven Road, turning out a line of 16 varieties along with a deep cleaning “True Grit” version with pumice for really getting the dirt out of working hands. “My soaps are from all natural ingredients, they lather well, are very mild, mildly scented and some unscented for those with allergies,”Maxted said. “Ambrosia,” for instance, is made from “raspberry leaves and yarrow flowers for astringency, extra glycerin for moistening, and a berry/vanilla scent.” In addition to her online sales, Molly’s Soaps can be found in shops in Twisp, Winthrop and Mazama including the Sun Mountain Gift Shop. Food co-ops in Sacramento, Calif., and Mount Vernon, Wash., are among locations outside the valley that carry the line. '
INSPIRED BY NATURE
BACKC UNTRY COFFEE ROASTERS ORGANIC
FAIR TRADE
MADE IN THE METHOW 9
Raise a glass – or cup By Ann McCreary hirst-quenching, palate-pleasing, calming or invigorating – the Methow Valley produces a variety of delicious beverages, created with passion and ingenuity.
Lost River Wines
Barbara House remembers the precise moment that led her and John Morgan, her husband, to create Lost River Winery. Growing up with a father who was a wine connoisseur, Morgan had a strong interest in wine. In 1999, Morgan and House took a trip to visit wineries in the Napa and Sonoma wine regions of California. “John walked into a winery down there that was no-frills and making killer wine,” House recalled. “He turned to me and said, ‘This is what a winery should be. Making
10 MADE IN THE METHOW
wine is not rocket science.’ And I said, ‘prove it.’” The couple lived in Bellingham but wanted to move to the Methow Valley, where they owned a second home on Lost River Road in Mazama. Morgan, a civil engineer, began taking enology classes through the University of California at Davis, and as part of his course work he made small batches of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wine. “They were very beautiful,” and got rave reviews from knowledgeable wine tasters, House said. “Neither of us was near retirement, but we decided that living in the Methow was very important to us, and we decided to make a leap of faith,” House said. They moved to their Methow Valley home and built a winery on their property, launching Lost River Winery in 2002. House’s son Liam joined the new venture in 2004, heading up sales and marketing for the winery. In the decade since, the family-owned, boutique winery has produced a line of up to 16 wines that have won notable awards and garnered strong reviews. The wines are produced primarily from grapes grown at about a dozen eastern Washington vineyards. Morgan’s signature wines, House said, are Rainshadow – a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, and Ceda-
rosa – a Bordeaux-style Merlot and Cabernet franc blend. Lost River wines can be tasted and purchased at their tasting room just west of Winthrop, and at a recently opened tasting room near Pike Place Market in Seattle. Their wines are widely available throughout Washington and are for sale through Lost River Winery’s website. Early on in developing his wines, Morgan decided to create a red table wine that could be offered for a lower price. That wine from the first vintage in 2002 was still nameless and in barrels when the 2003 Needles Creek fire came within about a mile of the new Lost River Winery, threatening to burn it down only a year after beginning production. “Unsolicited friends and neighbors came with trucks and trailers, and hoses and food, and they hauled all our barrels away to safety,” House recalled. To honor that community spirit, Morgan named the red table wine Community Red. Beginning with the original 2002 vintage, Lost River has given back 5 percent of the gross proceeds on every bottle of Community Red to nonprofit organizations serving the Methow Valley – over $15,000 to date. “We’ve been thankful that we can live here and make a living,” House said. “The local support is the greatest.”
Photo by Sue Misao
Blue Star Coffee Roasters serves up espresso drinks at its coffee bar in Twisp.
Mazama Juice
Beth Sinclair, like Barbara House, also remembers a moment when she and her husband, John, realized they would grow apples and make
apple juice in the Methow Valley. The couple had been looking at property in the Methow Valley, intending to move from Seattle to raise their two chil-
dren on a working farm. “We knew we wanted to be in agriculture and in the southern part of the Methow Valley. We felt it was a little more agriculturespecific,” Sinclair said. The Sinclairs weren’t sure what kind of crop they wanted to raise. “We were thinking of everything from garlic to lavender. We just knew we wanted to grow and have a good excuse for staying,” Beth Sinclair said. In 2001the family purchased one of the last remaining commercial orchards between Twisp and Carlton. The farm had been subdivided and most of the apple trees had been removed. Their real estate agent threw a barbeque to introduce them to people in the valley, and he brought a cider press to the gathering. “When we first tasted those pressed apples, John and I looked at each other and said, ‘We are orchardists,’” Beth said. They began working to bring the orchard back to life. They built a cider house and visited apple-growing regions of Italy, where many orchardists had converted to a trellis system with dwarf trees that are easier to prune, thin and harvest. They returned to their farm and began converting the orchard to a trellis system. They planted 8,000 new Honeycrisp apple trees grafted with dwarf stock, and the orchard was certified organic in 2005. The Sinclairs make Mazama Juice, a fresh, sweet, pasteurized juice made from the apples grown on their farm and, when those apples run out, from apples purchased from other organic growers in the area. The juice is available at about eight locations in Eastern Washington, and five locations in Western Washington – including The Herbfarm, the prestigious restaurant in Fall City.
Methow Valley Ciderhouse
Richard and Lynne Wasson bought a 15-acre former apple orchard on the East Chewuch Road just outside
Photo by Sue Misao
Fresh, local, organic apples contribute to the valley’s juices and ciders. Winthrop in 2004. Like many Eastern Washington orchards, most of the trees had been torn out and the Wassons had no plans to grow apples. On a visit to Oregon the next year, Richard Wasson happened to read an article about a man who made hard cider. “It all sounded very interesting to me,” said Wassen, who worked as a building contractor. He visited the cider maker, who encouraged him to take classes in cider production. He did, and five years later, Wassen tends an organic orchard of more than 2,000 cider apple trees and produces four types of hard cider at Methow Valley Ciderhouse. “We are what you call an estate cidery,” said Wasson. “We’re now starting to produce a pretty darn good crop of cider apples that we’ll use in the fall to make more delicious cider.”
Wasson’s first ciders were produced in 2010 and Methow Valley Ciderhouse will produce up to 1,400 gallons of cider this fall, and ultimately expects to produce about 5,000 gallons. Wasson make four kinds of cider: Eagle Screechin’ Scrumpy Hard Cider, characterized by “a bit of British bitterness enhanced with a Pacific Northwest flare;” Pinnacle Goat Hard Cider, a slightly dry, amber cider with a white wine taste; Howling Wolf Hard Cider, a “dangerously drinkable” semi-sweet carbonated cider; and Honey Bear Hard Cider, sweetened with local honey to produce a cider that is “sparkly and sweet.” On summer weekends Wasson sets up a tasting tent in his orchard where people can sample his ciders, enjoy views of the Cascade Mountains, and hear live music on Saturdays. Methow Valley Ciderhouse is open for tasting and cider purchase from noon-6 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The ciders are available at stores in the Methow Valley and a few locations in Seattle and Eastern Washington.
Brews: Twisp River Brewery and the Old Schoolhouse Brewery
Though it has only about 5,500 residents, the Methow Valley has the good fortune to have two microbreweries producing handcrafted beers. Aaron Studen has been producing small-batch beers for 15 years with an emphasis on freshness and variety. “The fresh part comes from being so small. We’re making beer all the time,” said Studen, who oversees the beer production at the Twisp River Pub. “Being a small brewery gives us a lot of flexibility to play around and experiment.” Studen began home brewing beer with a friend in college. “We started making really good beer,” and decided to partner in creating the Methow Valley Brewing Company in an old creamery building in Twisp after Studen’s wife, Becky, began a career with the U.S. Forest Service in the Methow Valley.
It soon became clear that the brewery would be more successful if combined with a restaurant. Studen’s partner left not long after the restaurant opened, and Studen kept brewing. After the creamery building burned to the ground in 2001, Studen reopened his business at his current location on the Twisp River. He produces about 500 barrels of beer a year, most of it consumed locally. “We turn down requests for the beer in Seattle all the time,” Studen said. Studen produces about a dozen types of lagers and ales. India Pale Ale is the most popular beer, Studen said. “It’s really hoppy, and that seems to be what people like in Washington.” Studen enjoys creating specialty brews including cherry beer and a coffee beer made with coffee from Blue Star Coffee Roasters. The Old Schoolhouse Brewery produces award-winning beers under the direction of brewer Blaze Ruud. Ruud was a recent college graduate working as a soils engineer about four years ago when his father, Casey Ruud, bought the Winthrop brewery and pub, and asked Blaze to take over the job of making beer. “I had no experience. I said, ‘Let me do some research,’” Ruud said. Ruud began reading and learning about brewing beer, and has proved to have a winning touch. He produces only ales, and they have won awards at beer competitions nationally and internationally. “I came up with all new recipes. I wanted to do my own beer,” Ruud said. “Making the beer is a science, but designing recipes is an art. To be honest, I’m still not satisfied. There are still things to improve.” Although he continues to work on his recipes, he said there’s one he doesn’t want to change. “I love my stout recipe. I haven’t changed that recipe for three years. It keeps providing the flavor we want,” he said. Ruud started with about six varieties and has expanded to about a dozen different beers. India Pale Ale is the top Continued on P. 18
Pure Heat for Pure Chileheads Available at Thompson's Meats & www.texascreekproducts.com MADE IN THE METHOW 11
Local artists leave no stone unturned while looking for inspiration
At Glitter & Grit, Sarah Jo Lightner turns local stones into works of art.
T
Culler = Studio 12 MADE IN THE METHOW
he Methow Valley’s beauty has been a siren call to many artists. For urban expatriates Sarah Jo Lightner and Linda and Larry McWhirter, their artistic inspiration is literally under foot. Lightner, owner of Glitter & Grit Silversmith, and the McWhirters, who own Mountain Style Mosaics, rely on rocks found in the valley to create their art. But that requires more than just collecting stones. A creative eye is also necessary.
New means of expression
The McWhirters retired to the Methow in 2002 and quickly decided that they needed to keep busy. When Larry started work on the couple’s garden walls, he found he was building a scene
Photo by Sue Misao
with the rocks he used. The couple took the idea of rock mosaics and ran with it, mounting smaller mosaics on repurposed wood and metal. The McWhirters work together on each of their pieces. “Linda does all the mosaic work,” Larry said. “I just frame everything in and set the slate.” Perhaps this teamwork mentality comes from their long history with organized team sports. Before moving to the Methow, Linda taught middle school and played competitive soccer on a women’s team. Larry taught high school and coached football, volleyball and baseball. Now retired, they’ve exchanged their busy Tacoma lives for a home in Edelweiss and their mosaics. “We were very busy people,” Linda said, “Working on mosaics helps us feel productive.”
stone into her silver pendants, bracelets, rings and earrings. Lightner’s former mode of expression was through food. She was co-owner of Acadia Bistro, a Cajun restaurant in Portland, Ore., then food and beverage director for the Oregon Convention Center before moving to the Methow. Now, she takes pleasure in her not-so-urban life. “My studio is usually open on the weekends,” she said. Laughing, she added, “unless I’m fishing or rock hunting.”
The hunt is on
Photo by Rose Weagant Norton
Sarah Jo Lightner
In the six years since the McWhirters started Mountain Style Mosaics, they’ve noticed an evolution in their work. “Our mosaic mountains show more depth now,” Larry noted. “We are working on many more challenging pieces.” Located in the TwispWorks campus, Lightner’s studio is open when the garage door is up. There you will find her huddled over an acetylene torch or a hand file. Lightner incorporates local
Rock hunting is serious business. Buckets in hand, the McWhirters head to the higher river shorelines where the smaller, more interesting rocks are left from spring runoff. Linda doesn’t just see rocks. She sees elements that can fit within a mosaic like completing a puzzle. For Lightner, each outdoor excursion doubles as a hunting trip. Her studio features an array of local rocks found in places like Pipestone Canyon and along the Twisp and Methow rivers. “The rivers have a nice variety of rocks,” said Lightner. “ It’s because of the high metal and mineral content in the mountains.” Lighter doesn’t just pluck stones from their natural surroundings. Each rock-find-turned-art piece has a story
behind it. “I found this great piece of mossy agate one day in a meadow covered in purple lupine,” she recalled, “so I added elements of the lupine into the piece. I like to take rocks out of their environment and then draw on their surroundings as inspiration. I put the rock back into its natural environment – except it’s in a metal form.” In order to take a rough stone and turn it into a workable piece, she has to send the rock off to be cut and polished. “I never know what I will get once I get my rocks back from the lapidary,” Lightner said.
The perfect rock?
Heavy buckets filled with stones and rocks line the walls in the McWhirters’ studio, and each rock was picked with a selective eye. On a recent visit, Linda grabbed a small dark gray rock and scrutinized it. “This will make a great part of a chicken foot or a piece of a fish tail,” she decided. Larry heaved a big bucket of white orbs onto the work table to appraise the quality of each. He is on the lookout for the perfect moon. “You want the moon in the mosaic to glow,” he said. “In order to do that, the rock has to be free of any other colors or tints. It’s very hard to find.” Lightner was faced with the same problem, and gave up her search for the
Photo by Rose Weagant Norton
Larry McWhirter
perfect rock. Rather, she changed her philosophy. She adapted her jewelry to reflect the imperfections of the rocks. “Nothing in life is perfect,” said Lightner. “Nature is beautifully flawed. My art is organic and inspired by these imperfections.” You can find out more information about the McWhirters’ Mountain Style Mosaics at mountainstylemosaics.com. Sarah Jo Lightner is at the TwispWorks campus, or you can like Glitter & Grit on Facebook. '
MADE IN THE METHOW 13
The art of the possible By Don Nelson hat is it about this place? For historic and practical reasons, creative energy courses through the Methow Valley like its signature rivers. And like those rivers, the convergence of self-reliant forces – imagination, energy, entrepreneurial drive – creates one powerful current. Since the first determined homesteaders and visionary opportunists like Guy Waring, the valley has accepted, inspired, encouraged and supported the spirit of individualism that now plays out in a proliferation of unique products. We grow or make a lot of stuff here, none of it on a mass scale, all of it distinct, most of it for personal motivations that include economic necessity. We asked a variety of valley folks to ruminate on what makes the valley an attractive place for people who want to define their own path.
Dan and Meg Donohue, Blue Star Coffee Roasters
We chose to start our coffee roasting company in the Methow Valley, and Twisp in particular, because it has such a vibrant arts scene, a strong food
culture, an active civic dialog, a strong work ethic, a stunningly beautiful location, and soul. Because of all these qualities, we knew we could thrive here, and we’re grateful that we’ve been so well received. We’re sure that it’s these shared values that foster such Dan Donohue a s t ro n g a n d uniquely entrepreneurial and creative community here in the valley.
Paula Christen, watercolor artist
The Methow Valley draws a special kind of people; the independents – ones who want more than
Weagant Studio 62 Old Twisp Hwy. Halfway between Twisp and Winthrop Open weekends and by appt. rodweagant@hotmail.com
14 MADE IN THE METHOW
509.997.0139
life in a cubicle and 20 percent of their day spent in traffic. Money is not first on their list of wants, but they sense an opportunity to create something of their own is possible here. It takes a different mindset, mix of self-reliance, purpose and spirit of adventure. We knew when we came here that the typical year-round 9-to-5 job was not the norm. You had to dig deeper to find a way to piece a living together. Residents respect whatever it that you choose to do or create that allows you to stay. The valley is a big space, with an open mind that lets you reinvent yourself as needed.
Barry Stromberger, The Slag Works
I fall into the “necessity” camp. Early on in my time here (I came here in 1973) I realized that the folks that I was meeting did what it took to be here. I took on the same career path. Over the years I’ve been blessed with the option to work pretty much exclusively with metal, to problem-solve with clients and to take their vision of something and turn it into a (usually) functional piece of custom iron work for their life.
I love the challenge to create something, to fix or modify something and to make the tools that it takes to create my work. And best of all, people actually pay me to do that. What more can I say?
Patty Yates, watercolor artist
I think this valley is a special place especially for artists, for creative people. My first look at the valley was from the Loup Loup over 32 years ago. I told my friend who was taking me on a hike up Cedar Falls that whatever was down there, I needed to live right there. Thirty years later I still feel the call of the Methow: Home and color and shadow and light and mountains and a zillion shades of spring green to a million more shades of fall, and then the clean pallet of winter where a shadow can set me off. Each time it’s new. The landscape is ever-changing and challenging. From season to season it’s all new and fresh. Flowers, wild and domesticated, are ever in my sights. People put together the most interesting choices in gardens. Each needs painting. For instance, just outside my window the colors are so good I have trouble paying attention to what I’m doing. It took me a while to see. And be. And slow down. The energy is mellow. I can always find a place to paint and something new to see and feel.
Julie Wenzel, Artistic Director, The Merc Playhouse
In Seattle, the idea of making a living as an artist is regarded as odd. Then you come here, and everybody is an artist ... and there are so many places that people can display and sell their art. You can get rid of the notion that art isn’t viable.
Nicole Ringgold, Executive Director, Confluence Gallery & Art Center
I think it comes down to the community. The Methow attracts and nurtures those who value community, and this particular community believes in living close to the land, whether it be through outdoor recreation, farming or gardening. The Methow’s culture is a result of those who depended on the land for survival. As a relatively new arrival, I believe that Nicole Ringgold and daughter it’s important to Cymone honor that culture and do my utmost to take part in it. In turn, I am deeply supported by my community.
Sam and Brooke Lucy, Bluebird Grain Farms
Sam: Survival definitely comes to mind, as does opportunity to work “outside the box.” We created Bluebird in part to have steady, year-round income. We farm the way we do (organically) because above all, we love the land, and certainly the land here in the Methow, and try and treat it with the utmost
respect. Because there is a “conscious” public here in the Methow, and both an old and new land ethic that seems to run throughout, the valley has been a great “jumping off” point for the sort of business we have, as we are both encouraged and rewarded for our land ethic within the marketplace. And, we know our neighbors, and feel like we’re adding something within/to a very positive community. Brooke: Making our business work is a combination of necessity and being in a community that welcomes new ideas. I do feel that clearly there is a niche for unique, quality food that we have been able to fill. This community is particularly supportive of farm businesses because most of the Methow locals have farming and agriculture in their background. They know and understand the complexity of making agricultural business work. This support along with many of the other community members has been and will continue to be important.
Steve and Kim Bondi, North Cascades Basecamp
The Methow Valley is inspiring to us because of its rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, and the function of the open space and public lands that surround us. What is truly amazing and inspiring for us as residents, biologists, and as business owners, is our local community and their strong conservation ethic. Whether it be agriculture, federal and state agencies, tourism, and the number of other entrepreneurial efforts in the valley, our community’s values lean towards protecting and enriching the environment. In tandem, this is why we live here. '
MADE IN THE METHOW 15
Lots of local resources are available to help entrepreneurs and business owners
G
reat ideas, creative talent and hard work are essential to starting a business. But as countless entrepreneurs have discovered, it takes a lot more than passion to succeed. Finding the right space, planning, budgeting, bookkeeping, taxes, marketing, following employment law and all the other details of being your own boss can often be more challenging than making or doing whatever it is you love. The good news: There are lots of people, programs and information sources available to help smart, motivated entrepreneurs bring their ideas to fruition. As an AmeriCorps VISTA member at TwispWorks, my job this year is to figure out how to connect Methow Valley businesses and entrepreneurs with the assistance that’s out there. I’m also researching which needs in the business community are not being met by current programs. This fall, look for a survey that will ask what you need to be successful in your business. We’ll use the responses to work with partners to add new business assistance resources to the valley. Luckily, there are already lots of resources available to help you with the ins and outs of starting or running your business. Here are a few.
Small Business Development Center Winthrop resident Lew Blakeney is the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC)’s certified business adviser for Okanogan County. The SBDC is a no-charge and confidential program co-sponsored by the Small Business Administration, Washington State University, and the Economic Alliance of Okanogan County. Any small business, in any stage of development, is eligible for assistance. Lew assists approximately 100 businesses a year with business plans, understanding financial statements, creating marketing plans, preparing for loans and more. Contact: Lew Blakeney, SBDC Adviser, (509) 8265107, blakeney@methow.com, http://www.wsbdc.org.
SCORE: Service Corps of Retired Executives SCORE plays matchmaker between businesses and retired executives who provide free, confidential counseling. The local SCORE office has 17 mentors with backgrounds in contracting, finance, insurance, and technology, among others. SCORE also hosts online and in-person workshops. Their website includes free templates, guides, and how-to’s for businesses.
©
16 MADE IN THE METHOW
Photo by Sue Misao
TwispWorks connects businesses with resources.
Note to valley-based retired executives: SCORE is looking to recruit talented volunteers in the Methow. Contact: Joel Franks, Central Washington SCORE,
consistently higher than the rate experienced by the banks. Contact: Rich Watson, Executive Director, NCW Business Loan Fund, (509) 860-4330, info@ncwloanfund. org, http://www.ncwloanfund.org/index.html.
(509) 662-2116, score663office@gmail.com, or http:// centralwashington.score.org.
Winthrop & Twisp Chambers of Commerce
Winthrop and Twisp each have active Chambers of Commerce, nonprofit organizations that facilitate networking, marketing, and training for member businesses. Monthly meetings provide a gathering space for businesses and individuals. The chambers maintain websites, and work closely through the local visitor information centers to promote businesses. The Winthrop Chamber produces visitor-oriented maps and rack cards available for free to member businesses. The Twisp Chamber has a walking map of Twisp available for display. Contacts: Twisp Chamber of Commerce (509) 997-2020 info@twispinfo.com http://twispinfo.com Winthrop Chamber of Commerce (509) 996-2125 info@winthropwashington.com http://www.winthropwashington.com
North Central Washington Economic Development District The North Central Washington Economic Development District (EDD) is a nonprofit, federally funded economic development organization serving Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties, as well as the Colville Confederated Tribe. The EDD recently launched www.NCWConnect.org, a web portal that allows a user to generate a customized list of local and state organizations that would be able to provide
Economic Alliance
Photo by Sue Misao
TwispWorks is researching community needs.
various kinds of business assistance. Contact: Jennifer Korfiatis, NCWEDD Administrator, (509) 682-6907, jennifer@ncwedd.com, http:// www.ncwedd.com/.
North Central Washington Business Loan Fund While traditional bank loans are a viable option for many, some businesses and individuals do not qualify. The NCW Business Loan Fund provides loans to businesses and start-ups in Okanogan, Douglas, and Chelan Counties and the Colville Confederated Tribe that have been turned down by traditional lending institutions. Once an entrepreneur has a business plan, budget, and marketing strategy in place, he or she can approach the fund for a loan of $25,000 to $150,000. The fund has been making these loans for nearly 20 years. Although its interest rates are slightly higher than those offered by a bank, the repayment rate is
The Okanogan County Economic Alliance (EA) works with partners to implement the county’s economic development plan. The group also hosts job fairs and workshops on topics such as how to get a state or federal contract. The EA can help businesses find ideal locations, provide assistance in understanding rules, regulations and taxes, or help with other questions. Contact: Roni Holder-Diefenbach, Economic Alliance, (509) 826-5107, or online at rholderdiefenbach@ economic-alliance.com, http://www.economic-alliance.com/ index.html.
Wenatchee Valley College Center for Entrepreneurship Wenatchee Valley College’s Center for Entrepreneurship offers classroom and online continuing education to assist existing and future entrepreneurs. Current course offerings include Introduction to Business Analysis, Marketing your Business on the Internet, and Using Social Media Effectively for your Business. This fall, the center hopes to launch a Certificate of Entrepreneurship. Contact: Bonnie Miller-Waudé, Center for Entrepreneurship, (509) 682-6915, bmiller-waude@wvc.edu, http://www.wvc.edu/directory/departments/cfore/default. asp. Alison Gillette is the TwispWorks Entrepreneurship Center Coordinator. '
MADE IN THE METHOW 17
Made in the Methow Business Directory
From P. 11
seller, and Ruud brews specialty beers including a coffee ale that uses Backcountry Roasters espresso, and a barley wine style ale. The brewery recently expanded its capacity in order to produce more beer for distribution across the country. Old Schoolhouse ales are sold widely throughout Washington state and Idaho, and are also shipped to five East Coast states. The most important customers, though, are the people who come to the pub in Winthrop, Ruud said. “The priority is our local customers. With a local business you get plugged in and there’s a lot of support,” Ruud said.
Coffee: Blue Star Coffee Roasters and Backcountry Coffee Roasters
The Northwest’s infatuation with coffee is alive and well in the Methow Valley, and supports two high-quality coffee roasting companies. Dan and Meg Donohue opened Blue Star Coffee Roasters five years ago in a former welding shop on the south end of Twisp. Each has a longstanding relationship with coffee: Dan as a roaster in Seattle for 17 years and Meg as a barista for Starbucks, when there were only six stores. Both are passionate about coffee and about realizing their dream in the Methow Valley. The second-most commonly traded commodity in the world (behind petroleum), coffee is a complex business impacted by culture, politics, environment and climate. Dan Donohue has traveled the world for coffee and said he relies on relationships and knowledge developed over the years to guide his business practices, purchasing organic fair trade, shade grown coffee. Blue Star produces a half-dozen blends, including a changing seasonal blend. Their coffee is sold at many eating establishments around the valley. Blue Star’s busy coffee bar serves espresso drinks, artfully prepared by baristas trained by Meg Donohue. Located inside the coffee roasting plant, the coffee bar allows visitors to see the production facility. Backcountry Roasters, owned by Lori Loomis and Bob Gamblin, sells fair trade organic coffee with names like Cowboy Mud and Buck Mountain Blend. Loomis and Gamblin bought property in the Methow with the intention of settling here, and took training in coffee roasting to create a local business. “We both wanted to wake up in the morning and feel good about what we’re doing,” Loomis said. “All our coffee is handpicked by someone paid a fair living wage, and that means a lot to us.” Loomis and Gamblin opened Backcountry Roasters in 2006, and have seen their business grow steadily each year. They roast and sell their coffee at a facility on Horizon Flats, near Winthrop, and invite people to come visit, watch the coffee being roasted, and taste the finished product. “In training, I realized I have a great palate,” Loomis said. “I enjoy figuring out what I want in a blend, and taking the different types of coffee and producing that blend.” Backcountry Roasters coffee is served at bakeries and restaurants throughout the valley, and Loomis said the coffee is selling well in Washington, Oregon and Idaho and nationally through Amazon.com. “Hopefully we can continue to add value to the valley,” Loomis said. “It’s a labor of love.” ' 18 MADE IN THE METHOW
Architects & Designers Integrated Design Concepts
Cassie Marchbank
Providing sustainable and energy efficient home designs for the Methow Valley
(509) 997-4865 www.integrateddesignconcepts.com howardcherrington@integrateddesignconcepts.com PO Box 681, Twisp, WA 98856 See Display ad on page 13
(509) 341-4170 cmarchbank@charter.net
See Display ad on page 4
Confluence Gallery & Art Center
Artists & Artisans Almquists’ Old Time Pottery Handmade folk art, pottery for the home and garden, & wooden ware Also fine gifts for baby and children
W-F 11am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 6pm (509) 997-ARTS www.confluencegallery.com 104 Glover St, Twisp, WA 98856 See Display ad on page 3
See Display ad on page 9
(509) 429-7726 www.brucemorrison.com ovalpeak@gmail.com (509) 997-4805 - PO Box 1043 Twisp WA 98856
A non-profit gallery featuring art exhibits of local and regional artists, handmade artisan goods in our gift shop, and instructional art classes throughout the year.
Copper Maiden
(509) 996-2629 235 Riverside Ave, Downtown Winthrop
Bruce Morrison Sculpture
Dragonflies, birds, hearts, frogs, tea cups and musical instruments in bright bold colors swirl through Cassie Marchbank’s blockprint compositions. All of her greeting cards are made from her original blockprints.
“Capturing your vision in hand carved wood and stone”
www.coppermaiden.com info@coppermaiden.com (509) 846-5119 PO Box 1307 Winthrop, WA 98862
Captured, briefly, In earthy compund of copper & brass, their light gleaming to show us their spirit, we see & receive & are inspired.
See Display ad on page 10
See Display ad on page 6
Photo by Sue Misao
Made in the Methow Business Directory Artists & Artisans, Cont.
Lucid Glassworks – Samantha Carlin
Culler Studio Focus...Textiles using natural color. Watch TwispWorks website for class schedule. Visit for quality yarn, needles, dye kits, scarves and art.
(509) 341-4042 cullerstudio@gmail.com TwispWorks South Warehouse, Suite C
(509) 341-9102 Lucidglassworks.com Winthrop, WA 98862
Peligro
Custom hand blown and stained glass creations made by Samantha Carlin in her private home studio. Work should be fun, do what you love!
Metal studio and gallery featuring comtempory wedding rings and jewelry built by artist Nancy Daniels Hubert using rejuvenated or ethically collected gem stones.
www. peligrostudio.com peligrostudio@gmail.com 109 N. Glover Street Twisp, WA 98856 See Display ad on page 3
See Display ad on page 12
Door No. 3 Print & Book Art Studio Print studio offering classes in printmaking and exhibit space. Handprinted cards, t-shirts, books, art prints and more for sale.
www.doorno3.com doorno.3twisp@gmail.com PO Box 817 / 201 Hwy 20 S., Room 3 Twisp, WA 98856 See Display ad on page 7
Glitter & Grit Silversmith
(509) 429-5519 sarahlightner@rocketmail.com
Located in the Southbay on the TwispWorks campus. Open Fri-Sun. 11am-4pm. Custom jewelry design & classes in jewelry making.
See Display ad on page 7 Photo by Sue Misao
Donna Keyser, Keyser Studios (509) 997-0255 donna.keyser@gmail.com PO Box 284 / 506 S Glover St., TwispWorks Twisp, WA 98856
Fine art, decorative and functional painting. Graphic Design, art installation, sign painting.
See Display ad on page 16
Methow Valley Spinners and Weavers Guild
(509) 997-5666 (509) 996-3766 www.methowweavers.com 137 Old Twisp Hwy. Twisp, WA 98856
Come learn fiber arts with us at the Guild studio. Weekly meetings. Annual Guild sale in November.
Paula Christen Watercolors
Live In Art An online destination for art and inspiration based on the idea that art should be integrated into people’s every day lives.
www.liveinart.org See Display ad on page 9
Weagant Studio Don’t buy farmed art. Support wild artists.
(509) 997-0139 Rodweagant@hotmail.com 62 Old Twisp Hwy. Twisp, WA 98856 See Display ad on page 14
Steve Ward
Custom steel work for your home and garden. Furniture, gates, shelving, pot racks, art.
Where Amazing Meets Affordable.
(509) 996-2598 www.paulachristen.com paula@paulachristen.com Winthrop, WA 98862 See Display ad on page 6
(509) 997-5004 ward@methow.com Road Shop, North Unit, TwispWorks Twisp WA 98856 See Display ad on page 5 MADE IN THE METHOW 19
Made in the Methow Business Directory Artists & Artisans, Cont. Sweatshop Studio
Brewers & Cider Makers Methow Valley Ciderhouse
Sewing design, repair and instruction.
(206) 550-3663 lisadoran7@hotmail.com TwispWorks Campus South Warehouse Open M, W, F 1-4 See Display ad on page 17
Sweet Tree Designs (509) 997-9980 or (509) 846-3841 www.sweettreedesigns.com rustic_arts@hotmail.com Winthrop, WA 98862
(509) 341-4354 www.methowvalleyciderhouse.com methowcider@gmail.com 13 B Walter Rd. E. Chewuch, Winthrop WA See Display ad on page 14
The Methow Valley Ciderhouse and Orchard offers a truly unique setting for relaxation and enjoyment of great hard and sweet ciders located in one of the most beautiful valleys in Washington state.
Caterers Valley Catering Company Custom catering for weddings, rehearsals, holidays, gatherings, reunions, theme-parties, retreats, catered meals. Also offering cooking classes for adults & children.
Jo Hanson (509) 997-0154 johanson8@yahoo.com PO Box 1063, Twisp, WA 98856
See Display ad on page 17
Thome’s obsession with natural elements extends beyond the purely functional to the sculptural in the form of hanging collages and “stabiles”, as well as architectural elements such as French doors, builtins, and friezes.
See Display ad on page 15
The Slag Works LLC
(509) 996-9894 www.theslagworks.com barry@theslagworks.com Winthrop, WA 98862
Custom iron work featuring functionally decorative and architectural applications. Photo by Sue Misao
See Display ad on page 16
Old Schoolhouse Brewery Winthrop Gallery
(509) 996-3925 www.winthropgallery.com info@winthropgallery.com 237 Riverside Ave. Downtown Winthrop, WA 98862
Representing many professional artists of the region as a cooperative gallery. Staffed and managed entirely by its artist members and volunteers.
We’re all about the beer! Live music every weekend Open daily at noon for lunch & dinner
(509) 996-3183 www.oldschoolhousebrewery.com info@oldschoolhousebrewery.com 155 Riverside Ave. Winthrop, WA 98862 See Display ad on page 24
See Display ad on page 11
Methow Valley Brewing/ Twisp River Pub Small batch, hand-
(888) 220-3360 info@twispriverpub.com www.methowbrewing.com 201 N. Methow Valley Hwy Twisp, WA 98856 See Display ad on page 2
crafted beers made in Twisp at the Twisp River Pub. Kegs, growlers and bottles available at Twisp River Pub or by the bottle throughout the Methow Valley & beyond.
Coffee Roasters Backcountry Coffee Stop by our shop for locally roasted coffee, brewing equipment and more. Also available for sale throughout the Methow or visit our online store.
(509) 996-3371 www.backcountrycoffee.com info@backcountrycoffee.com 6 Horizon Flat Road, #4 Winthrop, WA 98862 See Display ad on page 9
Blue Star Coffee Roasters
3 Twisp Airport Road Twisp, WA 98856 (509) 997-2583 www.bluestarcoffeeroasters.com See Display ad on page 4
20 MADE IN THE METHOW
Wholesale providers of world class, hand-crafted coffee. Visit us at our Roasting Plant & Coffee Bar in Twisp. Open Monday - Saturday, 7:30am - 4:30pm.
Made in the Methow Business Directory Eateries Cinnamon Twisp Bakery Enjoy amazing products baked fresh daily with local, organic, wholesome ingredients. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, espresso, juices, smoothies, milkshakes & delightful service in downtown Twisp.
(509) 997-5030 www.cinnamontwisp.com 116 North Glover Street Twisp, WA 98856 See Display ad on page 9
East 20 Pizza
Serving delicious, handcrafted pizza, calzone & more using local ingredients and produce. Happy hour from 3-5 pm with $2.50 pints and $3.50 breadsticks.
(509) 996-3996 www.east20pizza.com east20pizza@yahoo.com 720 Hwy 20/PO Box 417, Winthrop, WA 98662
Photo by Sue Misao
See Display ad on page 7
Fruit & Produce Growers Rocking Horse Bakery (509) 996-4241 www.rockinghorsebakery.com baker@rockinghorsebakery.com 265 Riverside Ave. Downtown Winthrop, 98862
Delectable breads, pastries, espresso, soups and sandwiches featuring local ingredients handcrafted in Winthrop’s favorite gathering spot.
See Display ad on page 8
Sweet River Bakery
(509) 923-2151 www.sweetriverbakery.com contact@sweetriverbakery.com 203 Pateros Mall / PO Box 207 Pateros, WA 98846
Handmade artisan breads, pastries, sandwiches and brick oven fired pizza. Live music Thurs. - Sat., May - September
8th Street Greens (509) 422-1620 8thstreetgreens.blogspot.com eighthstreetgreens@yahoo.com 846 8th Ave. South Okanogan, WA 98840
Our fruits and vegetables are fresh, picked ripe at their nutritional peak. Become a member of our Community Supported Agriculture program today!
Local Goods Bluebird Grain Farms Your source for the finest 100% organic grains, fresh-milled flour and whole-grain blends, including mixes for greattasting and nutritious cereals, pancakes, pilafs and more.
(509) 996-3526 www.bluebirdgrainfarms.com PO Box 1082 Winthrop, WA 98862
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Booth Canyon Orchard
Crown S Ranch
stina@boothcanyonorchard.com boothcanyonorchard.com 391 Twisp-Carlton Rd. Carlton, WA 98814
Certified organic apples and pears available locally at Glover Street Market & Crown S Ranch. In the Seattle area Sept - Feb at the U District, Ballard and West Seattle Farmers Markets.
Sustainably farmed meats. Seattle area delivery. Farm store Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon 11am to 6pm. Free tours.
(509) 996-2252 www.crown-s-ranch.com crownsranch@gmail.com 7 Twin Lakes Road, Winthrop, WA 98862
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Winthrop Tipi Dinners
Smallwood Farms
d.o.g. dudz
Join us for an elegant, rustic 3 course dinner in our warm tipi. Seating up to 8 offered all year. Special diets upon request.
Call for reservations (509) 322-1751 www.winthroptipidinners.com suekii@winthroptipidinners.com
(509) 422-2444 www.smallwoodfarms.net 23090 Hwy. 20 Okanogan, WA 98840
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We strive to grow the highest quality fruit and produce with the best and sweetest flavor you can find. Fruit stand open mid-June to late-October.
(509) 429-9820 or 509-997-4302 dogdudzllc@gmail.com Retro Pony, Carlton Store, Wenatchee Valley Hydrant
Performance gear for your dog’s active lifestyle.
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Made in the Methow Business Directory Local Goods, Cont. Glover Street Market
Natural foods market offering homemade lunches, nutritious juices and smoothies made to order. Shop our complete wine cellar and enjoy wine tasting every Saturday 2 - 6pm.
McFarland Creek Lamb Ranch McFarland Creek Lamb Ranch is a small sheep farm near the town of Methow. Our products include yarn (hand dyed/natural), roving, fleece and meat.
Open Mon - Sat 9 am - 6 pm (509) 997-1320 www.gloverstreetmarket.com 124 N. Glover Street, Downtown Twisp
(509) 923-1916 www.thelambranch.com
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Methow Cycle & Sport
Hanna’s Inner City Herb Garden
(509) 997-2319 hannasherbgarden@gmail.com PO Box 1281 Twisp, WA 98856
All natural - herb seasonings, herb vinegar, herb tea blends, chemicalfree potpourri, hand crafted soap, gift baskets, hand crafted flower presses & garden consultations. Garden visits by appointment.
A DIFFERENT
CO LO R
(509) 997-5053 PO Box 112 Carlton, WA 98814 www.3baires.com 3baires@methownet.com See Display ad on page 9
Robin Baire, CH, Clinical Herbalist creates herbal products for people and animals and offers herbal health consultations. Visit their website for a full list of products and prices.
Handmade in the Methow Valley. Available online or at Mazama Store, Red Apple Market, Almquist Pottery, Sun Mountain Lodge and Glover Street Market.
(509) 996-2620 www.mollyssoap.com molly@mollyssoap.com
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Retro Pony
The Valley’s full service bike shop in the heart of Winthrop.
(509) 996-3645 www.methowcyclesport.com 29 Highway 20, Winthrop See Display ad on page 12
Methow Valley Woolens
Horse of a Different Color E OF RS HO
Molly’s Soap
(509) 996-3159 sheep@methownet.com 19100 Hwy. 20 Winthrop, WA 98862 See Display ad on page 9
(509) 996-3237 173 Riverside Ave. #1, Downtown Winthrop www.theretropony.com
Retro Pony fine silver jewelry is individually hand-crafted by Jenni Tissell. Each piece is slightly unique! All of the jewelry is available in our retail store or online at www. theretropony.com
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Natural grass-fed lamb & wool blankets from the wool of our sheep. We raise our animals humanely and deliver a natural, wholesome product while sustaining and improving the land.
Sunny Pine Farm Organic goat dairy featuring chevre, feta & yogurt.
(509) 997-4812 www.sunnypinefarm.com sunnypinedairy@gmail.com 932A Twisp River Road, Twisp, WA 98856 See Display ad on page 14
Larkhaven Farmstead Cheeses
(509) 486-1199 www.larkhavenfarm.com 63 Yarnell Road Tonasket, Washington 98855
Sheep and Goat. Cheeses handmade right here in Okanogan County & available at Methow Valley Farmers Market, Glover Street Market, Mazama Store and on the menu at Sun Mountain Lodge!
Mazama Store A little bit of everything good... (509) 996-2855 www.themazamastore.com 50 Lost River Rd Mazama, WA 98833 See Display ad on page 3 22 MADE IN THE METHOW
Photo by Sue Misao
Made in the Methow Business Directory Photographers cowgirlfotografy ~specializin’ in western photography:people, places, critters, livestock, workin’ er jist funnin’ ~ custom graphic design ~ flyers, business cards, greetin’ card, invites
dana sphar (509) 449-2351 cowgirlfotografy@yahoo.com Twisp, WA 98856
Mountain Kind Photography Methow Valley postcards and wall calendars. Images for your website or printed materials. Custom printing and framing. Freelance photography
Images of the Methow Valley and beyond
Photo by Laurelle Walsh
Local Goods, Cont. Sustainable Worth LLC Organic bath and body products handcrafted in small batches using only the purest organic food-grade ingredients. Available at Glover Street Market, Sun Mountain Lodge and Mazama Store.
www.sustainableworth.com info@sustainableworth.com (509) 997-2246
Texas Creek Products Fresh salsa and specialty sauces made with locally grown chiles and other unique ingredients. Available at local stores and online.
1-800-231-2607 or (509) 997-5420 www.texascreekproducts.com PO Box 116 / 33 Old Carlton Rd Carlton, WA 98814
Local Organizations
(509) 997-2020 www.twispinfo.com PO Box 686 Twisp, WA 98856
Serving as an advocate for our members and businesses, in partnership with the community, the Twisp Chamber strives to strengthen the development of our local economy.
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TwispWorks
(509) 997-3300 Email: info@twispworks.org www.twispworks.org 502 S. Glover Street / PO Box 517 Twisp, WA, 98856
KTRT 97.5 FM Methow Valley’s own independant radio station featuring an eclectic mix of music
(509) 996-8200 PO Box 3008, Winthrop, WA 98862-3008 A center for arts & culture, local agriculture, innovation, education & economic vitality in the Methow Valley.
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Wineries Lost River Winery
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Thomson’s Custom Meats
Winthrop Washington
thomsonscustommeats@gmail.com 922 Twisp Carlton Rd. Twisp, WA 98856
1-888-463-8469 www.winthropwashington.com info@winthropwashington.com Located at Milepost 193 of State Route 20, on the scenic North Cascades Highway
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Radio
Twisp Chamber of Commerce
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USDA certified meat shop selling all varieties of natural meats. Specializing in handcrafted (509) 997-9353 sausage and www.thomsonscustommeats.com smoked meats.
Mary Kiesau (509) 996-8242 www.mountainkindphotography.com kiesau@gmail.com
Welcome to Winthrop, a great Washington vacation destination with a Western flair.
Demystifying wine & bringing joy to your table from the Methow Valley since 2002.
info@lostriverwinery.com (509) 996-2888 26 Highway 20, Winthrop WA (206) 448-2124 2003 Western Ave, Suite 100, Seattle WA See Display ad on page 15
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