HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Hello Chimacum Corner Community!
As the sun sets on another solar cycle, it seems appropriate to pause. Some refer to the time between Christmas and New Year’s Day as “the void,” a time when it feels weird to work, or travel, or really do much of anything. A perfect time to sit with oneself and take stock. “Now our lives are changing fast / hope that something pure can last,” wrote Winn Butler and the Arcade Fire crew on their track “We Used To Wait.” Purity seems to grow ever scarcer. What of something pure remains that you will carry into 2026? For many of us here, there’s a purity to the cycle of our local food system, that we hope to carry on into the future. From Red Dog Tulips to Midori Tetsukabuto Squash, and everything in between, our local food is something to really be bold and proud about, and to participate in with fervor. So, to the barbeque of life, we shout, “put another shrimp on the barby, baby!”
Michael Bubblé
Don Ho would be proud of what Bruce has put together in the “tiny bubbles” department of the wine set, a spread fit for any year’s end celebration. Whether you like a classic prosecco, a beautiful Gruner Veltliner, or an exquisite natural offering from Puget Street Imports, we can outfit you with the bubbles you need. Just don’t float away on us, now! Pro-tip: one can never buy enough sparkling wine, so long as you pick up some Columbia Gorge orange juice to sop up leftover bottles the next morning! We also happen to live in a world renowned oyster region, if you had forgotten. Nothing pairs finer with some high quality bivalves than a nice bubbly!
New Year New Manager
With the advent of 2026 we are pleased to announce that we have found our newest Nursery Manager, Turner! Turner is a former academic librarian and co-owner of Water Moon Farm, where he raises goats and gardens and is cultivating a food forest with his family. His kind, gentle spirit and deep knowledge will be an anchor in the greenhouse this season. Having already worked in our Nursery as well as on the Grocery Team, we are stoked to have a cherished “one of our own” taking the helm. Be sure to congratulate Turner when you see him around! Bare root season will be here before we know it.
Best Side Salads in Supporting Roles
Everybody needs a sidekick. The folks in the Corner Kitchen have been creating sidekicks for all of your culinary endeavors. There is a nourishing quinoa salad with delicata squash in the mix these days, as well as a hearty roasted beet salad. They are the perfect choices to augment a main course for a square meal at home, or something easy to take with you on the road. After all of the lavish and heavy meals of the holidays, get back to something simple and tasty in the New Year, that will sustain you through your day.
Citrus and Lucky Collards
Despite the weather turmoil continuing to harass California, the citrus list continues to grow on the Produce Porch. The more mandarins the merrier, we always said. And who can deny the cuteness of a kumquat!? While citrus continues to trickle in, it’s time to grab a bag of black-eyed peas and a bunch of collard greens for the New Year’s Day tradition. We read this meal as an expression of resilience and a prayer for good fortune. And perhaps we could give it a local twist, with Rockwell beans (a Whidbey heirloom) and local winter kale? Moral of the tale, however you take your luck, make sure you take the time to prepare it well on New Year’s Day.
Jan 1 Store Closure
It’s time for our annual tradition of closing our doors on the first day of the year, to do our all-hands inventory reconciliation. We will be closing early @ 5pm on New Year’s Eve and will be closed the entire day on January 1st, 2026, so make sure you have your essentials well stocked by New Year’s Eve! Normal service and the end of wonky holiday hours will begin on January 2nd!
