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Spring 2024

Agriculture

Golden sun glow around forest and field
Summer 2022

Video: Slow Burn

A silent slow burn consumes thousands of acres of Washington State every year and the tribal lands are no exception to this burn. This burn isn’t caused by a wildfire and doesn’t produce any visible smoke. It’s the encroachment of invasive species as they slowly consume native and beneficial vegetation.

Tribes in the Pacific Northwest rely heavily upon natural resources for income generation and sustaining a way of life. There are significant wildlife, agriculture, and rangeland impacts to the Tribal lands.

(The video below was produced by Nathan Moses-Gonzales, M3 Consulting Group.)

 

 

Read about Native prescribed fire practices.

Horses in a burned field
Summer 2022

Tips on keeping animals safe during wildfires

Wildfires affect many aspects of a community beyond the charred and devastated landscape. During a major blaze, residents must deal with smoke, fire retardants, evacuations, power outages, disrupted supply chains, and more.

Often forgotten in the equation are the damaging effects wildfire has on domestic animals. Smoke-induced respiratory problems, exposure to firefighting chemicals, and injuries from running through barbed-wire fences are common.

Linda McLean, WSU Extension director for the Colville Reservation helps residents prepare for wildfire season through public workshops and a variety of fire-related resources. She urges all pet and livestock owners to create an emergency evacuation plan for the safe transportation and shelter … » More …

Summer 2022

Strawberry recipes

Put sweet and succulent Pacific Northwest strawberries—especially Washington State University-developed varieties—on your table this summer.

Here are some ways to use them from Jamie Callison, executive chef at WSU’s School of Hospitality Business Management at Carson College of Business, and Linda Burner Augustine (’83 Home Econ., Honors), author of the  A Year at the Table  food blog. Both also authored 2013’s The Crimson Spoon cookbook from WSU Press.

 

Strawberry Shortcakes

From Jamie Callison

Sliced strawberries and whipped cream on biscuit

For the … » More …

Spring 2022

The cheesemaker

“When I get introduced to people for the first time and I tell them I make Cougar Gold cheese, they don’t believe me,” says Sarah Beale, head cheesemaker at WSU Creamery. “It’s kind of fun. Especially locally, everyone knows Cougar Gold.”

Beale has managed WSU’s day-to-day cheese-making operations for three years. One of the most difficult parts of the job: training and scheduling the approximately 40 student employees.

“Scheduling is crazy,” Beale says. “If we’re doing a double-batch day, a cheesemaker and pasteurizer need to be here by 3:45 a.m. on Mondays and 4:45 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The rest come in … » More …