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Mel Jones
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Last View: 5:42AM, 13 Feb 13
Last On: 9:15AM, 29 Jan 12
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Mel Jones's Communities
Mel Jones's Discussions
Food Sovereignty and our right to safe, nutritious, fresh food
Started Aug 25, 2011 0 Replies 0 Likes
I am the inventor of Vesta's Garden, a simple technology that allows folks to be prolific and successful urban farmers, no matter how little space they have. Part of Vesta's Garden is a bi-weekly…Continue
Mel Jones
I am a food activist!
After 28 years as a purchasing professional in Northern California high tech manufacturing, along with 8 layoffs, I decided to go back to school. I enrolled in the Collaborative Certificate at Santa Rosa Junior College. When finished, I had an AA in Culinary Arts, including front house, was a professional wine judge, earned a Vocational Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture and, as part of the Collaborative Certificate, complete 11 units in Nutrition.
My graduation project was a School Farm. Using a school parking lot, unheated high tunnels and raised beds, the School Farm Business Plan offered a yearly profit of $45,000, replacing all the candy and cookies sales. Income was a CSA of 50 families from the school population. 100 families would double the size and profits of the farm to $90,000+ per year.
After I moved to Spokane, that morphed into Tearmann Realtai Farm. My wife and I supported two farmer's markets per week, a 6 member CSA and our own needs. We had 30 rabbits, 15 chickens, a bee hive and a milk gooat. All of this on a third of any acre in Greenacres, out in the Valley.
My goal is to return controlf to city folks their right to a safe, healthy and nutritious food source. My invention, Vesta's Garden, is dedicated to that goal.
I am in the process of forming a non-profit corporation to educate people about how they can grow their own food no matter how little room they have. Vesta's Garden will allow them to do that.
Latest Activity
politics
Been watching Face the Nation. Am reminded ofEdmund Muskie, the long time Main Senator. Herelates a story about one of his re-election campaigns.He was giving a speech at a town meeting in a smallMaine town. There was an elderly woman in the frontrow who was heckling him nonstop. Finally, he stoppedhis speech and said “Madame, it’s obvious your and mypolitics are not going to reconcile. I urge you to vote formy opponent.” She snorted and replied “I never vote,it just encourages you…See More
Best B2B Firms 2011: Networking and Trade Show at Bank of America Building Lobby
January 26, 2012 from 5pm to 9pm
The Votes are in and it's time to recognize the winners of this year's Inland Business Catalyst Magazine's "Best B2B Firms".Guest MUST pre-register at www.bestb2bfirms2011.eventbrite.com. Also be sure to download a QR code reader to your smartphone prior to the event. We recommend "QRafter". Spokane area professionals will kick off the new year with a celebration of the region's BEST B2B Firms of…See More
Bling! at The Lincoln Center, 1316 N Lincoln, one block north of the Arean
December 31, 2011 at 7:30pm to January 1, 2012 at 2am
Bling!Spokane’s Biggest,Greatest New Year’s partyOver $25,000 in prizing & everyone gets a prize! Gems, jewels, & gift certificates from Dodson’s, Luigi’s Italian Restaurant, Davenport Hotel, and other great Bling! Grand Prize is 1 carat t.w. diamond jewelryfrom Dodson’s Jewelers. TWO ROOMS TO PARTY IN!Live music classics with “VIBE” in one room “Flying Spiders” & latest club hits with area’s top DJ’s in the other Champagne Toast, Lazer light show, give-a-ways all night…See More
Wine Whiner
I generally gravitate towards red wine. My favorite is Cabernet Sauvignon, especially with broiled and grilled beef. I’m also a huge fan of Zinfandel washing down rich chocolates. I make my own ganache chocolate truffles and like nothing better than chasing the chocolate with a tight, dry zin. If I’m enjoying a prime rib roast or a really perfect rib eye, I’ll usually go with a nice, black merlot. I’m also a big fan of red blends. For a long time, I cooked our Christmas dinner. The menu…See More
This week's Whiner and a thanksgiving wine recommendation
This week’s wine is a Sutter Home 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon. Some people call Cab the “king” of red wines. I would be hard pressed to argue with them. Certainly, a good cab can be as complex as you like. It is certainly my favorite wine. It is also the wine that I am most particular about. For a cab to pass my muster, it must be very true to the varietal and have some other tastes and smells as well.Classically, the properties of a good cab might include cherry, black cherry, black currant…See More
Mark Pond replied to Mel Jones's discussion 'Spokane Vallley food initiative' in the community Inland Gardening and Agriculture"Mel --
Sorry I didn't see this until just now... Although I'm keenly interested in food issues, right now my time and energy is spoken for elsewhere. That said, I'd be interested in hearing about any progress you make…"
Wine Whiner
Back in the early 70’s, I was attending Skyline Community College. I was also working part time at the U-Save Liquors down in Pacific Manor. The owner, Dick Smith, was ahead of his time collecting quality Northern California premium wines. He once told me the Cabernet Sauvignon he had 6 cases of would someday be worth thousands of dollars.One day I told Dick I had a date coming up. I was taking a young lady on a picnic. I asked Dick what might be a good wine for the picnic. He went to…See More
Wine Whiner's latest column
This week’s wine is a Rex Goliath Merlot I got at Safeway for $4.49. The name Rex Goliath refers to a mythological 47 pound rooster that was supposedly presented at the Texas State Fair back in the 1930’s. I’ve always liked that idea because my father always claimed that I was full of more poop than a ten pound robin. For him, that was a complement. Mostly because he carried a 12 pound robin in his pockets!Anyway, the Rex Goliath Merlot was a classic Merlot. I’m a big fan of merlots and…See More
Rex Goliath merlot from the Whiner!
This week’s wine is a Rex Goliath Merlot I got at Safeway for $4.49. The name Rex Goliath refers to a mythological 47 pound rooster that was supposedly presented at the Texas State Fair back in the 1930’s. I’ve always liked that idea because my father always claimed that I was full of more poop than a ten pound robin. For him, that was a complement. Mostly because he carried a 12 pound robin in his pockets!Anyway, the Rex Goliath Merlot was a classic Merlot. I’m a big fan of merlots and…See More
Mary E Hanna replied to Mel Jones's discussion 'Assisted Living' in the community Spokane Area Boomers"Mel, I also work with many assisted living facilities, independent living apartments for seniors, and alike. Happy to collaborate with you if interested.
Mary Hanna"
Latest from the Wine Whiner
Sorry this is late. I had computer problems for a week and a half. Whiner. This week’s wine is a Mediterranean Table Red wine imported from Spain by Catalunya. As far as I’m concerned, this is a classic red table wine. It’s essentially a wine that is drank day in and day out by folks all over the world. It’s not a fancy Cabernet blend or some boutique sirah. Traditionally, a Spanish Medituranean table red is a mix of Tempranillo and Merlot. The color on this was not the deep almost black…See More
This week's cheap wine from The Whiner
There are a lot of things I like about wine. But two big ones are my love of Muscato and my respect for Sutter Home . Muscato is a sweet wine. It’s not like a sauterne or maybe a sherry. But it is a sweet wine. And I’m a big fan of sweet wines, including Chenin Blanc and several ice wines. I first got introduced when a chef friend recommended a muscato for a Thanksgiving dinner I was going to. I was bringing four different wines along with glasses for everyone. I had chosen a Riesling, a…See More
Profile Information
- Occupation & Employer
- retired
- Primary Industry
- Agriculture & Forestry
- Secondary Industry
- Health & Life Sciences
- Education
- BA Religious Studies, Lewis and Clark College, 1977
Collaborative Certificate (Culinary Arts, Sustainable Ag, Nutrition) Santa Rosa Jr. College 2002
Comment Wall (3 comments)
- At 2:24pm on August 30, 2011, Mark Pond said…
Welcome to the gardening group, Mel! I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it but I'm interested in the upcoming fall/winter gardening seminar.
- At 10:36am on August 4, 2011,
Robi Railey said… Welcome to LaunchPad, Mel
- At 6:41pm on August 3, 2011,
Paul Warner said… Hello Mel,
Welcome to LaunchPad!
Paul
Mel Jones's Blog
politics
Posted on January 29, 2012 at 9:34am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Been watching Face the Nation. Am reminded of
Edmund Muskie, the long time Main Senator. He
relates a story about one of his re-election campaigns.
He was giving a speech at a town meeting in a small
Maine town. There was an elderly woman in the front
row who was heckling him nonstop. Finally, he stopped
his speech and said “Madame, it’s obvious your and my
politics are not going to reconcile. I urge you to vote for
my opponent.” …
ContinueWine Whiner
Posted on December 16, 2011 at 7:16pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
I generally gravitate towards red wine. My favorite is Cabernet Sauvignon, especially with broiled and grilled beef. I’m also a huge fan of Zinfandel washing down rich chocolates. I make my own ganache chocolate truffles and like nothing better than chasing the chocolate with a tight, dry zin. If I’m enjoying a prime rib roast or a really perfect rib eye, I’ll usually go with a nice, black merlot. I’m also a big fan of red blends. For a long time, I cooked our Christmas dinner. The…
ContinueThis week's Whiner and a thanksgiving wine recommendation
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 11:10am 0 Comments 0 Likes
This week’s wine is a Sutter Home 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon. Some people call Cab the “king” of red wines. I would be hard pressed to argue with them. Certainly, a good cab can be as complex as you like. It is certainly my favorite wine. It is also the wine that I am most particular about. For a cab to pass my muster, it must be very true to the varietal and have some other tastes and smells as well.
Classically, the properties of a good cab might include cherry, black…
ContinueWine Whiner
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 8:13pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Back in the early 70’s, I was attending Skyline Community College. I was also working part time at the U-Save Liquors down in Pacific Manor. The owner, Dick Smith, was ahead of his time collecting quality Northern California premium wines. He once told me the Cabernet Sauvignon he had 6 cases of would someday be worth thousands of dollars.
One day I told Dick I had a date coming up. I was taking a young lady on a picnic. I asked Dick what might be a good wine for the picnic. He…
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