Newcomers and longtime Kitsap residents alike can overlook some of the most treasured local assets: the hard-working farmers and their land. Tucked in here and there on back roads are families who have been in West Sound for generations farming the land, growing … read more

Avid boaters Kelly and Jim Hettinger cruised the waters around the Key Peninsula for years. They made friends, anchored at the Longbranch Marina, and got involved in the social life at the Longbranch Improvement Club. Eventually the time came to think about looking … read more

Today we know it as a carcinogenic material, but for most of the 20th century, asbestos was praised as a “miracle mineral” that was used in a wide variety of industries and materials. It was an important addition in ships, boilers, insulation and … read more

The Romans introduced grapevines to the Netherlands in 968. Today about one million bottles of Dutch wine are produced annually from 170 small vineyards located throughout the country. Fortunately, there’s no need to buy a ticket to Amsterdam to taste Dutch wines when … read more

The needs of grocery shoppers are seemingly always evolving, and now more than ever, they want to know where and how their food is produced and what impact it has on the environment. This is commonly referred to as “sustainable eating,” and its … read more

In the middle of Kitsap County between East Bremerton and Silverdale is located one of the most outstanding urban natural-park spaces in the United States. It is a 570-acre site known as the Illahee Preserve. Owned by Kitsap County, the Illahee Preserve is … read more

The Bremerton City Nursery has been part of Bremerton for more than six decades, thanks to two local families. Today, it brands itself as an urban city nursery, and it sells almost exclusively organic products. The Berger family founded the nursery in the … read more

Owning and operating six restaurants can be complicated. Just ask Brendan McGill, founder of Hitchcock on Bainbridge Island and the fabulously popular Bruciato pizzeria across the street. On one recent morning, McGill sauntered into his Hitchcock Deli, adjacent to his farm-to-table eatery, and … read more

Did you know that in Washington state, owners of solar panels get paid extra for the electricity their systems generate? To make the deal even sweeter, they can save by not needing electricity from the power company in the first place. The Northwest … read more