Livin' in the Blurbs: In the Country, Out of the Country

Chrissie Zaerpoor is intelligent, ambitious and energized. You wouldn't be surprised to find her at a major corporation and, indeed, she was a senior engineer at Intel. What might surprise you is that she left that world to start farming with husband Koorosh (an astrophysicist by training) and their son. And Kookoolan Farms currently has a farm stand at the Hillsdale Farmers' Market on Sundays. But that's just part of the story. She also manages a farm store, is working on getting a license to make mead and holds farmstead classes at the farm in Yamhill. Upcoming classes include:

• July 19: Basic Cheesemaking with Mary Rosenblum, $50 person includes extensive cheese tasting plate.
• Aug. 8: Artisan bread baking with Bethany Lee, $50 person. Take home a loaf of bread and an indispensable breadmaking tool.
• Aug. 23: Washed-curd cheesemaking (edam, gouda, Colby, Havarti, among others) with Mary Rosenblum, $50 person includes extensive cheese tasting plate.
• Aug. 30., Aug. 31: Fresh Mozzarella with Will O'Donnell from Mt Townsend Creamery, $50 person.

Details: All classes are held at Kookoolan Farms in Yamhill and reservations are required. Kookoolan Farms, 15713 Highway 47, Yamhill. Phone 503-730-7535.

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It's that time of summer when I'd rather be swinging in the hammock in the back yard with a tall, icy drink than digging around in the garden. But the time is definitely right to do some planning for when cooler temperatures make gardening a joy. Portland Nursery is hosting a couple of classes at their SE Stark store for those of us who'd rather hear about planting than do it right now. Upcoming classes include:

• July 20: Composting Basics with Sean Gillman. 10 am; free with reservation.
• July 27: Growing Bamboo with Ian Connor, director of the Oregon Chapter of the American Bamboo Society. 10 am; free.

Details: Classes require pre-registration and will be held at Portland Nursery, 5050 SW Stark St. Phone 503-231-5050.

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If you miss the Sunday Family Dinners that used to be held at Ken's Place before he left to join business partner Nick Zukin and open the fabulously popular Kenny & Zuke's, then you'll be ecstatic to learn that they've caved to the entreaties of their fans. The upcoming schedule includes:

• July 27: The Road to Morocco including tajines, exotic spices, preserved lemons, olives, couscous, dates, garlic.
• Aug. 31: Summer in the South of France with Provencal Fish Soup, La Grande Aioli, and (they claim) the best Pasta with Pesto you've ever tasted.
• Sept. 28: Flavors of the Yucatan with a sampling of this complex and tantalizing cuisine, accompanied by a Pomegranate Sangria.

Details: All dinners begin at 6 pm with four courses for the price of $30, $40 including wine. Children under 12 are $18.75. Gratuities not included. Reservations required. Kenny & Zuke's, 1038 SW Stark St. Phone 503-222-3354.