On a bench north of the Boise River in Barber Valley, Morning Owl Farm offers great views to some 250 ducks, four turkeys and a horse.

Oh, yes, and to the people who work it: Mary Rohlfing and her family. After 12 years teaching communication at Boise State University, she left her tenured position in 2004 to farm full time on land she moved to in 1998.

"Back then it was 8 acres of weeds, but I've committed my life to bring this land back to health," she told a group of Rural Roots members recently.

Mary's proud that her closed-nutrient-cycle farm uses fertilizer composted from her own vegetative and livestock residues. Her ducks range in green pastures by day and return to safe barns at night, where they lay an average of one egg each per day.

That's enough to keep Chef Mathieu Choux at Le Caf de Paris busy preparing "quack quiche," sold online through Idaho's Bounty and Mary's Web site, www.morningowlfarm.com, where you can join the Quiche of the Month club.

I sampled her "Bronco Nation" (lamb chorizo and cheddar) quiche after the tour - yum! Mary offers free tours; the next is at 7:15 p.m. July 23.

On the day Rural Roots was there, 15 local producers - including Marty Camberlango, Liz Young and Margie Stoy - met Rural Roots' new executive director Melissa Radloff, who filled them in on grants available through the USDA's Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education program. Mary has such a grant to study the effect of pasture-raised ducks on whole farm systems.

Moscow-based Rural Roots runs programs for beginning farmers and ranchers, and publishes a directory of its small-acreage members and an organics handbook for new producers.

Margie told me she first became interested in local organic foods in the 1970s when she worked for the Idaho Conservation League.

"I read 'Small is Beautiful' and it made eminent sense. We were talking about sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and low-gas cars back then." She laughed. "We were smart!"

LEARN ABOUT LOCAL GRUB

A few spaces are left in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute local foods class, "From Seed to Plate," from 10 a.m. to noon July 22, 29 and Aug. 5 and 12, according to Institute director Ellie McKinnon. Speakers include Beth Geagan, Janie Burns, Mary Rohlfing, Becky Morgan, Josie Erskine and James Reed, plus trips to Peaceful Belly Community Supported Agriculture and Boise Urban Garden School.

Information/signup: www.boisestate.edu/osher.

GREEN EXPO NEEDS YOU!

Volunteers are needed for a few shifts at the Idaho Green Expo next weekend, July 18-19, Katie Sewell wrote in an e-mail.

"Before or after your shift you can see all the great booths, check out Sustainable U, see fabulous speakers including mayors and energy policymakers, or listen to some good music while sipping your favorite beverage."

Sign up at www.idahogreenexpo.org/become-a-volunteer.asp.

'WRITERS WORKING FOR WRITERS'

Curious about the new Idaho Writers Guild? Come to a gathering at 7 p.m. Wednesday and see whether it's your cup of tea. Doug Copsey will introduce the guild's vision; BSU Story Initiative director Clay Morgan will describe his program; and we'll lay the foundation for future guild activities for professional writers and those seeking a career in writing.

All writers are welcome, from poets to screenwriters to ad copy writers. Refreshments will be served at The Cabin, 801 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise.

Information: www.IdahoWritersGuild.org.

RAISIN' GREEN ON GROVE

A benefit concert for the U.S. Green Building Council Idaho Chapter begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Linen Building, 1402 W. Grove St., Boise.

Performers: The Heard, Shakin' Not Stirred, Steve Fulton, Scot Oliver and Shiny Shoe Bob.

Suggested donation: $7 at the door.

Freelance writer Diane Ronayne: dianeronayne@gmail.com