Interview by Bob Banner with the Publishers (Krista and Steve Harris) of the new “Edible Santa Barbara” magazine to launch this Spring.
Please tell us readers a bit about HOW you got started and what was the major influence for you to become publisher of Edible Santa Barbara?
My first job was at a wonderful local newspaper in San Diego called the La Jolla Light. I worked a little in just about every department, and I think it instilled in me a real passion for the publishing industry. Since then I've worked as an editor, graphic designer and creative director in the corporate world. And on another level, I've been shopping at farmers markets for over twenty years. I'm a major foodie.
So, when I found out about the Edible magazines, it was love at first sight. Then when my husband, Steve Brown, got involved in researching the idea, we realized that it was something that we just had to do. Steve ran the Artworks Department in Instructional Development at UC Santa Barbara for 31 years. And from 1985-2001 he taught over 5,000 students in UCSB Extension’s Graphic Design and Visual Communication certificate program. With his company SB Artworks he works on wide range of graphic capabilities, including print and publications, web design, illustration and other artwork. We are both very excited to be bringing our interests and talents to Edible Santa Barbara.
How is the premiere issue coming along? any teasers?
Our premiere issue will be out in March, and we are frantically working away on it. I have been fortunate to find some fantastic local and regional writers. Without giving too much away, I will say that we are going to be covering everything from edible gardening to sustainable seafood to local winemakers and chefs, along with some really great seasonal recipes. We are going to have a lot to say in this first issue!
When will it hit the stands? Where will we be able to pick up a copy?
We should be getting it back from the printer by the first day of spring - March 20th. Our website will have a list of all the distribution points throughout Santa Barbara County. It will generally be available from farmers markets, specialty food shops, restaurants, hotels, bookstores and various food related events. Although it is distributed free of charge, we also offer subscriptions for people who want it mailed to them and who want to support our local food coverage.
Subscriptions are $28 a year (4 quarterly issues) and can be ordered on our website (
Will the premiere issue be online before or after it hits the newsstands?
We are going to be posting a bunch of new content on our website - some of it before the magazine comes out. But the actual magazine won't be online before it's distributed. That would spoil the surprise! We are looking at ways to bring some of the articles directly onto our website, and I'll be integrating the blog that I write.
Please tell us the perspective of the new magazine. Edible Ojai has superb articles about sustainability, good farming practices, wonderful recipes, reports about the local food movement, farm to school projects. Will ESB be doing similar articles?
Our mission with Edible Santa Barbara is to educate and promote awareness of local food. We want people to think about where their food comes from and to seek out the best possible sources for local, seasonal and sustainable food. Although we are independently owned and operated, we are part of the network of approximately 50 Edible Communities magazines, which started with Edible Ojai! We are so fortunate to have a next door neighbor publication to inspire us. But Edible Santa Barbara will be focused on what's happening in Santa Barbara County. We have a lot of stories to tell.
And writers? Will you be writing many of the articles are are you collecting an array of freelancers from the Santa Barbara community?
We are definitely collecting an array of freelance writers! We rely on freelance writers for the majority of our stories and departments. And we know that Santa Barbara has lots of talented writers. We are always looking for writers who are passionate about food and all its various related topics. For the most part, writers generate their own topics. Interested writers should submit a query to , listing any relevant experience they have and/or writing samples.
Will you be involving UCSB or City College at all?
Absolutely. Both Steve and I have strong ties to UCSB, and we are reaching out to City College to involve the Culinary Program.
Are reports on Food Not Lawns in Santa Barbara, or the Permaculture Guild, or the Mesa Exchange, or Fairview Gardens or Farm to School on your list of future articles?
They are all quite high on the list. These are exactly the types of stories that I feel need to be told. There are so many wonderful things going on in Santa Barbara that I think need more exposure. One of the things that I particularly love about our Edible format is that we're able to provide those thoughtful and interesting stories with really elegant photography and design. It's the type of magazine that people will want to collect and save or pass along to a friend. So the stories we tell will have a bit of longevity.
Any plans to sponsor events like a food film festival or organic wine tasting or classes in sustainable agriculture being planned?
We would love to sponsor food related events. It is so important to us that we be fully involved in the community. That's what this magazine is all about. Initially, of course, our main focus will be on producing the magazine. But as we get established, I could see us getting more and more involved in spearheading the types of events you mentioned.
-Krista (and Steve)
Krista Harris
Editor/Publisher
Edible Santa Barbara
(805) 898-9612
Steve Brown
Publisher
Edible Santa Barbara
(805) 898-9612