Kamiak Butte, the Palouse and Lentilfest in Pullman

Today was yet another busy day here on the Palouse trying to keep up with Hannah's energetic spirit. Here we are hiking up Kamiak Butte. She doesn't even look tired.

People are asking, "What is the Palouse?" Apparently the land was shaped after the last Ice Age when the sediment left by melting glaciers and massive amounts of water were blown by local winds to form rolling hills that are rich in nutrients and perfect for farming. As you can see below, we had a great view of the Palouse from the crestline of the butte. The golden fields are wheat, and the green-yellow fields are garbanzo beans.

Pullman, Washington, just across the state line and eight miles from Moscow, is also a farming region, known for its production of lentils. Lentils first were introduced to the region in 1916 by a Seventh Day Adventist farmer to promote the health benefits of eating legumes. In the year 2000, the Palouse produced 98 percent of the nation's lentils.

To end our day today, we attended the annual National Lentilfest in Pullman, where the locals served 350 gallons of free lentil chili from a giant vat.

Tomorrow, it's off to Main Street Moscow for the Saturday Farmer's Market!