The fifth annual Sturgis BBQ Fest is slated for Saturday, September 30 in downtown Sturgis with 10 grill/pit masters scheduled to compete. Festivities will take place from noon to 7 p.m. along North and John Streets, and will include live music, several food vendors, kids activities, a beard contest, a corn hole tournament, and of course, live college football on the big screen.

In this edition of “Bites with Beca,” Watershed’s resident food critic writes, “In searching for the ideal restaurant to celebrate my father’s birthday this year I was on the hunt for ‘a place of perfect happiness’ and just so happened to find that exact definition in Kalamazoo’s Elysium (505 E. North St.).”

In this week’s Bites with Beca, Beca Welty writes, “By the time we were rolling ourselves out the front door, Maria’s was bustling with energy with every table occupied and a line queuing near the entrance. It seemed Sturgis already knew what we had only just discovered — Maria’s Mexican Restaurant is a true gem in the crown of Mexican restaurants in the community, and we will absolutely be back soon…sunny day or not.”

“While it does seem unclear the direction The Kent will decide to go as far as a theme, decor, or permanent menu, it does seem obvious that it is operating under the guidance of a chef who is comfortable in the kitchen and confident in his skills. It would be a mistake to attempt to compare this new establishment to the one previous, because the Miller family is here to leave their own memorable mark on Main Street.”

Watershed Voice columnist Deborah Haak-Frost weighs the pros and cons of mulberry trees, and the importance of using what you have to get what you need.

“The field of permaculture holds a principle of ‘obtaining a yield’ — in other words, work with the world around you to get or produce what you need. This seems fairly obvious: the point of a vegetable garden is to yield vegetables, after all. Working a job yields monetary income, which pays the bills. But what if the idea of yield was expanded? Where can we see potential and possibility for greater yield?”

WSV’s Deborah Haak-Frost writes, “There’s more than a twinge of disappointment as I harvest the last of the tomatoes. Remote work has a glamorous aspect when carried out from the patio, barefooted in the dappled shade. And as the angle of light changes through our west-facing glass door, it has a way of giving the cat hair and dust bunnies on the dining room floor a nice glow at sunset.”

WSV’s Beca Welty writes, “If Bird Dog isn’t already on your list of Southwest Michigan restaurants to frequent, make note now. This establishment is busier than ever with their tantalizing brunch, lunch, and dinner menu and their options of dine-in or reservations for an igloo. Their dessert menu is also constantly updating and their social media presence is an excellent place to stay well informed on all new additions to their offerings. Pack up your appetite and head to Bird Dog in Mattawan for an unforgettable dining experience!”