Moab Made describes itself as “a shop dedicated to the local artisan community.” I would add that the Main Street store is hand-crafted for the individual who appreciates singular items. Moab Made’s wares have soul and personality. Moab Made was founded by Rebecca McAllister in 2016. “It was created out of a personal desire to do something that I knew I would feel really … [Read more...]
Moab’s Desert Sun Ceramics
Walk through the door of Desert Sun Ceramics in Moab and you will see “Gregoire Pottery”—bowls, mugs, pitchers and other ceramic items created by owner Barb Gregoire. But the studio is more than a venue for only one woman. Desert Sun Ceramics is open to novices and experts alike. The mission is “to provide a creative, inspirational learning environment where everyone can … [Read more...]
Moab Root Cellar Project: History is ‘Preserved’ For the Future
“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” —William Faulkner “We don’t really think of ourselves and our lives as history,” said Christy Williams Dunton, the Development Director for the Museum of Moab. “But we are. We are living histories.” As one may carefully preserve the harvest in mason jars, Dunton makes “jars of memory jam,”—her term for the digital recordings … [Read more...]
Moab Road Trip
Local Moab resident, Heila Ershadi, gives the insider take on where to go and what to see in Moab. A trip to Moab can mean mean many things, such as appreciating the landscape’s astounding beauty, experiencing the charm of a unique desert town, enjoying world-class outdoor recreation, and even reconnecting with the wild magic found in nature and your own soul. It can also … [Read more...]
CommuniTea Garden: Moab Man Embraces the Grace of Open Space
One afternoon in early spring, I met Jay Nethercott on a lot in downtown Moab that he estimates could have made him hundreds of thousands of dollars. But instead, he joined forces with local nonprofit Resiliency Hub to create a space where nature meets community. It’s called the CommuniTea Garden, a name inspired by the “Tea and a Topic” open forums that Resiliency Hub hosts in … [Read more...]
Guest Workers in Utah
They come to Moab from all over the world. Tourists, yes, but also guest workers. Service industry employers say these workers, brought in on temporary visas, are necessary for the viability of their businesses. “You just can’t get enough help in Moab,” says Judy Bane, Lodge Manager at Moab’s Red Cliffs Lodge resort. However, some advocacy groups, such as the … [Read more...]
Moab: Affordable Housing Meets Sweat Equity
“I drive around Moab quite a bit and never see anyone building single family homes,” notes Ben Riley, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Southeastern Utah (HASU). “And, if I do, it’s usually more upscale, selling in the $300,0000-plus range. I just don’t see any building that isn’t condos or hotels.” It’s no news that tourism is a booming industry in Moab. Arches … [Read more...]
Combining Economic and Environmental Sustainability
With its red rock and blue sky, Moab is a land of contrasts. But another stark contrast is that of growth-oriented business owners and the residents who see the recent growth as perhaps too much of a good thing. The economic, social, and political landscape of Moab has changed dramatically since the uranium-based economy came to an end several decades ago, and recreational … [Read more...]