"There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil." 

-Ecclesiastes 2:24

The word "culinary" means, literally, "of the kitchen." As I have grown older, I have developed a great appreciation for the culinary process - from the gardened ground to the harvest and the enjoyment and preserving of food and drink. 

In part, this began when I was young through observing my mother and family gardening and preserving food. This interest developed even more when we moved to Lincoln, Nebraska and came to enjoy the cultural pride and importance of an agrarian society. 

In Nebraska, we began gardening and expanded our plant each year. Then, we began preserving our harvest. This, together with my burgeoning affinity for farm-to-table style food, has further enhanced my/our desire for all the colors, aromas, textures, ethnic styles, and spices of the culinary realm. Most recently, I began smoking meats and won a local (friendly) barbecue competition. 

If we can, we always prefer to make it from scratch, making our own stocks and the like. Of course, the aim here is not culinary elitism as much as it is an appreciation for the earth and our responsibility to/for what she produces.