The word has gone out throughout Wallowa County about an unusual event being called a Big Weed to help out the Thiel family in the wake of the recent death of local organic farmer Gene Thiel.

Volunteers gathered Tuesday morning this week and are gathering again at 8 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, to help weed the Thiels crops.

The job involves hand weeding the carrot and beet crop. It is a big job, but with many hands we can help to double the yield on both of these important staples this season, said Beth Gibans of Backyard Gardens.Directions to the field are as follows: from the Joseph City Parking lot, go east toward Imnaha 0.8 mile; there will be a blue and white tarped haystack on left; turn right at 64001, but take right hand drive. Go 0.1 mile over the canal, bear left through two opened gates.

Thiel is well-known far outside Wallowa County. Tuesday, Aug. 20, more than 30 chefs in Portland collaborated on a six-course Gene Thiel Memorial Dinner at the Imperial Restaurant in the Hotel Lucia in Portland.