Summer really begins in the North Country on the Fourth of July. It ends on Labor Day. Cruel as that may seem to someone living south of here, most of us have learned to adapt….Summer is precious to us, so we cram lots of fun things into a few weeks. Some of the special things of summer for me are food treats we can’t get any other time of year. I’ll share some of my favorites.
Rural
Growing Community in the Courthouse Community Garden
Currently in its fourth season, the Courthouse Community Garden’s evolution into a community fixture in Salem, New York, started more than four years ago from an idea tossed around for at least a couple of years before the seed of the idea took hold. The mission statement reads in part: The Courthouse Community Garden (CCG) includes an enthusiastic group of individuals that have come together… to plant a garden on a parcel of land adjacent to the Courthouse Community Center campus in Salem…[to] offer opportunities to teach youth of all ages to grow, process, and market food, developing intergenerational community relationships.
Foodways
My mother-in-law’s name was Fern. She set an example in her mastery of all the survival techniques that are necessary for living in the Adirondacks…She was particularly good at scrounging in the woods. She knew where all the berries were—strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, and even wild grapes. During apple season, she hiked around sampling all the wild apple trees to find the best ones…. At the same time, she kept a huge garden….The crowning glory of the tomato crop was her chili sauce, and she was pretty famous for it.
Fair Fotos
Through the lens of Clifford Oliver’s camera, the ubiquitous sights of the county fair are transformed into timeless nods to rural living.
Upstate
Nothing
compares with being in the midst of a group,
singing with good courage. From my soprano
days in a boys’ choir to leading audiences
on choruses, it’s the most fun that I’ve ever
had and continues to be so.
Upstate
Upstate
The author’s search for a humorous song, collected by Frank and Anne Warner from Lena Bourne Fish who was born in the Adirondack region.
Echoes of a New England Past: The Hopkinton Town Green
The village green is a public common that is found in many northern New York towns and is reflective of the influence of settlement by former New Englanders. The influence of New England migration is also evidenced in place names, foodways, dialect choices, and vernacular architecture. Hopkinton, New York is an example of such cultural migration.
Dance Night at the Barn: Documenting the Line Dancing Tradition of Upstate New York
A fieldwork inspired portrait of line dancing in a rural, Saratoga County Town in New York State.
Hog-Rassle: Impromptu Behavior at Old-Time Square Dances
Dance historian and ethnomusicologist, James Kimball, examines the term, “Hog Rassle,” as it refers to an unruly and energetic square dance.
From the Waterfront
Portraits of Long Island decoy carvers and hunters.
Fruit in the Forest Foraging Apples and Pressing Cider in the Finger Lakes
A research based article about the craft cider business in New York and the regional practice of cider pressing gatherings.
From Trapper’s Cabin to Festival Stage: The Evolution of an Adirondack Storyteller
Noted storyteller and pack basket maker, Bill Smith, grew up in an environment steeped in local oral tradition. He has become well known for his personal reminiscences, tall tales, poetry recitations, and ballads. This article chronicles his life and career on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
The Dream of America / El Sueño de América: Separation & Sacrifice in the Lives of North Country Latino Immigrants
A photo essay profiling Mexican farm laborers on North Country dairy farms, shining a light on workers, the work they do, and the impact on their families and on the local community.
Why I Love the PO!
An essay on the rural post office, the “Upstate” Column