When you think of agriculture in the Adirondacks, you may not think of waving fields of grain. However, New England was actually the “breadbasket” of the United States until the late 1800’s.
Global markets have driven local grains out of favor. Today, China is the top wheat producer, followed by India, Russia, and the United States. But flour is flour, right? Not really. The difference in flavor, nutrition, and community impact is significant.
Have you considered buying a local turkey for your Thanksgiving meal this year? Buying a pasture-raised turkey from a local farm is one way to offer gratitude for the people and land that nourish your family. Locally raised turkeys are also usually raised in more humane conditions, and are much more flavorful and delicious. Most local farms and retailers require customers to pre-order and place a deposit on their turkeys in advance, generally from September-October. Browse the list below to reserve a local turkey for your Thanksgiving table.
“I hate hiking and I’m never gonna do it again.” -me (age 15, yelled to my mom and anyone else within hearing distance on the Tuckerman Ravine Trail, Mt. Washington, NH)
When I was a child growing up in a regularly food-insecure home, my food preferences were whatever my mom had available for us to eat, whether I liked that food or not (spoiler alert – I usually didn’t like it). Although she did a wonderful job with the frighteningly little she had available, the poor quality of that food – outdated boxed and canned goods, sad and squidgy produce, greenish rinds of cheese, and the bits of meat that no-one else wanted – could not be masked by the spices and creative preparation techniques she employed.
Food, then, became a tool for survival, not something consumed for enjoyment or even with deliberative selection for health.
“There are three things that I’ve learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.” — Linus (from ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’)
I can’t think of any horticultural crop that signals the arrival of autumn more than pumpkins. They’re as much a part of the fall season as colder temperatures and shorter days, trees turning crimson, gold, and orange, the smell of fallen leaves wafting on the crisp, clear air, huge flocks of migrating geese, corn mazes, hayrides, apple cider, and Halloween costumes and decorations.
Tupper Lake, NY (October 7, 2022) – Downtown Tupper Lake will be hosting a community celebration, dubbed the “Junction Function,” at the Tupper Lake Train Station on Sunday, October 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. The free community event features local businesses, vendors, attractions, live music and artists.
Junction Function has been organized by the community of Tupper Lake, in partnership with the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), to showcase Tupper Lake’s downtown area, businesses and local attractions. The event also coincides with the arrival of the first passenger train at the Tupper Lake Train Station in more than 40 years.
Pumpkins are an undeniable symbol of the changing seasons in the Northeastern United States. Pumpkins are an annual fruit in the genus Cucurbita, along with butternut squash, zucchini and cucumbers.
What’s the Difference Between a Pumpkin, Winter Squash and Gourd?
Pumpkins, winter squash and gourds are all fruit of the same genus, Cucurbita. Botanically speaking, there isn’t much difference between them. However, there is a significant difference in pumpkins, squash and gourds that have been bred for ornamental or edible purposes. A jack-o-lantern-style pumpkin would be tasteless and disappointing to eat. But a pie pumpkin would be sweet and delicious, much more like butternut squash. Edible pumpkins and squash can be unique decorations that can later be eaten. Look for delicious and beautiful varieties like Blue Hubbard, Autumn Frost, and Long Island Cheese to make your autumn decor do double duty.
SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. — The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) and Foodshed Capital have announced the first loan provided through their new revolving loan fund for small-scale food producers.
Julian Mangano of Della Terra will use his SOIL Loan to develop a commercial composting operation that will divert organic waste from landfills, build soil health on his Castorland, N.Y. farm, and provide high-quality compost for local farmers and gardeners.
With a goal of supporting farms and food businesses who have difficulty accessing loans through conventional programs, ANCA, a regional economic development nonprofit serving businesses and communities in northern New York, partnered with Foodshed Capital, a certified Community Development Financial Institution that centers mission-driven lending and customized business support for underserved farmers, to develop the SOIL Loan Fund.
Meet my hiking buddy, Bella (short for Belladonna). Bella is an entledoodle, or the offspring of an Entlebucher Mountain Dog and a mini-poodle. If you had not previously heard of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog, you are not alone! They are in the same family as Bernese Mountain Dogs, but are the smallest of the breeds within that family. When crossed with the hypoallergenic mini-poodle, what are produced are adorable, intelligent, compact, herding/hunting, mountain-scrambling, active, non-shedding, fun-and-cuddle-loving, loyal puppies.
OLD FORGE– The annual Adirondack Mountain Bike (MTB) Festival is ready to kick off Saturday and Sunday, October 1-2, 2022 at the McCauley Mountain Ski & Recreation Center in Old Forge. The temperatures are cooling down and the fall colors are heating up in the Central Adirondacks, as hundreds of mountain bike families flood to the festival. The free festival is sponsored by the Central Adirondack Association (CAA), the Adirondack Foothills Trails Alliance (AFTA), and the Town of Webb, and features guided rides, races and fun contests, clinics, bike and equipment vendors, food and refreshments, and live music.
The 10th annual Adirondack Kids Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 1 in Inlet, NY. Central Adirondack Kiwanis will once again be the main sponsor for the event which is inspired by the best-selling children’s book series, The Adirondack Kids ® written by Gary and Justin VanRiper of Camden, NY, and celebrates families having fun together in the great outdoors.
The dairy community in New York is comprised of both large dairy operations and small, family run farms, as well as processing facilities that range in type and size from trans-national food processing conglomerates to small, artisanal dairy-product-makers.
The dairy industry is a vital part of the State’s economy and its leading agricultural sector. Our nearly 3,600 dairy producers supply more than 15-billion pounds of milk annually, accounting for about one-half of New York’s total agricultural income and making New York the nation’s fourth largest dairy state.
What’s more, our producers and processors contribute significantly to local economies and to the vitality of local communities. And the milk and milk-products they produce are consistently top-notch.
The Adirondack Harvest Festival will return to its one-day, in-person format on Saturday, Sept. 24 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Essex County Fairgrounds in Westport, NY. This will be the first time the event has fully returned to the Essex County Fairgrounds for one large, in-person event since 2019. The event will follow the same format as past festivals, with a large farmers’ market, local food trucks, local libations tent (beer, mead and wine), demonstrations and talks, kids’ activities, farm animals, and much more.
Indian Lake, NY – The 12th Annual Great Adirondack Moose Festival (GAMF) , New York State’s premier and only moose-themed fete, offers visitors of all ages a fantastic Adirondack experience. Held in Indian Lake, in the heart of the Adirondack Park, moose-themed family fun activities will be the main attraction during the weekend of September 23, 24, and 25. During the festival, visitors are encouraged to explore the region’s peaks, valleys, rivers, and lakes and revel in the burst of Adirondack fall colors.
The call for 2023 Northeast SARE farmer grants is now available. Approximately $750,000 has been allocated to fund projects for this grant cycle. Awards typically range from $5,000 to $30,000, depending upon a project’s complexity and duration. The online system for submitting proposals will open on Oct 1, 2022. Proposals are due no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on November 15, 2022.
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Building a Better Apple
Where Do Apples Come From?
Apples are the most-consumed fruit in the United States. The annual estimated total value of the American apple industry is $23 billion, with just five cultivars; Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Red Delicious; making up two-thirds of production. Of these, Honeycrisp is easily the most valuable; having nearly twice the value per pound, if not more, than any of the others.
A few of weeks ago, I was sharing a couple of Honeycrisp apples with a friend and his granddaughter. As the youngster devoured a slice of apple… and then ate another… and another… and another… enjoying the juicy sweetness of each crunchy bite, she asked, “Where do apples come from?”
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