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local farms

Cranberry Bogs of Long Island: Some History & Natural History

October 15, 2022 by Tim Huss 2 Comments

A Suffolk County Cranberry Bog in the early 20th century (courtesy Suffolk County HIstorical Society)Nearly everyone has enjoyed the several products derived from the fruit of the cranberry, but few people are familiar with the ecology of this interesting plant or the role it has played in many local economies and histories.

Today the cranberry industry is an important. part of the agricultural economy only in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Wisconsin. But many other parts of the country were at one time in­volved in cranberry production. [Read more…] about Cranberry Bogs of Long Island: Some History & Natural History

Filed Under: Food, History, Nature, New York City Tagged With: Agricultural History, Christmas, Culinary History, Fruit, Islip, local farms, Long Island, Native Plants, Peconic River, Riverhead, Thanksgiving

Pig Tales From Historic New York Newspapers

October 1, 2022 by Maury Thompson 1 Comment

Domestic pigs in a wallow courtesy Mark Peters Poplar Spring Animal SanctuaryThis little piggy was not impressed with being invited to the reception.

H.W. Kathan gave a “unique” wedding gift to Anna, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ottis Ellithorp of Conklingville, in Saratoga County: a Sandy Suffolk pig. [Read more…] about Pig Tales From Historic New York Newspapers

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, History Tagged With: Agricultural History, local farms

Dire News In New York’s First-Ever Pollinator Distribution Survey

August 20, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

honey bee forager collecting pollen courtesy Jon SullivanNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released a multi-year survey of hundreds of pollinator species in New York State.

It’s hoped the Empire State Native Pollinator Survey 2017-2021 will provide the foundation for future pollinator research and conservation efforts. [Read more…] about Dire News In New York’s First-Ever Pollinator Distribution Survey

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: agriculture, bees, DEC, insects, local farms, nature, pollinators, wildflowers, Wildlife

Forgotten Farms of Schenectady County

July 12, 2022 by Guest Contributor 2 Comments

pine grove farmSchenectady County is in a state of revival. New events, businesses, initiatives and people have been coming to the city and surrounding communities to make their mark on one of the oldest settlements in New York State.

As a native to the area, I see two sides to this; it is great to see a new swing of development, making Schenectady attractive to those who don’t already call it home. However, as developers seem to be changing the cityscape ever faster, it is interesting to note where nature has taken its course. [Read more…] about Forgotten Farms of Schenectady County

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, Food, History, Mohawk Valley Tagged With: Agricultural History, Diary Industry, local farms, Schenectady, Schenectady County, Schenectady County Historical Society

Recent Adirondack Conservation News

May 19, 2022 by Justin Levine Leave a Comment

Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled new water infrastructure in Lake Placid The North Country to receive $40 million for water infrastructure projects

New York State and the Adirondacks, in particular, will soon benefit from a large round of funding from the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act to help keep waterways and drinking water cleaner. Seven communities in the Adirondack Park – notably Lyon Mountain, Schroon Lake, and Indian Lake – will receive about $8 million in clean water project funding. This funding will relieve some of the burden on taxpayers in these tiny rural towns. Waterways do not follow political boundaries so improvements to water quality in the Adirondacks will also benefit nature and communities far beyond the Park’s borders. [Read more…] about Recent Adirondack Conservation News

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Nature, Recreation Tagged With: Adirondack Council, Adirondacks, clean water, Essex Farm Institute, Lake George, local farms, Tahawus, water quality

The Night the Lights Came On: Electricity on New York State Farms

May 1, 2022 by Milton Sernett 4 Comments

Few New York State farms had electric power in the 1920s. Even as late as 1930 ninety percent of farm families nationwide had no line-run electricity. On long winter evenings city dwellers could read and sew long past sunset, but farm families sat in near darkness and did chores, such as milking the cows, in the dim light of kerosene lanterns.

Some farmers used Delco-Light Plants made up of ranks of glass-jarred lead-storage batteries located in dirt-floored basements for electric power. As Delco’s slogan was, “Delco systems sell best by night,” Delco salesman cleverly arrived at dusk with small Delco systems to demonstrate to farmers how these DC-units, when sufficiently massed, could bring to the farm what folks in the cities enjoyed. But Delco systems were expensive, and the batteries had to be recharged with a generator powered by a gasoline engine. [Read more…] about The Night the Lights Came On: Electricity on New York State Farms

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, Mohawk Valley, Western NY Tagged With: Agricultural History, energy, General Electric, George Westinghouse, Industrial History, local farms, Nikola Tesla, Political History, Thomas Edison

Essex Farm Institute Awards $32k in Microgrants for Sustainable Farming

May 1, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Adirondack CouncilAdirondack Council’s Essex Farm Institute has awarded 15 micro-grants totaling $32,000 to local farmers and value-added food producers, in an effort to build a climate-friendly local economy in the Adirondack Park. [Read more…] about Essex Farm Institute Awards $32k in Microgrants for Sustainable Farming

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Food Tagged With: Adirondack Council, Adirondacks, Climate Change, Grants, local farms

Saratoga County Was Once A Leading Pork Producer

April 24, 2022 by Guest Contributor 1 Comment

Duroc Pig courtesy National Swine RegistryNot that they’re boasting, but lots of Saratoga County people like the ring of the “health, history and horses” theme used by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. But 150 years ago, the thoroughbreds didn’t yet run at Saratoga Race Course on Union Avenue, and the county motto could have been “homesteads, harvests and hogs.” [Read more…] about Saratoga County Was Once A Leading Pork Producer

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, Food, History Tagged With: Culinary History, Food, local farms, Saratoga County, Saratoga County History Center, Saratoga County History Roundtable

Avian Influenza Detected in New York’s Wild Birds; Take Down Feeders

April 21, 2022 by Editorial Staff 2 Comments

Distribution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 and H5N1 in North America, 2021 2022The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has confirmed that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus has been found in multiple wild bird species in several areas of New York State.

No known HPAI human infections are documented in the U.S., and according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these recent cases of HPAI do not present an immediate public health concern for most people. However, people in contact with known infected or possibly infected birds should take precautions to protect against infection and avian researchers are concerned that bird baths and bird feeders can help spread the virus and are asking that they be taken down for a few months.   [Read more…] about Avian Influenza Detected in New York’s Wild Birds; Take Down Feeders

Filed Under: Food, Nature Tagged With: birding, birds, DEC, local farms, nature, Public Health, raptors, Science, waterfowl, Wildlife

New Name, Host for Lake Placid, Saranac Lake Farmers’ Markets

April 9, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Saranac Lake Farmers’ Market shoppers browse fresh produce grown by Fledging Crow VegetableThe weekly farmers’ markets in Lake Placid and Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks will continue to offer locally produced farm products and handmade goods — but under a new name and host organization.

The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) announced that it will provide organizational support for the two markets under the newly dubbed “High Peaks Farmers’ Market.” ANCA will also hire a part-time manager to oversee the markets. [Read more…] about New Name, Host for Lake Placid, Saranac Lake Farmers’ Markets

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Events, Food Tagged With: Adirondack North Country Association, Essex County, Farmers Markets, Franklin County, Harrietstown, Lake Placid, local farms, North Elba, Saranac Lake

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