History, Natural History & the Arts
A July 1876 heat wave ripened Washington County garden crops early.
“Peas, summer squash and cucumbers are plenty,” The Granville Sentinel reported on July 21st. “The mercury climbs up every day into the nineties and drops only to seventy or eighty at night.” [Read more…] about July On The Farm In The 19th Century
In Ray Bradbury’s 1952 science fiction story A Sound of Thunder, Eckels, a time-traveling safari hunter accidentally steps on a butterfly during prehistoric times, which triggers a massive change to the eco-system when Eckels returns to 2055 society.
If it’s so that a single action can have consequences centuries later, I wonder about ramifications from the mass extermination of butterflies by a witty, well-meaning, 19th century Hague (on Lake George in Warren County) cabbage farmer. [Read more…] about 19th Century Tales Of Cabbage Worms
There are still a few people who remember that Sullivan County apple producers at one time shipped apples to every state in the country except for Washington and Oregon.
Perhaps the largest apple producer in Sullivan County at the height of the industry here was Martin A. Smith of Fremont Center. [Read more…] about Apple Orchards Are Returning Again to Sullivan County
On June 3, 1876, it was 92 degrees “in the shade” at Fort Ann, in Washington County.
“The season of picnics, excursions and camp-meetings is at hand,” The Granville Sentinel proclaimed. Six days later the heat gave way to refreshing rain. [Read more…] about The Optimism of a 19th Century June
If April showers bring May flowers, what do May showers bring?
Optimism for a prosperous agricultural season.
“The weather for the past two or three days has been quite warm and spring-like, with frequent showers, and Mother Earth is fast putting on her robe of green,” the Putnam correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on May 12th, 1876. “The farmers have nearly finished their sowing, but we have not heard of much planting being done yet. Winter grain is looking finely, and the prospects are good for an abundant harvest.” [Read more…] about Washington County Farmers In Spring, 1876
When air and water meet, such as when it rains, air pollution can easily turn into water pollution. Waterways can receive a lot of pollution this way from both rain and run-off.
Air pollution can damage fragile aquatic ecosystems, with one of the most harmful pollutants being nitrogen. [Read more…] about Nitrogen Pollution: Too Much of a Good Thing
In celebration of Earth Day 2021, the Adirondack Park’s largest environmental organization today awarded 21 micro-grants totaling $29,601 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 Micro-Grants Assist Environmentally Friendly Adk Farms, Food
April is the month when Spring weather typically calls out, “Ready or not, here I come,” and compels nature and humans of New York to come out from winter hiding.
“Happy is the farmer who has got everything ready for the active labors of the coming season. But no matter how thoroughly he is prepared there will always be plenty to do,” the agriculture columnist wrote in the April 25th, 1874 Ticonderoga Sentinel.
The task list was long and varied in the month of getting ready to make hay while the sun shines. [Read more…] about Small Farms in April in the Nineteenth Century
No offense, but Franklin D. Roosevelt should maybe bug off with his assertion that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” because fear is good for gardeners and farmers. According to entomologists Nicholas Aflitto and Jennifer Thaler of the Cornell University-based New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYSPIM), it can be harnessed as a weapon against destructive pests. Turns out it’s possible to scare harmful insects out of gardens and crop fields. [Read more…] about Fear and Gardening in Pest Management
The Adirondack Council’s Essex Farm Institute (EFI) is seeking applicants for micro-grants up to $1,500 for environmentally beneficial and sustainable projects on Adirondack farms and by value-added producers. [Read more…] about Microgrants Available for Adirondack Farms, Food Producers