New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

vegetables

Theophilus Roessle: From Celery King To Hotelier

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an Erie Canal packet boat, possibly, as was often the case overcrowded with immigrantsTheophilus Gottlieb Roessle was born in Stuttgart in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, on March 19th, 1811. His father was a successful market farmer and builder in the community. Like many of the children in his homeland, Theophilus received a good quality education that his father supplemented with a solid training in agriculture.

While still a young boy, Theophilus learned the peculiarities inherent in the cultivation of plants. [Read more…] about Theophilus Roessle: From Celery King To Hotelier

Beyond Meat: A Short History of Vegetable Animals

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Cibotium barometz courtesy Wikimedia user DaderotRecent improvements in the texture and flavor of plant-based meat analogs have meat-lovers as well as vegetarians flocking to buy them. While it’s normal to think the quest for mouth-watering faux meat is a recent trend, it dates back almost a thousand years.

According to first-hand written accounts, European religious and political leaders in the Middle Ages and early Renaissance period spent decades searching for meat substitutes. [Read more…] about Beyond Meat: A Short History of Vegetable Animals

The Great Pumpkin Flood of 1903 & Other Delaware River Floods

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Pond Eddy BridgeThe last three weeks of October, 1903 proved to be difficult ones in the Upper Delaware region, as residents attempted to clean up after a particularly devastating flood.

Following three days of heavy rains, the Delaware River crested on October 10th, 1903, destroying several bridges, wiping out the Erie Railroad’s tracks in a number of places, and damaging homes and businesses in three states. [Read more…] about The Great Pumpkin Flood of 1903 & Other Delaware River Floods

Asparagus Officinalis: A Spear of Transatlantic History

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The Apicius manuscriptOne of the first crops to emerge from the ground in New York State is asparagus (scientific name: asparagus officinalis). The vegetable is an integral part of America’s colonial history. It must have been a taste of nostalgia that prompted New Netherland settlers to try and cultivate asparagus in unfamiliar surroundings. [Read more…] about Asparagus Officinalis: A Spear of Transatlantic History

Start Planning Your Vegetable Garden

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Adirondack Farm Produce by Shannon HoulihanWhile many of us are spending extra time at home, now is the perfect time to start planning a vegetable garden.

Whether it be your first time planting a garden or you have been doing it for years, planning what you are going to plant and when will result in a more successful growing season as well allow you to plan ahead for needed seeds, plants, and supplies. [Read more…] about Start Planning Your Vegetable Garden