Victory gardens came about during World War II, following an idea by George Washington Carver. In March 1917, Charles Lathrop Pack organized the US National War Garden Commission and launched the war garden campaign. To support the home garden effort, a United States School Garden Army was launched through the Bureau of Education. Again in… Read More
Category Archives: Home Ec
Local Turnip Greens
From Beacon’s Farmers Market
The last of the trailing hurricane rains left the Hudson Valley on Saturday, and Sunday dawned a classic, sunny October morning. After a quick stop to see what was happening at the Beacon Flea Market, (open Sundays through November 15) my companion and I headed to the Beacon ferry dock to the farmer’s market. Our… Read More
A Visit With the Beacon Bee Lady
The Bee Lady, aka Beacon artist and beekeeper Deborah Davidovits, invited Wigwam to watch as she started a new hive. Spring is the time to set up new bee hives. Also along to learn some technique was Avi from Eden Village Camp in Putnam Valley. The first order of business is to go buy a… Read More
More Garden Classes for Beacon Kids
Hudson Valley Seed is seeking contributions to add an additional nine classes to its weekly garden education program this spring. This matching grant opportunity will also help with materials for projects such as new raised beds at Sargent Elementary School. Hudson Valley Seed’s mission is to instill our children with an appreciation and knowledge of… Read More
On The Homefront: Rationing
By Robert Murphy A look at wartime rationing by the president of the Beacon Historical Society. Posts featuring the city’s historical archives will be a regular feature on Wigwam. Shopping in the United States during World War II turned every housewife into a smart, calculating consumer. Meats, sugar, processed foods, butter, fats, oils, silk, shoes,… Read More
Chicken Workshop Sells Out
Common Ground Farm’s workshop, Basic Backyard Chickens, was held today at the Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center barn classroom to a standing room only audience. “Last year we had 12 people attend,” said Helenna Bratman, who runs the workshop with her husband John. This year 50 people signed up, forcing CGF to start a… Read More
Watch This Shocking MapleFEST Video!
Maple sap runs when the nights drop below and the days get well above freezing, and it was looking like a late sugarin’ this year. But our sources at the Randolph School’s annual MapleFEST tell us the trees have been tapped and the boilin’ has begun. Check out this sneak preview video, exclusively on Wigwam,… Read More
Save Money With
Wool BUSHes
There’s plenty of winter left, but it’s too late to do any caulking or insulating, too late to buy a wood stove. You can still save money by dropping the thermostat a few degrees, though, if you invest in some wool BUSHes—Blankets, Underwear, Sweaters, and Hats—for around the house wear. Blankets Unlike a heavy down… Read More
Beacon Council Hatches
New Chicken Ordinance
Why did the chicken cross 9D? To get to Beacon’s municipal building to thank city council for passing a less judgmental fowl ordinance earlier this month. The council laid an egg with the initial draft of the proposed code, ruffling some feathers and setting some wattles flapping, and generating a good deal of online clucking… Read More
Wild Herbs, Tinctures, and Vinegars
Whether knowing what plant matter to rub on a cut or how to make a delicious, vitamin C-packed white pine vinegar, Sarah Elizabeth’s herbalist walk at Denning’s Point in Beacon on a recent Saturday in October was a good introduction to wild edibles and healing herbs. The walk was part of the educational programming of… Read More
The Sky Is Falling
As another outbreak of salmonella caused by industrial chicken farming is hitting the country, the City of Beacon is taking steps to make it more difficult to grow your own, including limiting the number of chickens (5), licensing, and heavy fines that include jail time for violations. Here is the introduction to the law: “The… Read More
Try This One Weird Canning Trick
When canning, put the flat disc part of your jar lids into a heatproof bowl making sure they’re not stacked tight. After you’ve boiled the jars, pour some of the hot water into the bowl. This will soften the sealing compound under the lids, allowing it to form a tight bond with the glass jars.… Read More