John Steinbeck described it as “the hour of the pearl.” For him it was a magical interlude just before dawn: “The interval between day and night when time stops and […]
Farm & Garden
What would it look like to grow, harvest, and protect our bounty?
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ON THE LANDSCAPE
Puddles of Winter Sunshine
Candles, ornaments, sparkling sugar, and other reminders of Earth’s new tilt
There are few things more glorious than a puddle of winter sunlight. On many afternoons I have gone from being active and productive to melting into soft butter in one […]
ON THE LANDSCAPE
Leaning Into the Wind and Rain
The air is raw and the mind protests, but the soul wants to go for a walk
I don’t want to leave the house. My mind says no. It insists on comfort, makes claims about self-preservation, and rejects the idea of going for a walk in the […]
GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK
A Green Garden in Winter
The season’s first frost doesn’t stop Jean Horner from growing food
Text and Drawings by Abraham Storer Jean Horner has been working on farms and in gardens since she was 18, after an earlier gig as a professional polo groom. These […]
ON THE LANDSCAPE
The Simple Joy of Watching the Birds
After hanging a feeder, a nerdiness ensues with new rituals
Five years ago, I walked out into the yard of the house I was renting and hung a bird feeder. “I like birds,” I thought. “Perhaps I’ll enjoy watching them […]
ON THE LANDSCAPE
The Winter Forest Has Its Sounds
Listening to the wind, waves, and the calls and silences of the great horned owl
The cold season has its own aesthetics. Bare. Subtle tones. Grays, browns, tans, blacks, the dormant green of pines. Blue air at dawn and dusk. The sky and ocean wearing […]
ROOTS
Growing the Eastham Turnip Is a Labor of Love
Heirloom seeds put down roots where the land will allow
EASTHAM — Orleans farmer Judy Scanlon can still recall the moment her interest in the Eastham turnip was sparked. “I was driving with my mother, just exploring, when we saw […]
TAKE YOUR PICK
The Other Oyster Fest: Eastham’s Salt Pond Sundays
Here, people follow the tides together, with permits and pails
EASTHAM — First light breaks on a balmy November Sunday. Dried leaves rustle in the steady breeze, but otherwise the waking world is hushed, silent even of birdsong. I have […]
GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK
A Late-Season Bounty of Blooms and Seeds
With Paula Erickson, in a garden that’s still coming into being
Text and Drawings by Abraham Storer Paula Erickson recently moved from Wellfleet to Truro, where establishing a garden has been a priority for her. It’s an expansive plot and has […]
ON THE LANDSCAPE
Leaning In for a Closer Look at Spiders’ Worlds
Orbs, funnels, and tangles made by nature’s master weavers
This is the season of misty mornings. The air is heavy with moisture that settles into the fields and forests as the sun rises. As this veil of dew comes […]
ON THE LANDSCAPE
The Fort Hill Cottonwood Speaks
Resting on her side, a tree downed by a storm still has a story to tell
EASTHAM — The road to Fort Hill winds through low, rolling fields. Just before it climbs the last hill to the parking area overlooking the inlet, it passes something that […]
ON THE LANDSCAPE
In the Province Lands Dunes, Listening
On being where the wind gives voice to the world
I began the day with the intention to be silent. There was no one to speak to other than myself. The kettle on the black cast-iron burner whispered a low […]
UNDERSTORY
Under the Power Lines, an Edible Forest Grows
Initiative expands an area protected from herbicide spraying
HARWICH — The Food Forest Initiative of Cape Cod has found a way to protect a section of Eversource’s right of way off Bay Road from herbicide application, planting it […]
FORAGING
The Many Happy Returns of the Mushroom Hunters
Foragers keep old traditions and create new ones here
The Red Ones and the Brown Ones My friends Vida Rimkuviene and Daneta Kerikas from Boston finally took me with them on their annual mushroom hunt. I’ve never foraged mushrooms […]
ON THE LANDSCAPE
The King and Queen of the October Meadow
The reasons why goldenrod and aster make a perfect combination
When October rolls in and the sun is a low, luscious gold, the nights rich and cool and purple, two flowers bring us the colors of how October feels. Sunny […]
