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By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

 Autumn is in full swing, yet before I head out to rake leaves, I want to reflect on some of the best moments of the summer. It was a hot and humid season, but two events in mid-July cooled my mind and nourished my spirit despite scorching temps.On a...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Ryan Nestor comes from determined people: his grandfather emigrated by himself at age 11 from Greece, found work in restaurants, and became a citizen, homeowner, and family man. Like his grandfather, Nestor is passionate about gardening, and now...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Olivia and Wil Cather embody a wonderful aspect of Franklin County: the likelihood of stumbling upon tableaux where regular folks create mini-Edens. One can spot such scenes while driving, but traveling by foot or bicycle increases the chances of...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

The Pleasant Street Community Garden in Greenfield broke ground 25 years ago when local farmer Rich Pascale volunteered to till some land at the corner of School and Pleasant Streets, making it possible for locals to create a community garden on the...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

(Editor’s note: Last week’s column focused on the Colrain home of Jon Lagrèze and Judith Roberts; this week we learn about their garden.)Jonathan “Jon” Lagrèze built his first farm structure before losing any baby teeth. At age 5 – after “borrowing”...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Years ago, while visiting the Colrain home of Jon Lagrèze and Judith Roberts, two elderly sisters were astonished and amused by an apparatus installed above the stove, from which hung pots and pans. Lagrèze fashioned it from parts of an old conveyor...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

(This is the second story in a two-part series about Wheel-View Farm. Last week’s column focused on hundreds of years of history; this week, we look at more recent history and what’s currently happening.)Carolyn and John Wheeler live on a stunningly...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series about the history and modern-day workings of Wheel-View Farm in Shelburne.Lifelong Shelburne resident Carolyn Wheeler is of the fourth generation to live and actively farm on familial land, and...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

A Franklin Street neighborhood in Greenfield has become even more welcoming for passersby of many species, thanks to the efforts of Dawn Kennedy and Margo Townley, who’ve transformed their property into a bountiful haven on less than one-fifth of an...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Donna Riggs goes by the nickname Lucky, and the first-time homeowner feels fortunate indeed. Riggs, 63, heartily contributes to making her own luck, and did so this spring by participating in the replacement of her home’s entryway. As a result, the...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

When I was a kid, the barn in Saint-Germain-de-Grantham, Québec where my uncle milked 40 cows was a magical place. I spent hours with adorable kittens and ”lesfilles,” the placid gals whose milk fueled our family farm. Yet one thing made my blood run...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Sara and Carl Davis moved in 2019 to their 25-acre farm on Gould Road in Shelburne. They are the parents of five children and the proprietors of Oak Hollow Livestock, which is more than just a business; it’s a thriving homestead where humans live...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

The Greenfield Garden Club is not just for Greenfield residents: “We welcome people from Franklin County and beyond,” said Club President Laura Schlaikjer. Let’s take a look at two ways the group encourages gardening, and hopes to continue for years...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

The people who started the Greenfield Farmers Market — with iconic local surnames like Kretzinger, Clark and Nelson — might not have imagined a 50th season, nor that it would blossom into a thriving three-season spot in Greenfield’s center where...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series about the Greenfield Farmers Market, which is in its 50th year.On Saturday mornings — spring, summer and fall — the Greenfield Farmers Market in the town’s center bustles with open-air vendors,...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Steve McConley credits his wife, Doreen, for his interest in growing plants. Doreen brought solid gardening skills to their union, and Steve appreciates her encouragement. The McConleys have a garden at their Bernardston home, and now Steve shares...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

This week’s feature is my 100th Home & Garden column for the Recorder, and I’m pleased to celebrate by sharing the plans of two local women who are organizing a remarkable event for anyone interested in learning about herbal remedies and natural...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

The Van Natta family home on Parmenter Road was the second house built in Bernardston, and walking through their 1747 residence imparts a feeling of time travel, given centuries-old aspects as well as evidence of dozens of changes over many decades....

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

The benefits of gardening are widely known, but there’s one aspect readers may not have considered: gardening can offer a path to sobriety, especially when undertaken with friends. Some members of the Greenfield-based Recover Project are spending time...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

We celebrate today’s Spring Equinox with Colrain resident Jocelyn Demuth, who designs curricula to encourage Massachusetts children to improve environmental health.Through her “Five hundred Yard Field Trip” website, Demuth provides teachers with free...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

I’ve received many blessings from my mother’s native Canada, as well as from the U.S., my father’s place of origin. It would be impossible to tally the resources I’ve enjoyed: cultural, linguistic, geographical, educational, economic, medical, and...