• About
  • Speaking
  • Consulting
  • Amber Hinds

  • Journal
  • Press
  • Contact

Amber Hinds

Nantucket Island
/
October 10, 2010

Cranberry Festival

Yesterday was the Nantucket Cranberry Festival.  I hadn’t heard about it until Friday, when one of my friends asked if Nora and I wanted to go with her and her son.  I didn’t have to think twice: local cranberries, bog tours, and farm animals?  Yes, please.

So early yesterday afternoon, we snuggled two sleeping babes in two SnugRides in the back of her car

(That’s Mr. T, whom I’ll be watching starting Monday.  Isn’t he scrumptious?)

and we headed out to Milestone Bog, which was, as the sign says, established in 1857and is one of America’s oldest continually operated cranberry bogs.

It was a beautiful day; windy, but warm enough to not need a jacket and perfect for discovering something new.

I don’t know if I’m practically an expert, but I did learn a few new things on the self guided tour.  There are two bogs operated on Nantucket, the conservation one (where we were) and the Windswept Bog (which is the organic bog).  They total 213 acres and produce over 2 million pounds of cranberries a year.

That’s about 3% of Massachusetts’ cranberry production.  What really surprised me, though, was learning that Mass only produces 30% of the US’s cranberries.  Wisconsin is actually the biggest producer.  Wisconsin.  I guess I thought of Massachusetts as the big producer because of Ocean Spray, which is located not too far from us on the cape.  Interesting how advertising can create an image of something that is completely different from reality.  I had to laugh when I read that, because when I was a kid, we came from Iowa to vacation on the cape and one of the things we did was tour cranberry bogs — it would have been much closer for us to go to Wisconsin!

As we walked through the bog, I managed to get a picture of something I’ve wanted to write about.  If you look closely in this picture, you’ll see an animal standing in the background.  It’s actually a giant cut-out, and is one of the quirky things about Nantucket; as you drive down Milestone Road to ‘Sconset, there are a bunch of cut-outs of savanna animals (zebra, antelope, etc.) in the field on the left (very specific, I know, but if you’ve ever been here, you know where I mean).

We watched them finish up the harvest for a bit, then headed back towards the tents,
where there were dried cranberries for sale, and cranberry honey, cranberry jam and preserves, too.  There was a “guess how many cranberries” jar and a working cranberry sorting machine.

I guessed 3152, but I’m horrible at these things; what do you think?

We looked at farm animals, which Nora liked (although I may have loved them more…I really like farm animals), and watched a sheep shearing demonstration.Nora made me laugh, because she kept calling the sheep “doggies.”  She just really likes dogs!  It’s so cute…except when you’re trying to take a picture of her and she doesn’t want to look at the camera because there are dogs not too far away.

Picture or no picture, what a great way to spend a Saturday!  Besides the festival, I really enjoyed walking and talking with Mr. T and his mama.  He is so adorable and sweet, and she’s super nice.  Though I know it will be hard for her to go back to work, I can’t wait to start watching him this week.

TAGS:FriendsLife
3 Comments
Share
  • Laura Zurowski
    October 10, 2010

    Look like you had a great day! Have fun with Mr. T this week. (I was thinking of putting in some reference to The A Team but then I’d really be dating myself… 🙂

    Reply
  • Kayla
    October 10, 2010

    Aww, those babes sleepin in the backseat together is SO sweet!! And I love fall day trips, pumpkin farms, hay rides, farm animals… so much fun!

    I’m a new reader, it’s so nice to “meet” you! 🙂

    Reply
  • Sarah
    October 10, 2010

    we got to go to a cranberry bog in washington state once. it was growing season though, not picking time.

    Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Comment

Recipe Rating




Previous Post
What Nora Shouldn’t Read
Next Post
Banned Book Recommendations

Life Right Now

aucoeur

View

Feb 7

8 1
Open
I started a podcast with Chris and our business partner, Steve! We'll be releasing episodes every Monday on website accessibility and craft beverages. Check it out or subscribe at AccessibilityCraft.com.

#podcast #podcaster #accessibility #accessibilityforall #accessibilitymatters #accessible #a11y #WordPress #webdesign #webdevelopment #websitedesign #ux #usability

aucoeur

View

Jan 22

12 2
Open
It's that time again... Girl Scout cookies! And this year we have two selling. Help them meet their cookies sales goals by ordering online. 

If you live nearby, choose girl delivery and help get cookie boxes out of our garage... Otherwise we're going to be giving them Girl Scout  Cookies for birthday and Christmas presents all year.

Addie's link: https://tinyurl.com/2os3rmdy

Zara's link: https://tinyurl.com/2nev4fs3

aucoeur

View

Nov 30

15 2
Open
Bus stop selfie with Nora. This week she moved from her tiny charter school with only 18 eighth graders to the public middle school with over 200. And now she rides the bus.

The charter school wasn't challenging her enough, has a huge percentage of students who are disruptive in the classroom, and has been having trouble keeping teachers. Last year she loved it. But this year it was one thing after another, so right before Thanksgiving she and I went to go tour our neighborhood  middle school, and she immediately wanted to make the switch.

We've never had a kid in public school and I was nervous about how the transition would go from such a small school to a big one, but so far she's loving it and is glad she decided to move schools. It helps that she knows kids there already from her dance team. Hopefully she'll still be happy when she starts getting homework. Coming from a no homework school that may be a shock to us all.

aucoeur

View

Nov 16

7 0
Open
My three year old girl. 💕

aucoeur

View

Nov 1

11 0
Open
Halloween 2022. Two witches, a murderous cat, and a creepy Victorian doll. 

Zara's costume was my favorite this year - Nora did her makeup and she wore my flower girl dress from my mom and step-dad's wedding. She might have worn it better. 😂
  • Start Reading
  • Explore Topics
  • Get in Touch
  • Subscribe

COPYRIGHT © 2020 AMBER HINDS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Site Powered by Pix & Hue.