August 29th, 2020

Letter from scott

With the cooler wet weather of the last few days, it seems that summer may be behind us.  I love the change of seasons, but I am never ready for them. I want one more blast of heat before I call it quits, before I have to pull out the wool socks, shoes and sweaters and put away the t-shirts and shorts. However, I’m almost always too late. I can’t make the summer return. 

This week’s pictures of Harvard are of the last two weeks, and as we look at them now, they seem nostalgic, reminiscent, but there is much to look forward to this fall: dinners on the General’s Patio starting Labor Day weekend; no more need for air conditioning; and of course the Katie and Kelsey Show (keep scrolling).  

The General Store is renewing its commitment this fall to work more closely with local farmers and institutions.  You will be seeing local produce on our menus, event collaborations with local organizations and a concerted effort to promote each other regionally for our common success.  Summer may be behind us, but the fall harvest has just begun. 

- Scott

a note from State of the burbs

I’m sure you’ve heard the tale of the small town girl wanting to explore the world, longing for bigger and better. That was me. I grew up down the street in Bolton, spent my summers at Tom Denney Nature Camp, and waitressed at Fruitlands. I’m extremely particular about apples and will always take the back roads home. 

When I graduated from Nashoba, my folks treated me to my first fancy camera from Harvard Camera Center, which was above The General Store. It was as if they secured a friend for me to accompany my itchy wanderlust ways. Move to Boston? Um, no way Mom, I want to travel the world. I want to travel to Bapagrama and Changsha. I want to go to Bedulu and Tabriquet. I wanted anything but where I was from. It was a hunt, a curiosity, the unsettled soul that carried me abroad for the better part of my twenties and thirties.

When I finally returned to live here again, it was a refuge for my children and me. I began to see this area through the eyes of a mother. Its absolute magic stunned me. I started State of the Burbs as a bit of a love letter to a place that healed, grounded, and gave me a second chance. It’s these beautiful communities with their glowing fields, storybook town centers, roads lined with stone walls, and forests beckoning for walking that welcomed me back with open arms. My hope is to try to capture in some way how lovely it is here and how inspiring all of our neighbors are. So often we look outward to seek what’s fresh and on trend, but really we’re amongst it. 

I’m now very cool with being a local, a townie, from here. I’ve finally got it, even if it took me all over the world to figure it out. I understand why my parents left the city in the late 60’s for here. It is the same reason new friends I meet are doing the same for their families. While so much has changed, so much has stayed the same.  

During these times we are in, there is so much we long for. For me, it’s that feeling when you walk into The General, the bells of the door and the creaking of the floor; the strung lights and the bustle; the groups of friends sitting, many chairs around a small table; my inner struggle to refrain from getting a scone, a temptation to which I always succumb; the dog pals that await their owners outside and the piles of backpacks in the entryway signaling the after school drill. It's coming home every time I enter. But we can still enjoy the slices of The General in a way that fills us up. Whether you're on the patio trying their new brunch or grabbing a coffee to park yourself on a lawn chair with a friend at a distance on the Common. There’s something very comforting about being under the watchful eye of that trusty three-story blue.  

So if you’ve just arrived, been here a while, returning for good or have never left, one thing I imagine is that we all have a spot in town that can remind us to pinch ourselves, that yes this incredible place is home. How lucky is that?  

Feel free to say hey!

Sarah from Harvard

IG: @stateoftheburbs

www.stateoftheburbs.com

mr. C’s end of summer gO-to recipe:

peach & Fennel salad

If you know Rob Cullinane, or “Mr. C” to many HES alumni, you know you want to try what he’s cooking. Before becoming a much-beloved educator at the Harvard Elementary School, current 5th grade teacher Mr. C was a bonafide Chef. If you’ve ever been lucky enough to have dinner at the Brown-Cullinane household then you know that he can whip up a feast so tasty it’ll knock your socks off. Here’s his go-to end of summer recipe that hits the spot every time.

Peach (or Nectarine) and Fennel Salad

5 Large Peaches or Nectarines —cut into 1/2 .in slices

3 Tbs Champagne vinegar or red wine vinegar

1 Fennel bulb —halved and sliced thin using a mandolin. Plus finely chopped fennel fronds

1 Tbs Lemon juice

Red pepper flakes

Olive oil to drizzle over salad

Toss peaches in a bowl with 2 tbs vinegar and a pinch of salt. Add fennel, lemon juice and remaining vinegar and toss. Add pinch of red pepper flakes and toss. Serve on platter with olive oil drizzle.

Hilary maglothin: produce queen

Hilary Maglothin moved to Harvard a few years ago from West Acton. She instantly fell in love with the pastoral landscape, the historic Common and, of course, the incredible local farm stands. Hilary has teamed up with HGS as our Farm Liaison! She is the brains behind our farm collaborations, bringing incredible local produce onto our Patio menu. Check out our recent interview:

HGS: How did you get into food and supporting local farming?

HM: I grew up with a large family farm and it was my happy place.  I was a sickly kid and spent all of my "not at school time" on the farm.  It is magic to me to watch animals,  food and flowers grow and change.  I got into local farming in Harvard kind of by accident.  I spent my first several months in town at the General because we didn't have a working kitchen.  One chat with Scott led to the next and it snowballed from there.  Each conversation was about the farms being what makes the fabric of our town so unique, beautiful and vibrant. I suppose it also helps that I have a mini-farm of my own.  We have 24 chickens, a freshly-planted orchard, and a gigantic heirloom vegetable garden.  I love farming. I am a firm believer that the heart of Harvard are the farms and farmers of Harvard.  They are what make Harvard the beautiful, quintessentially New England place it is.  I want to do everything in my power to keep Harvard what it is, to maintain the charm and beauty.

HGS: What farms in the area are you working with?

HM: This is a new thing for us, and I have only just started approaching farms to be involved with the exciting opportunity presented by the General Store’s outdoor patio.  We are in conversation with several farms in Harvard, and in towns nearby.  We have used items from Old Frog Pond Farm and Carlson Orchards in Harvard, and Cucurbit Farm in Acton.  Starting next weekend, we are getting fresh beef from Lilac Hedge Farm in Holden for dinner service.  There are other farms we are working with but have yet to source from, based on growing and availability.  Many more will be on this list in the next few weeks. I am working it pretty hard.

HGS: What's the response from the local farms about HGS's fresh food initiative on the patio?

HM: Thus far, every response has been awesome.  The farmers are passionate about what they do and they love seeing such wonderful things happen with their produce and meats.  While my list is small, but growing daily, there is much excitement in the air. What a wonderful way to celebrate what you spend so much time growing and caring for.  I find it lovely to share the names of our farmers and to have their produce featured in special dishes.  Everything about it makes me smile.

HGS: What is your favorite end of summer produce?

HM: Heirloom tomatoes—very specifically the heirloom tomato "Mr. Stripy."  What I bought because of the jaunty name turned out to be the yummiest tomato I have ever placed in my mouth.  They are especially amazing after lunch, when the sun has warmed them and their sugars are running.  They are big and beautiful, both inside and out.  When you cut into them, the insides are gold- and orange-striped with beautiful reds, mauves, and pinks.

HGS: Are you growing anything exciting at your house right now?

HM: I planted an orchard this spring and she should do amazing things next year.  In the orchard I have the most beautiful dark apples, which I fully recognize Harvard does not need more of.  They are called Arkansas Blacks.  They are triploids and thus require two other apples to pollinate, so we also planted Granny Smiths and Honeycrisps.  I cannot wait to have Arkansas Blacks next year.  We also have two types of pears, Bartletts and Moonglows.  I have four different types of plums to basically cover the full growing season.  I have Flavortop nectarines, Tilton nectarines, Figs, and Russian Pomegranates.  I hope to add a cold hardy kiwi too, which I only just learned about today whilst touring Old Frog Pond Farm.

LITTLE WOMEn TOUR at fruitlands

From our friends at Fruitlands:

"In 1843, ten-year-old Louisa May Alcott moved to Fruitlands with her family. Twenty-five years later, she wrote her now classic novel, Little Women, drawing from her life experiences, family, and childhood memories at Fruitlands and in Concord. Now, generations of readers have continued to read this story all over the world and many films and performances have been produced, reinterpreting and revisiting Little Women through the ages.

Join us outdoors at Fruitlands as we go Behind the Scenes of the newest film adaptation, directed by Greta Gerwig, that filmed here in the fall of 2018 and was released in theaters last Christmas. Explore the set in the Shaker Gallery which was used as Meg’s house in the film and learn about the Fruitlands Farmhouse where the Alcott family lived and 10-year-old Louisa May played, learned, wrote, and explored.

Due to Covid-19 and the small interiors of our historic buildings, the Shaker Gallery and Fruitlands Farmhouse remain closed. This tour will take place outdoors. Please note space is limited in this program and tours are likely to sell out in advance. Pre-registration required.”

cocktail kits with katie and kelsey!

We have three cocktail kits in our package store right now: Aperol Spritz, Gin and Tonic and the Moscow Mule! Check out HGS staff members Kelsey and Katie as they whip up a classic Moscow Mule - the perfect end-of-summer drink. Click here to order your kit!