Childhood on a Farm in Northern NY

I was raised on a farm. 

We had a large garden, a barn stuffed with cows, goats, chickens and cats.  A refrigerator and freezer filled with milk, cream, butter and meat from the cows, eggs and meat from the chickens.  Horses to ride, and pigs to have for breakfast. 

In the fields and woods that surrounded us were vast berry patches...blackberries and wild strawberries, blackcaps, blueberries and a cultivated patch of raspberries. Wild and domestic apple trees were carefully pruned by Dad in hopes of crisp apples for pies and cider. Deer ranged over our land.  A stream ran only feet from our house, with huge rainbow trout, and a constant supply of fresh water. There were numerous, vastly numerous springs all over our land, as well as the Salmon River that flowed, by turns lazily and swiftly, a boyhood playground of fishing, swimming and tubing. 

In our kitchen, partially for decoration, mostly for heat, and partly for cooking, we had an old fashioned wood cook stove in addition to our gas stove. A huge chest freezer filled with frozen meat and vegetables.  A pantry lined with canned vegetables and fruit.  A cellar with bins of apples and potatoes and carrots and onions, and a basement stocked with a winter’s supply of firewood.  

 My dad kept two beehives, providing enough honey for our family for the year. There were maple trees, where we collected sap to bring to the maple sugar house.  There we would boil it and make gallons and gallons of maple syrup, tubs of maple sugar, and have wonderful family times sitting and reading by the lantern light, which glowed cozily through the humid, sweet-smelling mist rising from the maple syrup pans. 

Add to all of that my dad and mom's unerring ability to "make do",  with what God provided, and you have a picture of the perfect childhood.  Not overburdened with money, but stuffed full of good times, and childhood security.

Thanks, Dad and Mom. 


Citation: David's memories.