Hidden behind the skate park in Melissa L. Penfield Park on Boynton Avenue in Plattsburgh, N.Y., lies a small fenced-in area with a double gate, a fire hydrant, and a tunnel. It may not seem like much, but to a dog, it is a safe place to play and have fun without the constraints of a leash.
In Plattsburgh, dog owners must keep their pets on a leash no longer than 10 feet when in a public place or an unfenced area. However, 10 feet is not long enough for some breeds, especially considering that many breeds love to run. The solution? Dog parks. Read more.
Butterflies flutter by, as the dozens of different colored flowers stretch out as far as the eye can see, so vibrant and lively one could mistake this garden oasis for Willy Wonka’s factory. Known as the Green Mountain State, Vermont is really living up to their name with their Vermont Garden Park. Although Oompa Loompas won’t be found here, you will find 14 acres of pure beauty and bliss that serves not only as an escape for locals but also as an education tool for children in the area.
“The purpose of the Vermont Garden Park is to provide the South Burlington and the surrounding community with a beautiful, natural place to enjoy walks, to have a picnic or just relax.”
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Vendors and consumers alike fill Memorial Auditorium on a sunny Saturday morning. Tables of organic foods, rows of fresh produce, locally produced cheeses and syrups, and homemade crafts and jewelry are displayed throughout the room. A small stage is host to the performer of the day.
The Burlington Farmers’ Market held its first official market day in the summer of 1980, says current market manager Chris Wagner. “Before that, there had been a few sporadic gatherings, but it wasn’t anything big,” Wagner says. The desire of a group of nearby farmers and the growing popularity of Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) and farmers’ markets led to the creation of the Burlington Farmers’ Market. Read more.
Walk into any grocery store and there are lines of fresh crisp greens and juicy colorful fruits waiting to be purchased. But where were these fruits and vegetables before they reached the hands of a shopper? How many trucks, boxes, and other hands have they touched? People in the North Country who grow their own food are finding that they never have to worry about these questions.
“When you look at the market, you have to realize that the food came from somewhere else,” says Matt Pomerantz, a Plattsburgh resident originally from the Hudson Valley area. “People like to see where their food comes from. They like to see it grow.” Read more.
