I didn’t think I’d have so much to say about a single Harvest Host and the detour it took us on, but this was the kind of stop that highlighted for me the joys of bus travel and living.
When we planned our route from Syracuse to the Adirondack region, we decided to break up the drive by spending the night at a Harvest Host midway. As we searched available spots, the best option we could find was Croghan’s Meat Market. Since we’re both vegetarians, this was a funny choice for us to detour to, but we figured that, at the very least, we could get a special treat for our decidedly omnivorous fur-babies.
As we approached our Harvest Host spot, we realized that we’d actually be staying at the farm of farmers who supply Croghan’s Meat Market downtown. We had a beautiful flat parking space behind a barn, overlooking a freshly mowed field of rolling hills that crossed a small stream and turned to forest. On an adjoining farm were some cows lazing about in the hills, really completing this idyllic pastoral picture. The owners, Charmaine and John, stopped by to make sure we were settled and to let us know that we were free to roam the field and to explore the stream and forest. We had a much needed lovely and restorative stop, where we pulled out our chairs and enjoyed dinner overlooking the views and admiring the sunset over the farm.
The next day, we had the loveliest chat with Charmaine, as the morning mists rolled over the spot on their farmland where we had parked. She entertained us with the stories of her family and their intertwining relationship with the farm and town. Charmaine and John had lived in the outskirts of the town, and while they enjoyed their time there, they felt like it was time to move into some more open space. Charmaine researched her old family farm, which had been sold by her grandparents years before. And as luck would have it, the current owners were looking to move into town! They were able to use this house swap as the basis of their purchase of her family’s new old farm.
Because Charmaine moved her horses onto her new old farm, she knew she needed to plant some apple trees for her horses to snack on. She scouted out the land and found a stretch that simply felt like it needed some apple trees. One day, the previous farmer visited the farm and asked Charmaine why she chose that placement in particular for her apple trees. She responded that it just felt like a good spot for apples. The farmer then informed her that the spot she chose had been the exact same spot as the orchard that Charmaine’s great-grandmother had tended!
Listening to Charmaine’s stories was a delight, not only were they interesting, but she was a hilarious and wonderful storyteller. She also gave us a rundown of Croghan, places to see and explore. One thing in particular caught Craig's attention - an old lumber mill in the downtown that still operated as a custom lumber maker. We took a stop there and Craig was like a kid in a candy shop, admiring the old tools and the amazing work of the woodworkers. One of the employees was even kind enough to take a break from his work and chat a bit with him about the tools and work they do in the shop. Craig was wowed at the fact that much of the pre-electricity machinery, running on belts and pulleys and powered by the water mill, was still there and in use. Although the water mill is no longer in commission, these working machines still operate the same way, with an electric motor simply replacing the water mill. Although some more modern tools are used these days, it was fascinating to see the way this woodworking shop could operate without the conveniences of electricity we’re so used to having at our command. The woodworking shop is still in operation today, working on repairing and replacing millwork and creating custom pieces for new construction or historical preservation.
On our way out of town, we made our stop at Croghan’s Meat Market to support our hosts. As vegetarians, we knew we’d end up buying some local cheese, but were delighted to hear that the market recently started serving a veggie offering! They had delicious marinated mushrooms with onions, which were quite tasty when we made them on our campfire. Apparently, a long-time customer had a new vegetarian girlfriend, and they began making the mushroom burgers so she would have something to enjoy when they visited the store! Good timing on our part, and a delicious dinner was purchased. And don’t fret - we still got our pups some jerky sticks!
This travel through Croghan began as a rest stop. A way to break up a longer journey and allow us an extra evening of relaxation. But what we also found was a charming town, a morning of delightful stories, a tour through woodworkers’ ingenuity, and some tasty and considerate mushroom patties.
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