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Backyard Bounty

Before European settlers arrived on Nantucket, the island was inhabited by the indigenous Wampanoag people. They numbered in the thousands and thrived not only due to their cultivation of corn and beans, but because of the richness of the environment around them. With the convenience of mass production and modern agriculture, it’s easy to forget about these prolific plants and wild foods that sustained humans for countless generations. There’s a bounty to be had in your back yard and beyond: the key is to know what you’re looking for. There are lots of locals who take full advantage of the forests and fields, sands and seas, and Nantucket’s Seth Engelbourg is one of them.

Repose

September is a time for reminiscence and reflection: time for all to take a collective exhale as we look back on the growing season. The pace has slowed and we turn our attention to gathering harvests and preparing the delicious comfort food of autumn.

Red, White, & Basil

Independence day feels a little different this year. The country is divided. It seems as though you’re either blue or red with no room for indecision. In the garden things are much different. My borage is still blue, and my tomatoes will be red, but there are colors between. My summer and winter squash are a brilliant yellow. The Cosmos and Calendula are flamingo pink and fire orange. Broccoli of violet and beans of scarlet. I have sunflowers that are the color of a Madaket sunset, and peas that are as green as an Irish summer. There is diversity, there is middle ground, there is understanding and support. My “three sisters” bed is exploding with companionship. No plant is the same, but they all work together for the greater good. If only a country was as easily run as a garden is to manage.

Tight Lines and Good Times

If there are plenty of fish in the sea, then Nantucket is the place to catch them. Whether you’re on the water or at its edge, wetting a line is a wonderful way to relax, contemplate, and, if you’re lucky, feed your family and friends. Our waters are home to a myriad of species like fluke, bluefish, black bass, bonito, but the draw for most anglers on this island is the striped bass.

Planting Your Pandemic Patch

As I sit in the back garden basking in the glory of a Kwanzan cherry tree, its prolific pink petals parachute gracefully to the ground. The wind whispers through the canopy and the mind begins to wonder. Will my pepper seedlings ever start to grow? Is it too late to sow more peas? What will Nantucket’s summer look like in this “new normal’’? Although these questions can paralyze any action, I think it’s important to do just that. Act…

Staff Picks for Stocking Gifts

Nantucket Boat Basin shop 33 straight Wharf508-228-5470shop.nantucketboatbasin.com We’ve listed this shop on Straight Wharf first because it had better be your first stop. Our staff pick here will sell out before you can say “Christmas Stroll.” Every year they design a new warm and cozy scarf made with a jacquard …

Seafood, Sips and Sunshine

by Jenny Benzie, Advanced Sommelier of Épernay Summer on Nantucket is more than just going to one of the many beautiful, soft sandy beaches of the island. It’s actually being on the water and feeling the energy that Mother Ocean has to offer. Whether you are surfing the waves at …

Alternatives for Tailgating

by Jenny Benzie, Advanced Sommelier of Épernay Who wants to deal with the sticky mess of mixing cocktails out of the boot of your car? Not interested in lugging an entire collection of bottles to your tailgate in order to make just one drink with so many different ingredients? No …

Leveling the Local Playing Field

We’ve all experienced the difficulty of finding reliable, locally owned taxi transportation on Nantucket. Doug Kruse, a seasonal island resident, was dining with friends in ‘Sconset one night during the summer of 2016. After a their meal, the group tried to find a taxi to get back home to their …