At Home

Back to Basics

During this past, most unusual year, we found ourselves tied closer to home with more time on our hands. Looking to fill the idle hours, some Milfordites looked back in time for inspiration. By reviving pastimes that harkened back to a simpler time, before technology garnered more and more of our attention, we discovered the benefits of some good old-fashioned living.

NADYA SPETNITSKAYA

Loafing Around

Many may remember the heavenly aroma of grandma’s warm, homemade bread, slathered with butter or jam. Grannny made it seem simple, but today’s rookie bakers soon realized its challenges. Patience is a virtue when creating bread; kneading and checking for the dough to rise take time. As yeast became scarce at the beginning of the pandemic, alternatives were created. Homemade baking powder and sourdough starters were passed along to family, friends, and neighbors. The delicious rewards of their efforts have created new traditions, with ardent bakers sharing and discovering new recipes. As renowned chef James Beard once said. “Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts.”

TATA TOTO

And Sew it Begins

The sudden need for masks started many of us sewing. Patterns were made available online, and long dormant sewing machines were dusted off and put to work. Machines whirred and those new to the art learned Sewing 101 secrets like how to thread a needle and set a bobbin. Cheater eyeglasses were on standby—ready to be deployed—awaiting the dread of the inevitable snapped thread. Local fabric stores offered pickup service and were kept plenty busy. Sales of fabric, machines, patterns, and sundries increased…and continue to climb. The satisfaction of engaging in this time-honored skill has many of us hooked.

The Chicken and the Egg

In the early 1900s the average household kept a small flock of hens to produce eggs and poultry for families. Chickens are surprisingly easy to care for and inexpensive to maintain. Fresh eggs taste far better than those from a store and contain more nutrients. Chickens that spend time free ranging provide yards with chemical free bug control, plus they prefer to eat weeds rather than grass. Chicken manure is thought to be one of the best fertilizers

ZACHARIAH SMITH

for gardens—full of great nutrients for vegetables and flowers. Most breeds are friendly and have a great deal of personality. Children can pitch in and feel gratified by their efforts. You can even rent a coop! It’s no wonder suburban egg stands are popping up all over.

Reap What You Sow

Gardens are not uncommon, but last summer, and heading into this next season, more of us are beginning or expanding our gardens. Seeds have been started on windowsills, and soil is being prepared to host this year’s harvest. Whether a vast vegetable garden, a raised bed, or containers on your porch, more of us are getting into growing fresh provisions. Gardening knows no age—the young and the young at heart can grow fresh, healthy, and delicious foods. Kids can sow seeds, parents can weed, grandparents can water, and everyone harvests. There is nothing like enjoying a fresh-picked tomato, snapping green beans, or tossing a salad with mixed greens and cucumbers from your own garden. Squash recipes are as plentiful as the varieties there are to pick. The bounty is boundless and oh, so good.

These not-so-old yet new again pursuits are back in vogue (check out the Cottage Core trend) and, possibly, here to stay. Bringing people together as they discover new talents, share insights, and tips will have us making lemonade out of lemons…with a sprig of fresh mint! —Susan Carroll Dwyer

MARKUS SPISKE