As Thanksgiving approaches, all thoughts turn to menus that focus primarily on American traditions, taking culinary cues from our nation’s bounty. One of the holiday season’s starring ingredients is the cranberry. Cranberries grow in bogs across northern America. Did you know that, at one time, Suffolk County ranked third among the top cranberry producing areas of the United States?
There are at least five cranberry bogs located in the Walking Dunes in Napeague, where the sandy grounds and moisture offer the ideal growing conditions. The locale is situated between Amagansett and Montauk, on the north shore of the south fork of Long Island. The dunes are called Walking Dunes because the coastal winds shift the terrain from three to five feet annually, carving out a new wetland for the cranberry bog to occupy.
On Saturday, November 23, 2013, the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society will host its 14th annual free hike along the dunes, which includes an informative introduction to the local flora and ecosystem and the chance to pick cranberries from the most productive bog. With recent nighttime temperatures plummeting below freezing, the berries are ideal specimens for picking. Cranberries that are picked after the first frost provide a sweeter flavor to your cranberry sauces, compotes and baked goods. The event provides the perfect opportunity to fill up a bag of locally harvested crimson gems for the Thanksgiving cranberry sauce, as well as ample scenic photographic opportunities, including breathtaking panoramas of Goff Point and Gardiner’s Bay.
Led by Lee Dion, The 1.5 mile hike begins at 10:00am, starting at the end of Napeague Harbor Road off of Route 27. Cranberries grow in water, floating to the top for picking, so be sure to wear boots for wading into the bog. Bring a plastic bag to deposit your harvest into, and bring a camera to capture the scenic views and the romantic memory of harvesting local berries for the holiday table. Dion will also share his prized cranberry compote recipe. For further information, you can contact Dion at (631) 375-2339.
There are at least five cranberry bogs located in the Walking Dunes in Napeague, where the sandy grounds and moisture offer the ideal growing conditions. The locale is situated between Amagansett and Montauk, on the north shore of the south fork of Long Island. The dunes are called Walking Dunes because the coastal winds shift the terrain from three to five feet annually, carving out a new wetland for the cranberry bog to occupy.
On Saturday, November 23, 2013, the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society will host its 14th annual free hike along the dunes, which includes an informative introduction to the local flora and ecosystem and the chance to pick cranberries from the most productive bog. With recent nighttime temperatures plummeting below freezing, the berries are ideal specimens for picking. Cranberries that are picked after the first frost provide a sweeter flavor to your cranberry sauces, compotes and baked goods. The event provides the perfect opportunity to fill up a bag of locally harvested crimson gems for the Thanksgiving cranberry sauce, as well as ample scenic photographic opportunities, including breathtaking panoramas of Goff Point and Gardiner’s Bay.
Led by Lee Dion, The 1.5 mile hike begins at 10:00am, starting at the end of Napeague Harbor Road off of Route 27. Cranberries grow in water, floating to the top for picking, so be sure to wear boots for wading into the bog. Bring a plastic bag to deposit your harvest into, and bring a camera to capture the scenic views and the romantic memory of harvesting local berries for the holiday table. Dion will also share his prized cranberry compote recipe. For further information, you can contact Dion at (631) 375-2339.