The only independent, nonprofit news organization solely dedicated to reporting on the Adirondack Park.
Melissa is a journalist with experience as a reporter and editor, combined with work for nonprofits. As the Explorer's digital editor, she serves as editor of Adirondack Almanack.(com) and helps manage the Explorer's website. When not online, she enjoys hiking, camping and other outdoors activities, and spending time with her husband, their twin daughters, and rescue animals -- two dogs and two cats. Sign up for Melissa’s newsletter
By Melissa Hart
Local farms hiring for 2020 season If you are interested in getting involved in farm work, two great local farms recently posted job announcements. In AuSable Forks, the historic Asgaard Farm & Dairy is recruiting a full-time farmer, with duties that include livestock management, fieldwork and participating in the daily milking rotation. The ideal candidate…
By Melissa Hart
Despite enrollment declines and state incentives to combine districts,school mergers are uncommon in the Adirondacks and rural New York..
By Melissa Hart
Wishing you a locavore New Year! We’ve taken a bit of a break for the holidays, to spend time with family, relax and recharge. There are plenty of stories in the works for 2020, so stay tuned and please feel free to contribute ideas of coverage you’d like to see. This time of year is…
By Melissa Hart
MAKE IT: A tip for using leftovers Happy Turkey (or vegetarian equivalent) Day! Here’s a tip for using up the leftovers, courtesy of the High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid: https://www.highpeaksresort.com/day-after-thanksgiving-pie
By Melissa Hart
After 10+ years, Keeseville vegetable farm is weighing its options Like many small business owners, farmers need to find that “sweet spot” of growing/producing enough to make a profit, on a scale that’s manageable. And as Ian Ater of Fledging Crow, a vegetable farm in Keeseville, is finding out, bigger doesn’t always mean better. Years…
By Melissa Hart
Featuring Rachel’s Raquette Lake Elixir Meet local food entrepreneur Rachel Pohl. Born and raised in Raquette Lake, NY, when she was 11, her parents Dean and Donna, decided they were going to build a dinner boat and go into the food service business. The ship’s hull came in two pieces and her dad, along with…
By Melissa Hart
Kristin Kimball to read from, sign new book at Grange event From the Whallonsburg Grange: The new book by Essex Farm’s Kristin Kimball is out!. Come join the community-wide celebration of Good Husbandry: Growing Food, Love and Family on Essex Farm, all of our farms and local food, and this small corner of the world.…
By Melissa Hart
Aims to match it in fundraising; applications for farm grants due Nov. 30 Looking ahead into 2020, the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) is setting some big goals to help local farms grow. The nonprofit, which has a mission to “catalyze sustainable economic development across the Adirondack North Country and enhance the quality of life…
By Melissa Hart
Wednesday, Nov.13, 2019, 3-5 PM Beef producers as well as the larger agricultural community are invited to a free farm tour at the East Adirondack Cattle Company, owned and operated by Greg Weber. Greg is an independent nutrition consultant, for both dairy and beef operations. He currently has about 60 Black Angus cattle. Greg will…
By Melissa Hart
Increasingly, a number of northern New York farms are giving equity crowdfunding a try, using a grassroots online platform called Kiva. With a tagline of “loans that change lives,” Kiva showcases projects from around the world, many of which are agriculture based.