The Salt Book: Lobstering, Sea Moss Pudding, Stone Walls, Rum Running, Maple Syrup, Snowshoes, and Other Yankee Doings

by Pamela Wood

Covering lobsters, maple syrup, stone walls, town meetings, snowshoes, fiddlehead ferns, and more, this collection of facts, lore, and interviews illuminates the traditional crafts and culture of New England

Genres: Nonfiction, History

430 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Michael Rehberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Foxfire on the Maine coast. Love it. A great, heavy book to drop into and out of when the spirit moves. The chapters are many vignettes, stories, and how-tos for making and doing. Folkways to self sufficiency and simplicity.

[Keith Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything you need to know about living off the land in Maine, together with stories about how life used to be.

[Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

"SALTY SEA DOGS AND HANDY LAND LUBBERS"

This hefty Foxfire volume provides in-depth narratives about life in 20th century New England, as well as detailed instructions on how to fashion historic products and articles of daily use. Teams of Maine students spent countless quality hours interviewing (then transcribing) senior citizens—recognizing them as a living trust preserving traditional Yankee activities and values. Accompanied by student photographs and excellent sketches and diagrams, these pages recapture dying arts and cherished traditions, faithfully chronicling a vanishing past for future generations to understand and appreciate.

Divided into two parts: the Sea, and The Land, this thick book covers a wide range of New England skills and activities. Now, most readers might not care to tackle it cover to cover, preferring instead to choose articles of special interest. Some topics include: Rum running, lobstering (shrimping, trawling, dragging) and fishing,; sea moss pudding, life in lighthouses, stone walls, barn construction, snowshoes, flintlock rifles, maple syruping, bee hive triangulation—it’s ALL IN THERE! There are sure to be several articles of interest to every reader. A wonderful resource book, which preserves treasured New England traditions!

(September 27, 2010. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very slow-paced, but I enjoyed the collection of articles for the interviews with lighthouse families and fishermen & their families. I don't hear this plainspoken voice very often. The very slowness and paucity became interesting.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this on vacation in Maine, loved it! An inspiring group of stories, and a fantastic treasure trove of information that should never be lost.

[Kensington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the fact that they say you can make decent maple syrup in Maine (everyone knows the only good maple syrup comes from VT), still a great book