Rural Intelligence (Page 536)

Arts

Chef Michael Ballon: 25 Years Of A Chef's Life In The Berkshires

By Lisa Green When Chef Michael Ballon, a regional pioneer of the farm-to-table movement, first opened the Castle Street Café in Great Barrington 25 years ago, he had to import goat cheese from California. But he soon learned that excellent versions of it were being produced in our

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Real Estate

Green Your Way

Built in 2002, this Sharon house was completely renovated in 2012. Newly updated were the kitchen, floor finishes, two bathrooms, electrical wiring, lighting fixtures and upgraded ductwork. There are three bedrooms, beautiful hardwood floors and well-insulated large windows. The passive solar nature of the house lends itself to excellent

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Real Estate

Solar Style

The style of this home looks classic country but has a modern heart with energy-efficient appliances and mechanical systems, solar power and high-velocity air conditioning. Sited on 11 acres in Kinderhook, the house offers a professional kitchen, open living room/dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows, mudroom,

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Real Estate

Total Green Upgrade

A newly renovated, energy-efficient property in Cornwall has a central dehumidification system, generator, upgraded electrical and buried power lines. The easy-to-maintain house has living room, dining area with French doors that lead to the new stone terrace, kitchen with pantry, finished media room/library on lower-level,

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Real Estate

Shaker Sustainable

Energefficient green materials, passive solar sighting, and reclaimed wood are housed in a classic Shaker-inspired Saltbox located in Spencertown. This unique green property is actually two Saltboxes joined in perfect symmetry, sited atop a picture-perfect 15 acres. The timeless interior has built-in cabinets and drawers, maple-cut

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Style

Garden: Fall Is Not Just A Tree Thing

The following is a regular column that addresses basic issues facing the ever-inquisitive back- and front-yard toiler, proffered by someone who knows best; one of the fertile master gardeners from the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, Brian Cruey. Fothergilla You don’t need me to tell you that

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Community

The Rural We: Andrea Pyros

Writer Andrea Pyros grew up a NYC girl, but fell in love with Rhinebeck during her college days at Vassar and finally moved here in 2004. Since then, she’s worked as a freelance writer for a variety of publications (including Rural Intelligence). Now, with inspiration from professors, friends and

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Community

Groundswell at Olana: A Site-Specific Artistic Revelation

By Jamie Larson For just a single afternoon, Saturday, September 13, the unparalleled viewshed at the Olana State Historic Site will serve as both muse and canvas for the site-specific sound and transmission focused artwork that is Groundswell. It's the second installment of the unusual yet wonderfully

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Community

My Turn As a Tourist: A Day With Behold! New Lebanon

By Lisa Green Behold! New Lebanon is a living museum of contemporary rural American life. There are no ladies in bonnets spinning wool a la Sturbridge Village. These people are the real deal, willing to open their lives to share their skills and experience of rural living as a step

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Community

Behold! New Lebanon Is A Living Museum Of Rural Life

By Lisa Green We’re quite fond of our towns, villages and hamlets in the Rural Intelligence region. But let’s face it, some towns beg you to jump out of the car and explore their Main Street, while others seem more like drive-through towns. The rural New Lebanon,

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Food

Recipe: Raspberry Sour Cream Tart

This week's recipe is from Berkshire-based duo The Butcher & The Baker. The Butcher is Jake, a nose-to-tail butcher/artist, who loves to cook and grew up in the woody hills of Western Massachusetts where his passion for local, fresh food was first instilled in

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Parties

Berkshire International Film Festival's 10th Season Takes Flight

Rachel Louchen reports from Great Barrington. The Berkshire International Film Festival can really throw a party, so to celebrate its tenth season they threw the first-ever gala, which, like all BIFF events, was held in dramatic fashion. On Friday, August 29, the usual buzz of small airplanes at the

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