Strawberry Shortcake Made With Local Berries
Gary Moore
July 24, 2025
Strawberry shortcake is my favorite dessert, especially when made with local berries and topped with mounds of whipped cream.
As I write this, the season is over. We have two baskets of berries in the refrigerator so shortcake will be savored this week. Once they are gone, I will have to wait eleven months to again feast on those big juicy strawberries.
We eat a lot of shortcake during the season, often three or more times a day. Linda and I frequently enjoy strawberry shortcake for breakfast and as a snack before going to bed.
Since I was quite young, I have had strawberry shortcake instead of cake for my birthday which is on June 20. My mother started the tradition more than 70 years ago and Linda has continued it since 1970.
Seldom is obtaining strawberries in time for my birthday a problem now but I remember how it was often difficult to find berries that had ripened by that date.
Now it seems the season starts mid-June and lasts close to a month. Thanks to Pierson’s Farm in Bradford and Four Corners in South Newbury, berries are plentiful and I have no problem obtaining all I want.
In the 50’s and early 60’s strawberries were the crop raised on Plateau Acres in Bradford. Many of my school friends picked berries there for a few cents a quart. There are no berries now as it is covered with houses.
In the last century Bradford was famous for strawberries. They were grown on farms in the valley and loaded in railcars to be shipped to the cities to the south who favored “Bradford Berries” over all others.
We are lucky in the twin state region that a lot of farms are growing strawberries so no matter where you live you can find those delicious delicacies.
One can generally get strawberries at the supermarket and order strawberry shortcake in restaurants around the U.S. but strawberry shortcake with berries shipped from as far as California just does not taste the same.
Vermont’s Moose Hunting Permits Drawn
As part of the regular lottery drawing on July 15, a “special priority drawing” was held for five permits to go to applicants who are Vermont resident veterans. The unsuccessful applicants from the veteran drawing were included in the larger regular drawing that followed. All applicants for both drawings who did not receive a permit were awarded a bonus point to improve their chances in future moose permit lotteries.
The department will issue 80 either-sex moose hunting permits and 100 antlerless moose hunting permits for a hunt limited to WMU E in the northeastern corner of the state. The science-based hunt is expected to result in a harvest of about 86 moose, or about 10 percent of the current moose population in WMU E.
“Moose are abundant in WMU E with significantly higher population density than in any other part of the state,” said Nick Fortin, Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s moose project leader. “The higher moose density supports high numbers of winter ticks which negatively impact moose health and survival.”
Winners in this year’s moose hunting lottery are posted in a searchable database on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s website.
If your name was not drawn, you can still bid in the auction for three moose hunting permits, which is open until August 6. Sealed bids must be received by Vermont Fish and Wildlife by 4:30 p.m. that day. Contact the department to receive a moose permit bid kit. Telephone 802-828-1190 or email cheri.waters@vermont.gov.
All proceeds from the auction support the Fish and Wildlife Department’s conservation education programs, including the Green Mountain Conservation Camps.
An important goal of the 2025 moose hunt is to improve the health of moose in WMU E by reducing the number of moose and thereby reducing the abundance and impact of winter ticks.
Don’t Wait, Sign Up For Hunter Ed Now
Vermont and New Hampshire are reminding those who will need a hunter education course to be able to hunt this fall to register now.
If you or someone you know would like to go hunting this fall but have never taken a hunter education course, this is the time to act. Vermont’s volunteer hunter education instructors are now holding a limited number of courses throughout the state.
A person must pass the basic hunter education course before they can purchase their first hunting license.
Most in-person courses are held in August and September, just before the fall hunting and trapping seasons begin.
Courses in basic hunter education, bowhunter education, trapper education and combination hunter-bowhunter education are listed on Fish and Wildlife’s website. The department expects more classes to be posted throughout August and September. If you don’t see a class in your area listed yet, continue watching the website or call the Hunter Education Program office for more information at 802-828-1193. The last classes of the year are generally held in early October.
Although the in-person courses are free of charge and available for anyone to take, the course material and written exams are generally at a 12-year-old reading and maturity level. Students in every class type are required to take an in-person written exam and display responsibility and maturity. Parents are encouraged to talk to the instructor before the class if there are any concerns about whether their child will pass the class.
Students may take a free online-only certification course if they are 18 years old and a resident of Vermont.
The courses will be listed as they become available on the Fish and Wildlife website, https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/hunt/hunter-education.
A Vermont hunter education card entitles you to hunt in all 50 states, as well as some international locations.
New Hampshire Fish and Game says, “Register today at https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/hunter-education. Select “Find a class,” to locate traditional in-person courses or pick “Start online course” to take the virtual Hunter Education course. To complete the class, participants will be required to attend a field day. A list of available field days will be provided upon completion of either type of course. Walk-ins are accepted at in-person trainings on a space-available basis, but seats are never guaranteed. Pre-registration is highly recommended.
If you are planning to take the online Hunter Education course, get started now. There are currently numerous spots available for the field days, which is required after completion of either course in order to receive certification. These spots will become more difficult to find as the hunting seasons get closer.
Fish and Game offers classes around the state. Participants must be at least 12 years old to achieve certification in basic Hunter Education. New Hampshire’s Hunter Education course provides firearms and archery certification. Children under 16 are permitted to hunt with a properly licensed adult hunter who is at least 18.\
For more information on Hunter Education in New Hampshire, visit
https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/hunter-education or call 603-271-3214.
Bits and Pieces
New Hampshire hunters harvested 4,845 turkeys this spring, an increase of 6 percent from last year’s total of 4,562 birds.
The 2025 harvest was comprised of 18 bearded hens, 1,616 jakes, and 3,211 toms.
Young hunters registered 422 birds during the special youth weekend that took place April 26 and 27.
Since 2019, hunters have been permitted to harvest two birds during the spring season in select Wildlife Management Units. Of the 3,953 successful hunters this spring, 892 hunters registered two birds.
***
The Town of Hanover has a deer problem. Too many deer mean it is difficult or nearly impossible to have shrubbery around houses or to have gardens without high fences.
The notice from Hanover says, “Now in its seventh year, this targeted hunting program is a vital part of Hanover’s ongoing effort to promote biodiversity and manage deer populations in a way that supports local ecosystems. By expanding hunting opportunities in designated areas, the program allows for effective, localized mitigation where it’s needed most.”
The town just announced that applications for the 2025 Deer Management Program are now open and that interested hunter can apply at https://www.hanovernh.org/civicalerts.aspx?AID=408.
***
Mark Breen reports in the Fairbanks Museum's Skywatch Almanac that on
July 22, 1811: “Rapidly rising rivers near Middletown, VT from 12 to 15 inches of rain swept away buildings and bridges and mills; two lives were lost.”
Parting Shots
I was sorry to learn that the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, along with cabins, and employee housing, was destroyed last week as a wildfire spread to the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon Lodge was the only lodging inside the park’s North Rim. It was perched right on the rim and the views of the canyon were spectacular.
Linda and I much prefer the far less crowded north rim to the often overcrowded and very commercial south rim. I hope the National Park service will rebuild a suitable facility, but under the current administration in Washington, that is uncertain.
***
Linda and I went to Canaan in the northeastern corner of Vermont Saturday for the "Fireman's Appreciation Day.”
Canaan Naturally Connected sponsored the event and invited the Beecher Falls, Pittsburg, Colebrook, North Stratford, and Errol fire departments and the 45th Parallel EMS and Errol Rescue.
Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore may be reached by e-mail at gwmoore1946@icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.
copyright 2025 Gary W. Moore
As I write this, the season is over. We have two baskets of berries in the refrigerator so shortcake will be savored this week. Once they are gone, I will have to wait eleven months to again feast on those big juicy strawberries.
We eat a lot of shortcake during the season, often three or more times a day. Linda and I frequently enjoy strawberry shortcake for breakfast and as a snack before going to bed.
Since I was quite young, I have had strawberry shortcake instead of cake for my birthday which is on June 20. My mother started the tradition more than 70 years ago and Linda has continued it since 1970.
Seldom is obtaining strawberries in time for my birthday a problem now but I remember how it was often difficult to find berries that had ripened by that date.
Now it seems the season starts mid-June and lasts close to a month. Thanks to Pierson’s Farm in Bradford and Four Corners in South Newbury, berries are plentiful and I have no problem obtaining all I want.
In the 50’s and early 60’s strawberries were the crop raised on Plateau Acres in Bradford. Many of my school friends picked berries there for a few cents a quart. There are no berries now as it is covered with houses.
In the last century Bradford was famous for strawberries. They were grown on farms in the valley and loaded in railcars to be shipped to the cities to the south who favored “Bradford Berries” over all others.
We are lucky in the twin state region that a lot of farms are growing strawberries so no matter where you live you can find those delicious delicacies.
One can generally get strawberries at the supermarket and order strawberry shortcake in restaurants around the U.S. but strawberry shortcake with berries shipped from as far as California just does not taste the same.
Vermont’s Moose Hunting Permits Drawn
As part of the regular lottery drawing on July 15, a “special priority drawing” was held for five permits to go to applicants who are Vermont resident veterans. The unsuccessful applicants from the veteran drawing were included in the larger regular drawing that followed. All applicants for both drawings who did not receive a permit were awarded a bonus point to improve their chances in future moose permit lotteries.
The department will issue 80 either-sex moose hunting permits and 100 antlerless moose hunting permits for a hunt limited to WMU E in the northeastern corner of the state. The science-based hunt is expected to result in a harvest of about 86 moose, or about 10 percent of the current moose population in WMU E.
“Moose are abundant in WMU E with significantly higher population density than in any other part of the state,” said Nick Fortin, Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s moose project leader. “The higher moose density supports high numbers of winter ticks which negatively impact moose health and survival.”
Winners in this year’s moose hunting lottery are posted in a searchable database on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s website.
If your name was not drawn, you can still bid in the auction for three moose hunting permits, which is open until August 6. Sealed bids must be received by Vermont Fish and Wildlife by 4:30 p.m. that day. Contact the department to receive a moose permit bid kit. Telephone 802-828-1190 or email cheri.waters@vermont.gov.
All proceeds from the auction support the Fish and Wildlife Department’s conservation education programs, including the Green Mountain Conservation Camps.
An important goal of the 2025 moose hunt is to improve the health of moose in WMU E by reducing the number of moose and thereby reducing the abundance and impact of winter ticks.
Don’t Wait, Sign Up For Hunter Ed Now
Vermont and New Hampshire are reminding those who will need a hunter education course to be able to hunt this fall to register now.
If you or someone you know would like to go hunting this fall but have never taken a hunter education course, this is the time to act. Vermont’s volunteer hunter education instructors are now holding a limited number of courses throughout the state.
A person must pass the basic hunter education course before they can purchase their first hunting license.
Most in-person courses are held in August and September, just before the fall hunting and trapping seasons begin.
Courses in basic hunter education, bowhunter education, trapper education and combination hunter-bowhunter education are listed on Fish and Wildlife’s website. The department expects more classes to be posted throughout August and September. If you don’t see a class in your area listed yet, continue watching the website or call the Hunter Education Program office for more information at 802-828-1193. The last classes of the year are generally held in early October.
Although the in-person courses are free of charge and available for anyone to take, the course material and written exams are generally at a 12-year-old reading and maturity level. Students in every class type are required to take an in-person written exam and display responsibility and maturity. Parents are encouraged to talk to the instructor before the class if there are any concerns about whether their child will pass the class.
Students may take a free online-only certification course if they are 18 years old and a resident of Vermont.
The courses will be listed as they become available on the Fish and Wildlife website, https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/hunt/hunter-education.
A Vermont hunter education card entitles you to hunt in all 50 states, as well as some international locations.
New Hampshire Fish and Game says, “Register today at https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/hunter-education. Select “Find a class,” to locate traditional in-person courses or pick “Start online course” to take the virtual Hunter Education course. To complete the class, participants will be required to attend a field day. A list of available field days will be provided upon completion of either type of course. Walk-ins are accepted at in-person trainings on a space-available basis, but seats are never guaranteed. Pre-registration is highly recommended.
If you are planning to take the online Hunter Education course, get started now. There are currently numerous spots available for the field days, which is required after completion of either course in order to receive certification. These spots will become more difficult to find as the hunting seasons get closer.
Fish and Game offers classes around the state. Participants must be at least 12 years old to achieve certification in basic Hunter Education. New Hampshire’s Hunter Education course provides firearms and archery certification. Children under 16 are permitted to hunt with a properly licensed adult hunter who is at least 18.\
For more information on Hunter Education in New Hampshire, visit
https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/hunter-education or call 603-271-3214.
Bits and Pieces
New Hampshire hunters harvested 4,845 turkeys this spring, an increase of 6 percent from last year’s total of 4,562 birds.
The 2025 harvest was comprised of 18 bearded hens, 1,616 jakes, and 3,211 toms.
Young hunters registered 422 birds during the special youth weekend that took place April 26 and 27.
Since 2019, hunters have been permitted to harvest two birds during the spring season in select Wildlife Management Units. Of the 3,953 successful hunters this spring, 892 hunters registered two birds.
***
The Town of Hanover has a deer problem. Too many deer mean it is difficult or nearly impossible to have shrubbery around houses or to have gardens without high fences.
The notice from Hanover says, “Now in its seventh year, this targeted hunting program is a vital part of Hanover’s ongoing effort to promote biodiversity and manage deer populations in a way that supports local ecosystems. By expanding hunting opportunities in designated areas, the program allows for effective, localized mitigation where it’s needed most.”
The town just announced that applications for the 2025 Deer Management Program are now open and that interested hunter can apply at https://www.hanovernh.org/civicalerts.aspx?AID=408.
***
Mark Breen reports in the Fairbanks Museum's Skywatch Almanac that on
July 22, 1811: “Rapidly rising rivers near Middletown, VT from 12 to 15 inches of rain swept away buildings and bridges and mills; two lives were lost.”
Parting Shots
I was sorry to learn that the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, along with cabins, and employee housing, was destroyed last week as a wildfire spread to the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon Lodge was the only lodging inside the park’s North Rim. It was perched right on the rim and the views of the canyon were spectacular.
Linda and I much prefer the far less crowded north rim to the often overcrowded and very commercial south rim. I hope the National Park service will rebuild a suitable facility, but under the current administration in Washington, that is uncertain.
***
Linda and I went to Canaan in the northeastern corner of Vermont Saturday for the "Fireman's Appreciation Day.”
Canaan Naturally Connected sponsored the event and invited the Beecher Falls, Pittsburg, Colebrook, North Stratford, and Errol fire departments and the 45th Parallel EMS and Errol Rescue.
Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore may be reached by e-mail at gwmoore1946@icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.
copyright 2025 Gary W. Moore
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