The New England Butt’ry Shelf Almanac | Vintage Book Review

The Old Farmer’s Almanac was right this year; predicting the snowfall down to the week. It is a very old publication and not many people my age still read the almanac, but I love this old New England tradition and it has been surprisingly accurate (they do use science for their weather predictions). I have been reading my local New England almanacs for the past several years. The Farmer’s Almanac shares more than just the weather by month and region, it has darling articles, recipes, facts about astrology, and tools that are essential to gardeners and farmers for the planting season. So when my friend Leah recommended the New England Butt’ry Shelf Almanac a few weeks ago, I had to look for a copy for myself.

Published in 1970, The New England Butt’ry Shelf Almanac was written by Mary Mason Campbell and illustrated by the famous Vermont artist Tasha Tudor. I am a fan of Tasha Tudor’s work so I was surprised I had not heard about this book earlier. The inside cover describes the book as “being a collation of observations on New England people, birds, flowers, herbs, weather, customs, cookery of yesterday and today.”

It is divided by the months and there is a flower and bird for each month with beautiful illustrations and poetry. The articles include recipes, short stories, local history, and chapters about New England customs and figures. January’s historic figure was Wilson Alwyn Bentley, the Vermont native who discovered that each snowflake was unique and documented thousands of snowflakes with his early microscopic photography.  I have decided to read the almanac month by month throughout the year as it was intended.

The snow has been falling in New England at last, coating Hill Top Cottage and the hills below in sheets of winter white. Animal tracks, like this deer prints, trail behind the cottage. Reading about this time of year in the Almanac brings an extra layer of joy and cozy to the season.

Just as I began taking pictures it started to drizzle a wintry mix.

Reading about the land I live in and the season I am in makes me feel more connected to the land, the present, the people, and the culture of New England. I often feel that New England has  a culture all it’s own; and it does. New England has a unique history and customs. There are foods and recipes, music and art, and a unique way of living and being. I feel that it is changing in many ways (as cultures typically do) but in more accelerated ways due to globalization. I adore this book for its snapshot of New England at this time period. Although I have not read the entire book and cannot give a complete review as I am reading each month as it comes, I love this book for it’s celebration of New England culture.

However, this book is not only for New Englanders. Anyone with a love for the natural world, country living folks, book lovers, cottagecore enthusiasts, Tasha Tudor fans, those who enjoy books by Gladys Taber, homesteaders, gardeners, and those in pursuit of simple living will enjoy this delightful book. It reminds me somewhat of Edith Holden’s Diary of a Country Lady.

Because vintage copies sell fast, I will link several copies for you here, here, here, here, here, and here. Abe Books is a wonderful resource for finding vintage books like the New England Butt’ry Shelf Almanac (and its sister book The New England Butt’ry Shelf Cookbook).

January’s bird of the month is the Black-Capped Chickadee. The Almanac shares some information about the bird (such as it’s nine year long lifespan) and this lovely poem by the famous New England poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Piped a tiny voice hard by,

Gay and polite, a cheerful cry-

Chic-chicadee! saucy note

Out of sound heart and merry throat

As if it said, “Good day, good sir!

Fine afternoon, old passenger!

Happy to meet you in these places

Where January brings few faces.”

 

I am relishing in the process of reading this book very slowly and intentionally through out the year. I am looking forward to sharing more glimpses of this book throughout the season. Do you plan of searching for a copy at your local library or favorite used book shop? I look forward to reading this book alongside you!