Charles E. Belknap’s book, The Yesterdays of Grand Rapids, is full of rich, historical vignettes. He provides glimpses of what life was like in Grand Rapids during the mid-nineteenth century. As you’ll read in the story below, storing food for the winter was a significant task, and running out of food was a real concern. Neighbors helped neighbors get through the barren months. Charity came “out of the cellar.”
As I look at the snow today, I can honestly say that I have given very little thought to my need for food. Freaky Fast! ® delivery is only a few clicks away.
The modern food industry is a great boost to our productivity, but that has its own problems. While survival and food for winter are far from my mind, I am left totally dependent on the work of others to make it through each day. My cellar is empty, and the rhythm of seedtime and harvest is gone.
Tyler Dale Gaastra 