Local Bounty Archives - The Gloversville Leader Herald

28 Apr

Local Bounty: Artist keeps ideas percolating through coffee at Upstate Coffee in Gloversville (with 8 photos)

LH Staff0 CommentsGloversville, Local NewsLocal Bounty

By Joanne E. McFadden/The Leader Herald GLOVERSVILLE - Kevin Chamberlain, who earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in ceramics from the University of Iowa, has found a new mode of artistic expression —specialty coffee. He launched Upstate Coffee in Gloversville, roasting coffee beans as a part-time job for a couple of years after moving back to the Capital Region. Now he’s in the coffee business full time, bringing his artistry to the arena of gourmet coffee. “Being an artist, Upstate Coffee is kind of like my sculpture in a way,” Chamberlain said. “I’m constantly sculpting new things and being…

28 Apr

Local Bounty: New crops, food products, cidery have helped Rogers Family Orchard in Johnstown keep pace (with 6 photos)

LH Staff0 CommentsJohnstown, Local NewsLocal Bounty

By Joanne E. McFadden/The Leader Herald JOHNSTOWN - Todd Rogers was just 10 years old when his father, Don, purchased what would become the Rogers Family Orchard in 1970. Todd started working the farm and hasn’t stopped. His two brothers and a sister went off to college, but he wasn’t interested. He preferred farming. Rogers learned from his father and took some classes at Cornell University. He also learned from some of the vendors from whom he buys supplies. “Between those three things, we are as good as we can get,” he said. “If you want to learn, there are…

28 Apr

Local Bounty: Entrepreneur hoping Mayfield Higher Ground distillery can grow yet remain ‘something I enjoy’ (with 6 photos)

LH Staff0 CommentsFulton County, Local NewsLocal Bounty

By Tyler A. McNeil/The Leader-Herald MAYFIELD - Dave Webber drove from Northampton to fix up an empty house in Guilderland last year. It was his primary home, but he wasn’t living there. His life is now firmly planted in the southern Adirondacks. So are his spirits. “I’m trying to grow [Higher Ground Distilling Co.] into something that would keep the enjoyment in my craft and not get myself stressed out to the point where I start hating what I’m doing,” Webber said. It’s a small Mayfield-based operation. One employee is on the books; no positions are open. Webber, who runs…

28 Apr

Local Bounty: Family still learning together to grow at Leaning Birch Farm in Broadalbin

LH Staff0 CommentsFulton County, Local NewsLocal Bounty

BROADALBIN - At Leaning Birch Farm, seedlings sit on LED-lit shelves; there are germinator trays and propagation house benches. The scene is flush with the tiny green beginnings of produce. “This is where the magic starts,” said Daniel Fera, owner of the farm. The setup is based out of the home of Daniel and his wife, Rose, on County Highway 107 near Honeywell Corners. Most batches are transferred to the backyard garden during warm months or one of three year-round high tunnels. Working with his son, Nic, in the field, the two rely on a mix of sustainable old- and…

28 Apr

Local Bounty: Stump City Brewing outside Gloversville weathers pandemic storm, eyes best year yet (with 9 photos)

LH Staff0 CommentsGloversville, Local NewsLocal Bounty

By Karen Bjornland/The Leader Herald GLOVERSVILLE - When the weather turns warm, there’s nothing like gathering a few friends in the backyard and kicking back with a cold beer. On a country road in Gloversville, Stump City Brewing has that atmosphere, with picnic tables under tall pines, a big white tent with a stage for live music, a food truck and burgers sizzling on the grill. A few feet away, in a building that’s not unlike an Adirondack camp, nine taps pump out craft brews, including Cayadutta Cream Ale, High Hop IPA and Stump City Red Ale. From the 10th…