Dear Chiang Rai and Natoe Students:
Hello from Utica!
First, we hope that your studies are going well.
Second, we will be sending you instructions for your Fall report, later.
Third, we would like to tell you a little about Summer in Utica. This is the best season for us, because our Spring is cool and our Winter is very cold.
The Summer has been beautiful in Utica and everyone is very happy. Some people say the Summer was too hot and others complain that it was too cool, but we think it has been perfect. During the day, temperatures are usually 26-29 C. and at night about 20 C. A good temperature to work in the garden or in the house. Here, we have precipitation (rain or snow) each month usually about 11 cm. We generally have about 5 sunny days and then 2-3 days of light rain. The countryside looks green and fresh, because we receive just the right amount of rain to keep it that way.
On June 19 - the Summer Solstice - we have 16 hours of daylight and 8 hours of darkness. Families often go for walks together in the evening, because it is light until about 9:30 p.m. We call the Solstice "The longest Day of the Year". Of course, we should remind you that in Winter, it is just the opposite, with 16 hours of darkness and 8 hours of daylight. In Thailand, we think it is much different.
Utica is a city of 60,000 people, located in a big river valley. The area is rural and there are many farms growing vegetables, apples and hay and there are also many dairy farms. There are several factories that freeze or can vegetables and other factories that turn the local milk into yogurt, ice cream and cheese.
Crops include lettuce and greens, green beans, squash, peppers, tomatoes and eggplant. These, along with strawberries and blueberries are the Summer crops. We also grow broccoli, cauliflower, pumpkins, beets, onions and potatoes, which are considered the Autumn crops. Along the roads, we often see large trucks filled with vegetables, going to the freezing plants. Hay is another important crop, since all animals must be fed in the Winter and kept in heated barns. Farmers try to grow their own hay and have a company come in to cut the hay, roll it into cylinders and put it in an unheated storage barn. If the farmers do not grow hay, they must buy it from someone else.
The State of New York has been trying to help the rural people to have a better life. They have set up cattle cooperatives in each area, so that people can raise some beef cattle and then bring them to the cooperative for a sale. They get a better price by selling many cows at the same time and people do not have to worry about finding a good buyer. They also take orders for baby cows and distribute them to the farmers. This has worked out quite well and many people are raising a few of the grass fed cattle. Another project is local processing facilities to make maple syrup. The State is encouraging farmers to collect the maple sap, bring it to the processing facility and let the facility boil it into maple syrup. It takes 20 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup. The facility is cost effective and can boil the sap quickly, by pouring the sap down hot metal "steps". By the time it gets to the bottom, it is maple syrup. Japan is the leading buyer of maple syrup and they will buy all that can be produced. They are paying 500 bt. for 1 cup of syrup in a small, pretty jar.
Summer begins at the end of May, with our Memorial Day holiday. On this day, people remember those who have died. We buy plants and go to the cemeteries where we clean and decorate the graves of our ancestors. Although the holiday is to honor those who died in wars, it has expanded to honor all people who have died. The morning starts with each town having a veterans parade, then we go to the cemetery and end the day with a picnic dinner. This is a working family holiday. It also signals the beginning of the Summer Season. The threat of frost is passed and we can think about buying plants to decorate our yards and prepare the soil for planting a garden.
Children finish the school year about 20 June and will be on vacation until 7 September.
4th of July is our Independence Day and is one of the most important holidays. Again, each town has a patriotic parade, there are big picnics with friends and family and at night a fireworks display. This day is very fun and the weather is usually warm and nice. People decorate their porches with flags and red, white and blue decorations. I have a striped tablecloth in flag colors, that I bring out each year. I buy red or blue paper plates, napkins and cups to make things festive. The meal is casual, with grilled meat and lots of side dishes. If people are invited to a party, they always bring a side dish to share. The hosts will grill hot dogs and hamburgers or or maybe chicken or beef. Guests bring green salad, marinated vegetables, sliced tomatoes, potato salad, pasta salad, baked beans and red jello. Dessert is usually watermelon