Beyond the Brink and Fighting Back with Memories of How Hard Our Forebears Had It

Food historian Brittney Belz who is also the chair of Union College’s Theater and Dance Department gives demonstrations around the Capital District teaching modern cooks recipes and kitchen habits from the 18th century. She sees this as a way to learn about colonial life by living it, but this is more than an educational exercise. As we worry these days about food safety and healthy eating and preventing food waste — there are lessons for us from our farming ancestors about food preservation and organic growing. You can hear her full talk on the podcast Beyond the Brink with Rosemary Armao, but here’s a segment to give you a glimpse into past kitchens.