Life in Colrain: The Pioneer Valley & Franklin County
The Pioneer Valley is distinguished by the Connecticut River, the largest in New England, its many tributaries, lush valley farmland, its small hill towns and its artistic and cultural vibrancy. Fertile farmland borders the Connecticut River as it flows through Whately, Deerfield, and Sunderland to the south.
The "hilltowns" of Colrain, Shelburne, Charlemont and Heath to the northwest are known for their mountains, hills, streams, small rivers and woodlands. A growing number of small organic farms and their farm stands are part of the fabric of life as members of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA's). In fact, Franklin County ranks as the 85th county in the U.S. (out of 3,143) in direct sales of food to their communities.
The Valley is also known for its arts, and local music is particularly strong. In nearby Shelburne Falls, for instance, the coffee shop Mocha Maya offers a diverse weekly blend of jazz, rock, and folk. Just a few steps away are an elegant gift shop, 'Wandering Moon'; Nancy Dole's 'Books & Ephemera'; elegant leather design by Dick Muller; Café Martin, Gypsy Apple, West End Pub, and Ollie's Down Under restaurants; the Shelburne Falls Wine Merchant, and several art galleries, and, of course, McCusker's Market, the store that started the rebirth of the village.
The real commercial center of the upper valley is Greenfield, about 25 minutes from Katywil. Not only does the town offer the convenience of box stores like Home Depot, Staples, BJ's, and Big Y as well as brand names like Radio Shack and Subway, but also an enticing array of local stores and restaurants and Greenfield Community College, a world-class community college with lots of non-credit offerings.
Standouts are the People's Pint and Berkshire Brewery, our local brew-meisters, which serves mostly organic food in an eco-friendly environment; GreenFields Market on Main Street for organically grown vegetables and meat, as well as a varied deli menu; China Gourmet, a five-star Chinese restaurant; and Café Koko, an informal, wi-fi gathering place known for its soups, salads, and sandwiches. A wonderful new addition with an inventive menu and an intriguing wine list is Hope & Olive. Other Greenfield restaurants include Thai, Korean, Mexican, Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese, barbeque, and homestyle cooking. And for baking rivaling Mom's, try the Cookie Factory.
Just to the east of Greenfield is Turners Falls, which is fast becoming a local center for the arts and theater.
Three newspapers, each quite different, The Recorder of Greenfield, the West County News, and the Shelburne Falls Independent provide local news and event information.
Photo of The Pioneer Valley & Franklin County: Wikipedia