Wellfleet Public Library

A Wellfleet Historical Society presentation.

Wellfleet's bounty of the sea is well known. From whales to oysters to mackerel to oysters once more, one need only look to the water to make a living - or even a fortune. The land was a different story. Glaciers did not bless Wellfleet with good soil, their outflow depositing coarse grained sand that only held a tenuous grasp on nutrients. What little loam developed over centuries then blew away after the trees were gone. But somehow people were able to develop small farms. Cranberries could flourish along the shore in diked areas. Asparagus was another local crop with some success. Trying to duplicate Eastham's turnip harvest was disappointing. It is said that the local Finnish population could grow anything anywhere. And there was natural bounty. There were blueberries and beach plums, giving rise to jelly stands of which one still exists. Share your stories. What do you remember of those who made their living without getting their feet wet. Do you remember the South Wellfleet Cranberry Cooperative? How about Rich's farm stand and Cora's Jelly Stand? Then there is the history we make today. What crops do you have success with? Did you use seeds from the library? Let's talk!

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