Centre Acadien, Université Sainte-Anne

Potato Planting - When our Acadian ancestors came to settle in Clare, they carried within them the memory of the farmlands of pre-Deportation Acadia. It was therefore quite natural for them to cultivate vegetable gardens near their homes. This practice continued until the 1950s and 1960s as shown in aerial photographs of Clare captured at that time.

Prior to the installation of large-scale grocery stores, Acadian families lived a self-sufficient lifestyle. The men built their own houses and livestock barns, while the women sewed the clothes. The whole family participated in the planting, upkeep and harvest of the family vegetable garden, which ensured a healthy diet all year round.

Potatoes were often at the top of the list of most consumed vegetables. Native to South America, this tuber keeps readily through the winter, lends itself to many types of dishes and is sometimes served as part of all three daily meals. Potatoes are the heart and soul of the Acadian dish “râpure” (also known as “rappie pie”) and “fricot”, its "soup" counterpart. These two dishes that have become synonymous with Clare's food identity. Râpure "fritters" and "fring-frangs" are very closely related to râpure and are made using grated potatoes that are then fried. According to local lore, our great grandmothers would make sweets from balls of mashed potatoes, vanilla and powdered sugar, rolled in melted chocolate.

The desire to eat a healthy diet is inspiring a present-day revival of vegetable gardening. Some farmers still participate in a secret contest to determine who will harvest the season’s first or largest potato.

Topic: Community Life

Date: 1974

Reference: CNÉ Collection Centre Acadien Dossier 1974-05-16

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