The American experience is steeped in folklore.
We are a diverse people – a melting pot, if you will – that can trace its lineage back to archaic cultures with trinkets and reminders that resurface to this very day. While our lifelines and ethnicities have converged into a singular American story, glimpses of the past have a staying power that resonates deep inside every single one of us.
Part of that slice of Americana includes superstitions and old wise tales that while seem to be rooted in fallacy and fear have proven to be eerily accurate when stacked against fact and reason.
Humanity’s lasting relationship with nature
While modern conveniences and technology may suggest otherwise, humanity remains closely linked to these superstitions. Ever since man could rub two sticks together to give light to his darkened world, he has sought out to understand the natural world around him; to make sense of the unknown. Mother Nature has been more than willing to oblige this seemingly wanton curiosity and if we pause long enough, we can hear the message she is trying to bestow to us.
‘A Winter of Sorrows’
One of those superstitions or messages that has withstood the test of time is the legend of the Black Squirrel Winter, which is perhaps more ominously known as The Winter of Sorrows. This particular legend pertains to the mountains of North Carolina, but it does escape the whispering murmurs in other circles of conversation, at times flirting under the guise of a dire warning.
Depending on who you ask, the legend of the Black Squirrel Winter begin with Native American culture. It is no secret that Native Americans were much more attuned to their natural surroundings and were constantly searching for clues about how Mother Nature worked. Being a hunter/gatherer culture, they were understandably concerned with the winds of change and weather patterns. A stretch of treacherous weather would surely ruin a hunting excursion or a crop of freshly planted corn.
Bean counters
Winter could prove to be a death sentence for those tribes that didn’t properly prepare for the upcoming season, so they began to develop forecasting techniques that soon proved to be wildly accurate. For whatever reason, ancient tribes began to count the number of foggy mornings in August. What they soon discovered is that the number of foggy morning perfectly corresponded with the number of snows that occurred during the upcoming winter.
The native tribes soon shared this technique with American frontiersmen and pioneers soon perfected the system of fog counting that is still used today. As a way to keep track of the foggy mornings, our nation’s mountaineers would drop a bean into a jar and then count the beans at the end of the month to determine the number of forecasted snowy days. A large bean would denote larger fogs while smaller beans would represent smaller, wispier fogs.
Small potatoes or big beans?
Incredibly, our ancestors also discovered a direct correlation between the bean size and the depth of each snow. Larger beans, or fogs, typically suggested the number of deeper snows and the same was true for smaller fogs. In addition to the number of beans or fogs, Native Americans and frontiersmen soon discovered another dark harbinger of a perilous winter: the dreaded black squirrel.
The dreaded black squirrel
Without fail, scores of black squirrels would be sighted in late summer and early fall, almost in concert with the years with a higher bean tally. Taken altogether, a full mason jar of beans and black squirrel sightings would almost guarantee a snowy and bleak winter.
Winter is coming, so are great deals from Elephant Structures
So, what can you do to avoid the torment of a black squirrel winter? Besides shooting the winter warriors on sight? You need to consider your current level of protection. Is it up to the task of protecting your treasured belongings? Your car, ATV or boat deserve the same amount of protection as the valuables within your home.
Elephant Structures Carport can outlast any season
An Elephant Structures building offers unparalleled protection from heavy snow loads and fierce winter winds. A new metal carport from Elephant Structures is built for longevity. Our custom metal buildings are built according to customer specifications, so no two are alike. Each metal carport is designed to meet the unique storage needs of the customer. Whether you choose to self-install using a DIY metal carport kit or get free delivery and installation from us, at the end of the day you’ll have a carport you can count on. You can also customize every single inch of your new metal carport. Choose the frame size, walls and siding and even if you want to complete the enclosure as a garage.
Metal barns
Don’t forget about your livestock this winter either. Our metal barns are custom-built structures with the high degree of durability you’ve come to expect from Elephant Structures. Built with precision and expertise, our metal barns are quality solutions for your storage and agricultural needs. Horse barns, boat storage, and farm equipment storage are all common applications for our structures. Our metal barns may have many purposes, but they are all strong, versatile, and built with longevity in mind.
Financing
Don’t let the options and amenities of any of our metal buildings fool you. They are surprisingly affordable and can accommodate almost any budget. For more information on financing or for a direct quote, contact us today!
