The last remaining Shaker community can be found in Maine and it goes by the name of Sabbathday Lake, and it's there that much of the community's traditions are still alive and thriving. While the Shakers may be a community that has dispersed over the centuries, that doesn't mean there aren't things that we can learn from their traditions, especially when it comes to food. They, like the Amish, had a way of transforming the simplest of ingredients into something truly special, as well as being fully-sustainable with all that grew in their gardens or lived on their land.
By contrast, though, the Shakers did accept some of the modern-day technologies that allowed the culinary world to evolve. Kitchens became a home base for sustainability and the dishes that came from this community were wholesome, nutritious, and full of flavor despite not using any outside additives. Descendants of the Quakers, a community from which the Shakers split apart, those who cooked in the kitchen were called 'kitchen sisters' and this is what can be learned from their frugal and clever ways.
Nothing Goes To Waste
One thing that the Shaker community believes in is the fact that nothing needs ever go to waste. Even something as simple as the water that's used to boil vegetables in can be used for things such as soups and stews and, with a little salt and herbs, can become a flavorful stock. Even herbs can have uses depending on their freshness whether it's in a cooked dish or as an ingredient for compound butter.
Vegetables cooked with the skin on can be especially nutritious and have been a common Shaker practice, having put them far beyond their years in terms of culinary knowledge. So not only are the dishes that they create delicious, but they're also healthy and full of nutrients that many similar dishes leave out.
Look No Further Than Your Own Backyard
The Shakers had wonderful green thumbs and the sustainability that came from their own gardens and farms was truly impressive. Early on, they realized that American soil was fertile enough to yield a whole slew of crops and, depending on the season, these crops could be used year-round to create seasonal dishes.
Nowadays, some people are still intimidated by the idea of starting their own garden or attempting to grow their own vegetables or herbs but it's not all that complicated. If the Shakers have shown us anything it's that sustainability is possible and all it takes is a little nurturing. This, combined with the lack of food waste due to their frugality with what would otherwise be considered a scrap, was part of the reason these communities were so successful.
Herbs Should Never Be Underestimated
Herbs can be used in practically anything and Shaker recipes, specifically, prove this fact. In an efficient move that served them well, Shakers would often have herb gardens that sat not far from their kitchen doors. That way, any extra flavor would not be far from them when it was needed and herbs were easily harvested as needed.
These humble yet effective gardens were a huge part in adding fresh, savory flavor to many dishes with common combinations consisting of carrots and dill, new potatoes and rosemary, or green beans and savory, accoridng to NPR. These herb gardens were known to grow anything and everything and, depending on the season, meals were always spruced up with one herb or another. If herbs couldn't be used or needed to be salvaged for winter, they would be added to an herb butter to be used at a later time.
Technology Isn't The Enemy Of Creation
In terms of early American communities, the Amish also had a wonderful, homegrown cuisine that has trascended centuries to remain part of today's culinary world. The Shakers did things differently though, when it came to technology. They accepted new inventions such as apple parers and dough kneading machines because it made quick work of what could otherwise take hours.
During this time, other chores could be attended to or more crops planted, offering a bit of repreive from the traditional way of doing things. Simple yet exhausting chores such as churning butter became easier and simpler and, as a result, the Shakers were also able to jar, can, and sell their scratch-made goods to the rest of the world. Culinary inventions such as these made life easier and also offered a means by which to aid in their survival.