About Us

About Us

Our farm is in a region of New York known as the Mid-Hudson Valley, which used to be a key agricultural resource for New York City.   Our farming predecessors leveraged the region's natural  resources in a sustainable fashion to feed our own population and provide significant quantities of food for New York City.  

Because of its topology the Hudson Valley is ideally suited for growing a wide variety of crops at a modest scale.   Our farmland is naturally divided by rolling hills and winding creeks unlike the vast flat vistas found in the midwest.  Our topology is ideal for small scale farming but is is too irregular for industrial scale farming, so most industrial farming is done in other regions.  As a result many of the abandoned fields in the Hudson Valley  have better fertility and lower levels of toxic chemicals than farmland in the midwest.

Until the early 1900's crops were grown in a sustainable fashion here in the Hudson Valley for many years.  Agricultural activity provided a good standard of living for a significant number of the region's inhabitants and also brought money into the area by providing food to New York City.  

In many cases, the only evidence that remains from early Hudson Valley Farms are miles and miles of stone walls, built by farmers who for years worked to improve their land with nothing but  their own muscle and teams of mules or horses.  Stone walls remind us that our farming predecessors worked long hard hours for their livelihood. 

The introduction of industrial scale farming in the late 1800's  reduced the region's agricultural significance because many cash crops could be grown on large farms in the midwest more "efficiently" and shipped to metro markets using refrigeration & the country's new rail system.  Farmers of the mid-hudson valley were compelled to find new occupations, which the labor starved metro-region gladly provided.  Our region gradually lost its agricultural heritage and we became consumers of agricultural products from other regions.

Farms in the midwest grew fine crops for about two decades, but in the 1920's yields began to decline and loses due to pests increased.  

We now understand that the "efficiency" of industrial farming was achieved at the expense of the natural resources of the area.  This led to an agricultural crisis known as the "Dirty Thirties". For the first time the "nutritional security" of our nation was threatened and the US Government was "forced" to take action.    

Our government consulted with the nation's business and industrial leaders and resolved to address the food security issue by "improving industrial farming practices".  

Unfortunately, some of the "improved  agricultural practices" had unintended consequences that have negatively affected our environment and the general health of our population.

Fast forward to the present.  

• Many agree that sustainably raised local foods are better for our health and environment than foods from industrialized farming.  

• Many agree that including agriculture in our local economy benefits our communities.

  • Provides meaningful work for for local residents.

  • Provides quality food for consumers.

  • Encourages awareness of many health and environmental issues.

  • Help encourage a sense of community.

• We are worried that sustainably grown food is too expensive, but the continued success of local farms demonstrates consumers understand the value of local food and support local farms.  In fact health trends indicate that industrial food is contributing to escalating healthcare costs.  We believe it's cheaper to eat healthy in the long run than to "fix" our health after a lifetime of unhealthy eating. 

We've asked ourselves many times over the years ... Why aren't there more local farms ?  Finally instead of wondering "why not" we're actively supporting the local sustainable growing movement.  By choosing to support local farms you're also helping  :

• Local farms be successful in the mid-hudson valley.

• Sustainable farming that is environmentally friendly.

• Farms produce healthy food.

• Provide meaningful work for individuals eager to work outdoors.

• Spread awareness about the health benefits of :

  • Good food.

  • Pure water.

  • Clean Air.

  • Friendly engaged communities.