The Farm

Hawthorne Valley Farm is a modern, diversified, biodynamic farm in upstate New York. Our farm spans 400 acres of woodlands and rolling hills, open fields and meadows, and flowing creeks and streams. We lease an additional 300 acres in the area. At the heart of the farm is the closed herd of 60 cows which, to a large degree, provides the pulse for and rhythm of the adjunct operations. The cows furnish the milk for our Creamery operation; prescribe, to some extent, the cover and feed crops grown to nourish them and the horses, pigs, and laying hens; and provide, along with the other farm animals, the basis of our compost, which is essential for building soil fertility to ensure a continuous, regenerative cycle.

The farm includes:

• A 60-cow dairy herd which supplies milk to the Creamery
• 10 acres of vegetables which support a 300-member CSA
• The 2-acre Corner Garden which provides produce for departments and programs across campus
• 20 pigs who eat the "waste" whey from the Creamery
• 40 chickens that provide eggs for the On-Farm Learning programs

The six full-time farmers and five to six apprentices work hard year-round to tend the plants and animals of the farm, in addition to monitoring the health of the whole farm organism. Please follow this link for a complete listing of our Farmers & Apprentices staff.

Farm Staff Highlight