New Farmer Narrative Project
The New Farmer Narrative Project is driven by
stories. There is a dominant understanding of the state of agriculture
as a vocation in decline, but there is a new story to be told. There
are new farms sprouting up all over the country, and this is especially
true in Columbia County. Through a set of interviews and surveys with
people who have started farms in the last ten years, this project
portrays new journeys into agriculture. Journeys Into Farming Exhibit
To date, this project has been primarily presented through the Journeys Into Farming exhibit. This traveling 17-panel exhibit profiles 20 new Columbia County farmers. Through photographs of the farmers and their land, and through storytelling in the farmers' own words, you can follow each of their journeys into farming. To see panels from this exhibit, scroll down and click on the "Profile" link under each new farm.
The exhibit also includes a general overview of new farms based on survey results, and a map of new farms in Columbia County. The map is continously being revised as we discover more new farms in the County - let us know if you know of new farms that were started within the last 10 years in Columbia County that we have not yet included.
The exhibit was on display at 9 different venues throughout the County this past spring and summer, and will now be used as an educational tool with local schools. If you'd like to inquire about the exhibit visiting a school or other venue, please email project coordinator Anna Duhon.
To download the full exhibit as one file, click HERE (Note: This file is 305 MB)
The exhibit features the following 14 new farms:
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Blue Star Farm
Sue DeckerLocation: Stuyvesant, NY Products: Vegetables, tree fruit, small fruits, herbs, value-added products, and cut flowers. First Year: 2010 Land Base: 14 acres Markets: Farmers’ markets (Hudson and Red Barn Roadside Market), restaurants, local retail outlets, and other wholesale accounts. Web: http://www.bluestarfarmny.com/ Blue Star Farm Profile |
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| Common
Hands Farm Dan McManus & Tess Parker Location: Hudson, NY
Products: Vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, and flowers First Year: 2011 Land Base: 3-4 acres Markets: Local farmers’ markets (Philmont, Chatham, Red Barn Roadside Market, 347 Warren St. in Hudson), CSA pickups at those markets and in NYC, and wholesale to Field Goods Web: http://commonhands.wordpress.com/ Common Hands Farm Profile |
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| Cool
Whisper Farm Matt and Lisa Schober Location: Hillsdale, NY
Products: Beef, pork, chicken First Year: 2001 Land Base: 148 acres Markets: On-farm "country store" and restaurants Cool Whisper Farm Profile |
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| Cowberry
Crossing Farm Cecile and Richard Harrison Location: Claverack, NY
Products: Organic & biodynamic vegetables, herbs, beef, pork, chicken, lamb, eggs, wool and starts First Year: 2002 Land Base: 340 acres Markets: Farmers' markets Web: http://www.cowberrycrossingfarm.com/ Cowberry Crossing Farm Profile |
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| Full
Field Farm Mike and Michele Kowalski Location: North Chatham, NY
Products: Beef, pork and chicken First Year: 2011 Land Base: 100 acres Markets: Local farmers' markets and CSA Web: http://fullfieldfarm.com/ Full Field Farm Profile |
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Hand Hollow Farm
Ellen Poggi and Lauren Bonn
Location: New Lebanon, NY
Products: Vegetables, maple syrup First Year: 2008 Land Base: 3 acres Markets: CSA with on-farm pickup; Lebanon Valley Farmers’ Market Web: http://handhollowfarm.wordpress.com/ Hand Hollow Farm Profile |
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Lineage Farm
Jon Ronsani
Location: Claverack, NY
Products: Vegetables First Year: 2011 Land Base: 5 acres Markets: CSA with on-farm pickup; Lebanon Valley Farmers’ Market Web: http://www.lineagefarmcsa.com/ Lineage Farm Profile |
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| New
Leaf Farm Mike Libsch Location: Hillsdale, NY
Products: Vegetables, plants and cut flowers First Year: 2011 Land Base: 1 1/2 acres Markets: Farmers’ market (Delmar), farm stand (Sundays at 9030 Route 22, Hillsdale), CSA and restaurants Web: http://newleaffarmny.blogspot.com/ New Leaf Farm Profile |
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| Oakwood
Farm Judith Madey Location: Craryville, NY
Products: Raw milk, beef and pork First Year: 2006 Land Base: 80 acres (40 in pasture, 40 in woodland) Markets: On-farm sale Oakwood Farm Profile |
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Pigasso Farm
Rob and Heather Kitchen
Location: Copake, NY
Products: Beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and eggs First Year: 2004 Land Base: 41 acres Markets: Farmers’ Markets (Hudson and the Red Barn Roadside Market), farm stand, restaurants, local retail outlets and wholesale Web: http://www.localharvest.org/pigasso-farms-M44564 Pigasso Farm Profile |
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| Sol
Flower Farm Andy Szymanowicz Location: Ancramdale, NY
Products: Vegetables and flowers First Year: 2007 Land Base: 10 acres Markets: Markets: Farmers’ market (Millbrook), CSA with on-farm pickup, farm stand (Herondale) and local restaurants Web: http://solflowerfarm.com/ Sol Flower Farm Profile |
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| Sparrowbush
Farm Ashley Loehr Location: Livingston, NY
Products: Vegetables, herbs, eggs, pork First Year: 2011 Land Base: 100 acres Markets: Winter CSA, Hudson Farmers’ Market and local retail outlets Web: http://sparrowbushfarm.com/ Sparrowbush Farm Profile |
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| Tousey
Winery Ben and Kimberly Peacock Location: Clermont, NY
Products: Wine First Year: 2009 Land Base: 10-15 acres Markets: Tasting room, restaurants, and farmers’ markets: Kingston and Rhinebeck in the summer, Kingston and Red Hook in the winter Web: http://www.touseywinery.com/ Tousey Winery Profile |
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