This past spring, the US Department of Agriculture released results from the 2017 Farm Census, which is taken every five years. For the first time, the survey allowed farming families to list more than one “principal” farmer. Couples who own farms no longer must designate one person—usually a husband—as the principal farmer. As a result, women as a percent of farmers has risen by 26% nationwide and by 36% in New Jersey. Some of this increase may be real—more women involved in farming than in 2012. But most of it is surely due to the methodology change, which finally gives women credit for their work in agriculture. You can support and celebrate these innovative, hard working, resilient women by visiting their Central New Jersey farms, farm markets, farm stands or dining in farm-to-table restaurants or farm-to-fork events where their foods are sourced. Nina White, Farmer & Master Baker at Bobolink Dairy Farm & Bakehouse operates her multi-faceted regenerative farm along with her husband Jonathan. Nina heads the wood-fired bakery, while working with Jonathan to run their cheese, beef, and whey-fed pork production. In addition to making bread and pastries with heirloom grains in a wood-fired oven and selling all of their products at farmer’s markets in the NYC metro area, they offer 1-hour farm tours, on farm special events and concerts, hands-on bread-making, cheese-making and charcuterie classes. Check out the rest of the Central New Jersey women who tirelessly work to put food on our table. Download the NEW agritourism map over at DiscoverCentralNJ.com and start planning your farm escape! And if you’re car-less, many of these farms are just a quick cab ride away from the nearest bus or train stop via NJ Transit or Transbridge Bus (New Brunswick, Frenchtown, Somerville, Princeton) with service from NYC.
This past spring, the US Department of Agriculture released results from the 2017 Farm Census, which is taken every five years. For the first time, the survey allowed farming families to list more than one “principal” farmer. Couples who own farms no longer must designate one person—usually a husband—as the principal farmer. As a result, women as a percent of farmers has risen by 26% nationwide and by 36% in New Jersey. Some of this
Hardscrabble Cider is a micro farm-cidery founded in 2014 in North Salem, NY. The cidery, currently the only one in Westchester, is the brainchild of three nature-loving brothers with firm horticultural backgrounds – Alex, Kevin and Ben Covino of Brewster, NY. Farmers, scientists and businessmen all around, the brothers found inspiration in the words of local hero, Theodore Roosevelt, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”; and (Mother Nature willing) apples they have a plenty. Their family, who has a history in commercial tree farming, acquired a local apple orchard in early 2011, Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard in North Salem, NY. The brothers, having all recently graduated with Horticulture degrees from the University of Rhode Island, immediately took to the new operation and began revamping the farm, planting thousands of apple whips and consolidating for more growing space. The entire family, along with an extremely dedicated crew, works together tirelessly to run this orchard and expand its offerings each year. The hard cider operation is the newest expansion as of Summer 2015, and has launched Brothers Covino to the forefront of the craft cider scene here in New York. Hardscrabble Cider is the epitome of a hand-crafted, farm-to-bottle beverage. All stages of the process take place on the farm – from growing, picking and cleaning the apples, to pressing, fermenting and bottling the final product. The cider is pressed from a blend of all 10 apple varieties grown on site. Fermentation is meticulously monitored and filtering takes place several times to create the cleanest, freshest taste possible. In the end, the cider is hand-bottled and capped and then batch pasteurized to ensure stability. Their process makes for a handful of long days but also makes, as they like to say, “Cider worth drinking.” Learn more
Hardscrabble Cider is a micro farm-cidery founded in 2014 in North Salem, NY. The cidery, currently the only one in Westchester, is the brainchild of three nature-loving brothers with firm horticultural backgrounds – Alex, Kevin and Ben Covino of Brewster, NY. Farmers, scientists and businessmen all around, the brothers found inspiration in the words of local hero, Theodore Roosevelt, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”; and (Mother Nature willing) apples
Chris Harp is an organic beekeeper, “Bee Doctor”, beekeeping teacher and co-founder of HoneybeeLives. He has been tending his own hives in New Paltz, NY for twenty-six years. He has expanded his naturalist and biodynamic approach to tend approximately 200 colonies in locations in New York and Connecticut for both individuals and organizations. Harp is a consultant on hive health for troubled colonies and concerned beekeepers. Harp's naturalist and biodynamic methods, and unique hive designs, have developed from his years of working with, and listening to, Honeybees, as well as having studied with Gunther Hauk at the Pfeiffer Center. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Catskill Mountain Beekeepers’ Club, and is currently on the advisory board of the Ulster County Beekeepers Association. Harp was also a consultant for the CNG (Certified-Naturally-Grown) Apiary Standards for their Certification Program and the ensuing publication Handbook for Natural Beekeeping. VISIT: Chris Harp and Grai Rice teach intensive 2-day beekeeping workshops in the winter in the Hudson Valley and Brooklyn, and seasonal hands-on classes in the New Paltz apiary in spring and late summer. PUBLIC TRANSIT: Trailways Bus from NYC 2.5 hours to New Paltz + 6-minute Taxi.
Chris Harp is an organic beekeeper, “Bee Doctor”, beekeeping teacher and co-founder of HoneybeeLives. He has been tending his own hives in New Paltz, NY for twenty-six years. He has expanded his naturalist and biodynamic approach to tend approximately 200 colonies in locations in New York and Connecticut for both individuals and organizations. Harp is a consultant on hive health for troubled colonies and concerned beekeepers. Harp’s naturalist and biodynamic methods, and unique hive designs,
Peace and Carrots Farm is a 4-acre, 75-member, non-certified CSA in its fourth year. The farm has been a dairy operation for four generations and Peace and Carrots' parcel takes up only 3 of about 200 acres that composes the farm as a whole. The farm is located in the Hudson Valley, which is known for its natural beauty. Laura Nywening grew up on C.F. Johnson and Son Farm, making forts in the surrounding woods, riding her bike up and down the steep hills and showing cows each summer through 4-H at the Orange County Fair. Laura went to college at Westfield State University and earned her B.A. in History Education. She worked for the National Park Service on Assateague Island in Virginia before she volunteered for a year with Heifer Project International in Rutland, Massachusetts, where she realized her passion for educational farming. Before landing at Peace & Carrots, she worked for Keith’s Farm in Westtown, NY and Sandbrook Meadow Farm in Stockton, NJ to further her education in the art of growing organic vegetables. VISIT: Visit the Peace & Carrots website for upcoming events and updated information about living and working on the farm. PUBLIC TRANSIT: Coach USA bus to Chester, NY (1.5 hours) + Cab (5 minutes)
Peace and Carrots Farm is a 4-acre, 75-member, non-certified CSA in its fourth year. The farm has been a dairy operation for four generations and Peace and Carrots’ parcel takes up only 3 of about 200 acres that composes the farm as a whole. The farm is located in the Hudson Valley, which is known for its natural beauty. Laura Nywening grew up on C.F. Johnson and Son Farm, making forts in the surrounding woods,
Lowland Farm is named for the flat expanse of rich, grassy pastures and fields that slope into lofty hills skirted by the rambling Pochuck Creek. Farmer Will Brown aims to raise the farm’s animals responsibly, to graze its land in a sustainable fashion, and to price its grass-fed beef & pork reasonably. Lowland Farm’s cows spend their entire lives out of doors, grazing on open pastures in Amity, by the Black Dirt fields of Pine Island, NY. Cows are mixed breeds, including Angus, Hereford, and Devon. They graze on grass in the summer and in winter eat hay harvested from the bottomlands of the farm. Pigs are heritage breeds that live on feed and the fruits of their foraging. Not crowded into feedlots, they do not need, nor receive, antibiotics. They grow naturally, free of growth-promoting hormones. VISIT: Visit their farm store Saturdays year-round 10am-3pm. PUBLIC TRANSIT: Take NJ Bus Transit 2 hrs to Warwick, NY + Taxi 15 min.
Lowland Farm is named for the flat expanse of rich, grassy pastures and fields that slope into lofty hills skirted by the rambling Pochuck Creek. Farmer Will Brown aims to raise the farm’s animals responsibly, to graze its land in a sustainable fashion, and to price its grass-fed beef & pork reasonably. Lowland Farm’s cows spend their entire lives out of doors, grazing on open pastures in Amity, by the Black Dirt fields of Pine
Hanna Bail is proprietor of Threshold Farm, a small, diverse biodynamic farm, which is protected by the Columbia Land Conservancy. The farm specializes in tree fruit; vegetables; and grass-fed beef and pork, fed with strictly organic and soy free grain and the farm’s fruit and vegetables. Farm records dating from the 1700’s to present show that Threshold farm has never been treated with pesticides, herbicides or artificial fertilizers. The farm’s own cowherd fertilizes the fields and its nearly 100% orchard hygiene lends to the growth of organic/biodynamic peaches, pears and apples with exceptional flavor. The farm is off the grid, with a beautiful rammed earth room, where most of the materials have come from within a few hundred feet! VISIT: Call at least one day in advance to visit the farm. PUBLIC TRANSIT: AMTRAK to Hudson, NY (2 hours from NYC) + Cab (18 minutes).
Hanna Bail is proprietor of Threshold Farm, a small, diverse biodynamic farm, which is protected by the Columbia Land Conservancy. The farm specializes in tree fruit; vegetables; and grass-fed beef and pork, fed with strictly organic and soy free grain and the farm’s fruit and vegetables. Farm records dating from the 1700’s to present show that Threshold farm has never been treated with pesticides, herbicides or artificial fertilizers. The farm’s own cowherd fertilizes the fields
Elizabeth Ryan, producer of Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider, is a renowned fruit grower and cider maker. Elizabeth bought Breezy Hill Orchard in Dutchess County in 1984 and has since expanded to operate two more orchards. What started out as a roadside fruit stand selling fresh apples has evolved into the area’s most unique purveyor of local foods grown using sustainable farming practices. Stone Ridge Orchard is a 114-acre ecologically managed orchard in the Hudson Valley, which produces Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider. Ecologically grown means grown on family farms; by stewards of land, water and wildlife; using natural methods and minimal spray; and closing the distance from farm to table. The cidery is based at two beloved Hudson Valley farms, Breezy Hill Orchard and Stone Ridge Orchard, where over 100 varieties of apples are produced. They have just planted a dedicated hard cider orchard with a number of traditional cider apples. Elizabeth has a degree in Pomology from Cornell University and she has also studied cider making in Somerset and Hereford in England. She is one of the founding GrowNYC Greenmarket farmers, received the Cornucopia award from Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, and was a Smithsonian Fellow. VISIT: Stone Ridge Orchard is open 7 days a week 9am-6pm and in the fall is open for apple picking. Breezy Hill Orchard also hosts special events like their Fall Wassail Celebration. PUBLIC TRANSIT: Trailways Bus from NYC (2.5 hours) to New Paltz + Taxi (20 minutes).
Elizabeth Ryan, producer of Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider, is a renowned fruit grower and cider maker. Elizabeth bought Breezy Hill Orchard in Dutchess County in 1984 and has since expanded to operate two more orchards. What started out as a roadside fruit stand selling fresh apples has evolved into the area’s most unique purveyor of local foods grown using sustainable farming practices. Stone Ridge Orchard is a 114-acre ecologically managed orchard in the Hudson Valley, which
