Sharing the Bounty
In conversation with Emily Eder, Farm Production Director at The Poughkeepsie Farm Project, on soil health, community farming, and eggplants.
On an unusually warm November morning, Emily Eder, the Farm Director Poughkeepsie Farm Project (PFP), points to a patch of cover crops (rye, clover, vetch) and explains that they’re grown not for harvest but for soil building. Once home to overgrown raspberry and blueberry bushes, the land is now a grid of bright green shoots extending into the horizon. This past season they relocated the perennial bushes and are in the process of rehabilitating the soil. The clover and vetch trap nitrogen, which fuels the soil and is a key ingredient for growing vegetables. Cover crops won’t die in the winter, which gives them a head start in the spring against the weeds.
The PFP, a nonprofit Community Supported Agrigulture (CSA) project that is funded through grants and supported by members who buy shares, creates a direct relationship between the land, the farmers, and the consumers. The farm is certified naturally grown, a peer-reviewed process that’s the same as being certified organic but less costly for the farm.
When Emily took over last year, she and her crew, with long-term sustainability in mind, decided to rest a small amount of land. This means fewer memberships for the year. But it also means that the farm can continue to serve its members for years to come.
Growing food in a way that doesn’t harm the earth and ensuring that the farm workers are paid a livable wage is more expensive than other types of farming. The cost of fresh produce grown this way is a barrier for many people, so the PFP strives to be accessible to all members of the community. They have over 50 members who receive free or low cost shares, which is about 15% of their membership. They offer sponsored shares, half cost shares, and sliding scale shares. Many CSAs aren’t able to offer these kinds of options.
Another part of the farm’s mission is to strengthen the connection between the people of Poughkeepsie and the farm through their education programs. The hope is to get people excited about vegetables by sharing food, recipes, and experiences on the farm. Emily’s favorite veggie – not an easy question for a farmer – would probably be eggplant. She likes to broil them and blend with garlic, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, and a little salt to make baba ganoush. Yum!
Drive though the Hudson Valley, and you’re bound to pass a farm or two. There are family farms that have been in operation for many years and gentleman farmers who keep a few cows. Many people who choose to live here are drawn to the agricultural setting and appreciate it for its bounty and beauty. The CSA model is a relatively new addition to the landscape. However, as real estate prices increase, so does the need to protect existing farms and make it possible for farmers who farm this land to live and work here. The PFP and other CSAs like it offer a sustainable path forward and a model for what’s possible in our region.
Sign up for a winter share here and if you wish to make a donation, you can do so here.