Well folks, this season of concert planning has left us completely wowed by the power of the Good Food Movement in New York State. We here at Farm Aid are so lucky to get the chance to connect with amazing farmers and leaders in the Saratoga Springs area, and we couldn’t help but give our concertgoers the same opportunities to get to know the farmer heroes of the region.
We are so excited to announce three different farm tours available to the general public on Friday, September 20th, the day preceding the Farm Aid 2013 concert in Saratoga Springs, NY.
For those traveling from around the country to attend Farm Aid 2013, or for people local to the area, get ready to learn from some of New York’s agricultural trailblazers by joining one of the stellar tours we’ve put together.
All tours cost $25 per person and will include lunch. Buses for the tours will depart at 9am sharp from Saratoga Spa State Park.
Register by September 1 at farmaid.org/events and check below for details about each of these fabulous tours. We hope to see you there!
Farmer Communities + Networks
Roxbury Farm CSA, Kinderhook, NY
Gather your friends and put on your muck boots, ’cause it’s a Crop Mob! Help Roxbury Farm CSA, a 400-acre biodynamic vegetable and livestock farm prepare for garlic planting. Tours led by farmers Jean-Paul Courtens and Jody Bollyut will precede a lively discussion led by local farmer mentors and apprentices. Conversation will focus on the communities that support our family farmers – from CSA members to farmer-to-farmer networks. The views of the Catskills aren’t so bad either.
Tour returns at 3pm
Achieving the Small Farm Dream
Pleasant Valley Farm, Argyle, NY
Join us for a tour of Pleasant Valley Farm and meet the leaders in season extension, winter storage, direct marketing, and much more! Situated on 180 acres of land in Argyle, NY, Paul and Sandy Arnold will share their inspiring story to show how small family farms can be prosperous and profitable. This tour will highlight the essential partnerships with NY organizations and agencies that helped Pleasant Valley Farm pursue the small farm dream.
Tour returns at 2pm
Creative Solutions for Family Dairy Farms
Willow Marsh Farm, Ballston Spa, NY
Dairy farmers have to get creative to stay in business. Join us at Willow Marsh Farm, where Chuck and Darlene Curtiss are using value-added dairy products to reach new customers and respond to local demand for their milk. Their 25-cow dairy now offers 40% of its fluid milk as bottled raw milk, cheeses, and yogurts, and also sells fresh products (including their own beef) from local vendors at their farm store. The Curtisses are building an on-farm creamery to process their own cheese and yogurt products. Get ready to taste some of the best farm-fresh dairy products around and engage in meaningful discussion around the challenges and opportunities facing family dairy farms in NY and across the country.
Tour returns at 1:30pm
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