As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, we get even more excited for the produce coming from our organic farm, Katchkie Farm, in the Hudson Valley. Over the years, our culinary team has worked even more closely with Farmer Jon to get ready for the the growing season, and we’ve all–from our chefs to our guests–enjoyed the bounty. Last year during the growing season, about 30% of the produce we use in our kitchens came from our own organic farm. We also share our bounty through our CSA program. Learn more about our CSA and sign up at Katchkie Farm’s website.
A Note from Farmer Jon
Spring is a very exciting time here on the farm. It is a time when the sunlight starts noticeably coming back, when we get glimpses of the warmer weather ahead, and when the plans that were dreamed of back in the depths of winter can begin in earnest.
No matter how many times I have seen it, watching the first seedlings sprout out of the soil, making their connection with the sunlight, brings me great joy. In the beginning of March, the first onion seeds made their way into soil-filled trays in our greenhouse and within a week, those same seeds started their emergence from the soil. For me this is the first true sign that the growing season has begun. We are now, several weeks into our nursery starts and the greenhouse is slowly filling up with lovely shades of green and leaves of various shapes and sizes. As the weather begins to settle, these young plants will make their way out into the fields and eventually onto the plates of our beloved customers.
This winter—and now merging into the spring months—has been loaded with tractor repairs. Usually there are a few weeks in leading up to growing season that I can set aside to get all the general maintenance on our machines finished, but this year there were some more involved repairs. At one point our workhorse tractor barely resembled a tractor. It was split into two pieces; the wheels, seat, and fuel tank were removed; and the transmission was in a box on the workshop table! After many trips to our local tractor dealer, late nights, and the help from a long-time mechanic friend, it was all put back together and is now ready for our spring field work.
One of the most exciting aspects of the upcoming season is getting to implement what I have learned over the winter months. Pouring over books and webinars about how plants cycle different nutrients, which minerals are essential at different points in a plant’s life cycle, as well as how to build soil carbon while growing a vegetable crop were some of the topics I had focused on. Some of these principles can be put into practice and will dovetail nicely with what we are already doing at Katchkie Farm. Others will have to be tried in much smaller trials. From what I can garner, the results will be quite delicious!
Ready to sign up for our CSA? Click the link below!
By Great Performances
We’re delighted to introduce Jon Ronsani as our new farmer at Katchkie Farm, our 60-acre organic farm in Columbia County, NY. A New York native, Jon brings nearly 15 years of Hudson Valley farming experience to Katchkie, including the stewardship of his own 45-acre Lineage Farm from 2011 to 2017.
“Jon’s love of farming is palpable and his background in small scale produce-oriented farming is the perfect fit for Katchkie,” notes Liz Neumark, the founder and CEO of Great Performances, who bought the then unfarmed land in 2006 and has been “growing” a farm on it ever since. “His experience is also a great fit for The Sylvia Center, whose teaching garden on the farm he will oversee. We look forward to Jon further integrating the farm’s yield into Great Performances’ kitchens by working closely with the culinary team to tailor the farm’s production to their always evolving menus.”*
About taking over the helm of Katchkie Farm, Ronsani enthuses, “It’s very gratifying to be working with someone like Liz, who is so emotionally invested in farming, and with the people at Great Performances in general, who are so passionate about what they do.”
A graduate of Bard College, Jon studied music performance with the goal of being a musician. After graduating from college, Jon Ronsani volunteered for Hudson, NY’s Threshold Farm’s CSA program where he discovered that his lifelong love of food gave him a deep-seated connection to farming. When his fellow volunteers returned to school that autumn, he was offered a full-time farming job that provided him with a diverse journeyman’s education in the business of farming from mechanics and marketing to soil nutrition and dealing with customers.
He started a CSA at his Lineage Farm, which he folded into Liberty Farm’s business when he joined that operation in the interests of more stability for his growing family in 2017. He and his wife, Jen, who is his farming partner, are the parents of two young boys.
Putting The Farm to Sleep
By Bob Walker and Kristy King
AS THE GROWING SEASON COMES TO AN END AT KATCHKIE FARM, TRACTORS ARE PARKED IN THE SAME PLACE FOR DAYS.
Bare trees surround us, the last of our vegetables have been harvested, the cover crops are planted and equipment is cleaned. Not only will the temperature drop and the landscape change, but so will the tasks and thoughts. It’s a shift to a different lifestyle; dirt and diesel will be replaced with computers, spreadsheets, repair manuals and welding sparks.
Now the work moves indoors by reviewing crop records- what worked, what didn’t. Creating parts lists – what needs to be repaired or replaced, thoughts of what or how to improve systems like planting & harvesting methods or pest management, searching for new varieties, and attending workshops.
It’s also a time to take a walk without the purpose of making the TO DO list.
Winter is a farm’s healing season, when the influences of animal, plant and mineral combine in a balancing rhythm of expansion and contraction, soaking up earth energy and preparing to burst forth at the first hint of lengthening days.
By Sarah Prawl & Zach Reif
BREAKING NEWS: THE SENATE PASSES ITS VERSION OF THE FARM BILL!
WHAT IS THE FARM BILL?
The farm bill is an important legislative tool focused on agriculture and food policy and is passed every 4-5 years.
Historically, the first farm bill was passed in 1933, as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal”, as a way to help farmers during the Great Depression.
The most recent farm bill was passed in 2014, containing 12 titles, and will expire on September 30th, 2018.
WHAT IS THE FARM BILL PROCESS?
The process begins in the House Agriculture Committee, with subcommittees responsible for the content in the sections of the farm bill known as “titles”.
Once the House passes a version of the bill it is sent to the Senate Agriculture Committee. Once the Senate passes their version, both versions are sent to the Conference Committee. Once passed by the Conference Committee, the bill then goes back to the House and Senate floors in an effort to hash out any differences.
Finally, once the House and Senate have reached an agreement, the final version of the bill is sent to the President for his signature. Once it is signed, the bill becomes a law.
As of June 28, 2018, both the House and Senate have passed their versions of the farm bill.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR PROGRAMS AFFECTED IN THE FARM BILL?
SNAP (Formerly known as Food Stamps): The House Version of the bill looks to require all able-bodied adults without dependents (ages 18-59) to obtain a part-time job within one month of receiving SNAP benefits, or enroll in a job-training program for at least 20 hours a week. The Senate version of the bill was just passed without any major changes, marking a significant difference between the House and Senate versions.
Rural Development: The bill looks to increase funding for rural economic development, including the provision of internet service to rural areas and the creation of new jobs.
Crop Insurance: Currently, the government pays about 62% of farmers’ crop insurance premiums. The House version looks to reduce federal subsidies for these premiums, while the Senate version would renew subsidies for farmers and crop insurance companies.
Commodities: The House version maintains prices at the 2014 farm bill level. The Senate version would ultimately increase payments for corn and soybean producers.
To learn more, visit https://agriculture.house.gov/farmbill/