Cara, touring with Christina, Miles and Andrew
On Wednesday, Christina and I had the opportunity to visit a relatively new farm in the Capital District farm scene: Quincy Farm. This farm has a particular significance and sentimentality for me. You see, when the property (formerly Battleview Farm, previously owned for over 200 years by the Wright family) went on the market for sale in 2010, we went to see it as prospective buyers. I wanted to buy it. Badly. My other half, however, had some apprehensions and because both halves must be happy to make a happy family, we didn’t make a move on it. I still stalked the place, though, first because I loved everything about it and second because I hoped it’d sit on the market long enough for the price to drop a bit and change my husband’s mind. Early in the spring of this year, I drove by to see the real estate sign gone and an unfamiliar Subaru in the gravel driveway. I cried, all the way home (just to be fair, I occasionally get overly attached to real estate and new potential homes for Brown Betty Farm - we’re still actively looking). And then, not long after, a friend on Facebook posted a link to Quincy Farm’s page. I clicked through and found my way to the farm’s webpage and realized that it was the farm. I think I might have cried, again, and also experienced some pretty fierce jealousy. After I got over myself and began reading about Cara and Luke, I was thrilled.
Fresh, new rows of veggies. (This used to be an alfalfa field)
Cara and Luke are super energetic and excited to be farming on their own land. After working and learning for several years at other farms, it is quite clear that they are well equipped with the knowledge and tenacity to return the land to its full glory and grow some awesome veggies. The history of their land is rich, it’s agricultural roots dating back to 1777 when the land was originally purchased by the Wright family.
Wright Family headstones. Somewhere, tucked away in a corner of the property, is the old family cemetery.
The farm sits on the Hudson River, directly across from the Saratoga Battlefield. The landscape is breathtaking.
If you squint, you will see the Saratoga Battlefield in the distance.
Walking and talking {or listening while tag-teaming to wrangle three toddlers running wild through the gorgeous rows of vegetables} with Cara, we got a firsthand description of their struggles this first growing season (anyone remember Irene?) as well as their plans for the future. Currently, Quincy Farm sells at the Ballston Spa, Glens Falls and Schenectady Farmer’s Markets. There are also plans for a 25-family-CSA in 2012, which will likely be available for pickup in Ballston Spa.
Toddlers, wild and free.
One of the really awesome things about Quincy Farm is the way they were able to buy the farm. In order to purchase the property at its agricultural value (vs. market or development value), Cara and Luke got help from two great land conservation organizations, the Agricultural Stewardship Association and the Open Space Institute. This means that this spectacular property is now protected and will remain in farming for the indefinite future, which makes me very happy!
Quincy Farm swiss chard, not yet harvested. Yum!
Speaking of the Agricultural Stewardship Association (ASA), they are currently working on raising the remainder of funds to ensure the conservation of Quincy Farm. Check it out here.
If you didn’t know this already, ASA is a local organization that has helped to conserve many local farms, including Denison Farm. To Date 10,182 Acres Have Been Conserved by ASA, this number will climb once the Denison Farm project is completed this fall and Quincy Farm in the near future!
From ASA’s website:
The Agricultural Stewardship Association (ASA) is a community-supported land trust dedicated to protecting our local farmland from encroaching development. Working together with interested landowners and active supporters, our goal is to protect 20,000 acres by the end of 2015 and to ensure a future for agriculture in our counties.
If you live in or have visited Washington and Rensselaer counties in upstate New York, you know that generations of talented and hard working farmers have shaped our beautiful landscapes and provided the foundation upon which our economy and culture are built. If you feel passionately about the farms in our region–the beauty, fresh foods, recreation, clean air and water, and many other benefits they provide–please join us. The future of farming is in the hands of those who care.
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If you are looking for something to do this weekend, ASA is holding their 10th anniversary “Landscapes for Landsake”, an art exhibition to benefit land conservation. The opening Reception is this Saturday, October 8th from 3-6 pm and the gallery will be open on October 9 and 10 from 12-4pm. More details here. It looks like they have some pretty amazing artists featured for this anniversary show, and the drive to Coila (just outside Cambridge) will likely be a spectacular show of fall colors given the cool nights we’ve had this week!
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Editor’s Note: I’ve added my pictures in the FSC’s Flickr photostream if interested. -Christina
Wow, what a beautiful farm! Reminds me a little of our place. We have lots of houses/farms for sale out here, Liz, come have a look! Thanks for the great tour and best of luck to Luke and Cara.