There is no discussion. Farming in the Adirondacks is hard work. Adam Federman from the Adirondack Explorer writes, “one hears more about alpine vegetation than vegetables, more about days of snowfall than days of sunshine… the park is famous for its short growing season,” a whopping 65-100 days, and that is if you are lucky enough to find fertile soil. But while the harsh climate and lack of sunshine drove many famers away from the park, recently there has been a farming revolution on Adirondack land. New farms have begun rolling into the hills bringing with them a mindset that is altering the way [people] eat and even the way [people] live” (Federman).
This explosion of farming in the Adirondacks hasn’t gone unnoticed by media sources. One of the first to feature new farming was Gourmet magazine in 2009, which ran a feature story on Adirondack eating. They described the phenomenon in the Adirondacks as an opportunity for young farmers, while also “giving Adirondack farming and food- which once looked bleak- a glorious second chance” (Gourmet). An exhibit was also launched in the Adirondack museum about food history and park eating. The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball, is a book about falling in love with food and the Adirondacks as she recounts how she and her husband met and started the now famous Essex Farm. This April, North Country Public Radio (NCPR) reported a story on the new farmers movement. It was announced that the National Young Farmers Coalition will be holding its first Adirondack chapter on Saturday April 2nd. The goal? To help new farming families establish connections with successful farms in the Adirondacks and also have an opportunity to share ideas and wisdom.
Despite the growing coverage and interest in new farming methods and marking, the farms in the park aren’t producing that much food. However, the farmer to consumer line through CSAs has grown by 20 percent. If this number continues to grow, the park could become self-sufficient. Mark Kimball estimates that to support one person’s food per year you need half an acre. To achieve self-sufficiency, the park would need to have seventy thousand acres of farmed land to support the park’s resident population. “We need to come up with a way to get more farmers up here” he said in his interview with Adam Federman writer for the Adirondack Explorer. Luckily, new farmers continue to move to the Adirondacks in pursuit of their dream to live with the land. Maybe the Adirondack has a bright future, one with wholesome and delicious food.
One of my friends at Hamilton spent her junior year of high school at "farm school" in Vermont. It was similar to a semester/year abroad program, like the Adirondack Program we host. Apparently it was an opportunity to learn new skills, experience a unique lifestyle and make lifetime friends... all without fully committing to being a farmer or living on a farm. This type of program makes me wonder if students could play a role of the success of these new farms!
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