On our field
trip to the Adirondacks, I was surprised when the owners of Asgaard Farms told
us that they are actually quite successful with the nutrients in the soil.
After reading about the poor soil conditions that prevented early farmers from
producing crops, I was curious as to what changed between the 1700/1800’s and
now to lead to an increase in small farms in the Adirondacks. The recent
success of farming in the Adirondacks is due to improved techniques and
technologies to productively use the land.
The initial
farmers of the Adirondacks failed because they applied European farming
techniques to North American climates without taking into account the extreme
climate differences between the two continents. Farmers of the 1800’s and
earlier focused on one crop – usually corn – which sucked the nutrients and
water from the soil. Additionally, they did not have the technology to sustain farming
during brutal winters and rainy summers. Farmers chose tracts of land that
bordered bogs or that were incredibly rocky or that had high/low pH soil. Instead
of adapting to the new Adirondack climate and taking into account land
differences, immigrant farmers failed. And the few who did take into account
landscape differences, such as John Brown, still were unsuccessful due to the
tiniest factors.
With newfound
farming techniques/technology and knowledge of the land – soil composition,
precipitation, succession patterns, topography, etc. -, people of the 21st
century have been more successful in farming the Adirondacks. In books such as The Adirondack Atlas, authors have
compiled maps of everything from soil content to elevation to waterways. This
information, with a bit of research or a degree in agriculture, can be used to
find an ideal farming location in the Adirondacks, devise a farming style
proven successful to that type or region, and start a farm. Technology has also
increased productivity. Instead of using horse-driven plows, gas-powered
tractors do the work of weeks in hours (Historical Timeline of Farm Machinery).
Not only technology but farming practices also help improve farm production. At
Asgaard Farms in the Adirondack foothills, owners use animal and crop rotations
to exchange nutrients and benefit both species. Nearby at Essex Farms, the
owners created an CSA exchange and marketing program in New York City to sell
crops more successfully. Both farms grow many crops year round to prevent the
loss of one crop from consuming the farm entirely.
Although farming
in the Adirondacks today is a lot more successful than in the past, farms still
fail. However, farmers have new technologies and techniques to prevent total
failure and can rely on CSAs/farm groups to support them during less productive
years.
Sources/References
The Adirondack
Atlas
Jenkins,
Jerry, and Andy Keal. The Adirondack Atlas: A Geographic Portrait of
the Adirondack Park. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse UP, 2004. Print.
Information
About Adirondack Farming History
Historical Timeline of Farm Machinery
Asgaard Farms
Website
Essex Farms
Website
You make some good points about the benefits of newer farming techniques for enhancing soil quality, which I think are pretty essential for any modern farm that wants to survive in the Adirondacks. Also, I think that the push from many residents in the Adirondacks towards being able to eat only food grown within the park has also contributed to the improving soil qualities on many farms because it encourages farmers to have a very diverse selection of crops and animals grown on their land. As Mark and Kristin from Essex farm said in their presentation last night, not all land is quality vegetable growing farm land, so having a diverse crop and animal selection lets them harvest as much as possible from the land in a sustainable manner, because they are not depleting already unsuitable soil for increased vegetable yield. Instead, having a full range of animals and vegetables allows them to use all their land for farming and prevent many of the potential pitfalls that early Adirondack farmers succumbed to.
ReplyDeleteYes, I also agree that knowledge about newer farming techniques has helped make land in the Adirondacks more productive and I agree with Gaby that the push to eat locally grown food has helped farms too. Farmers markets, which advertise locally grown food, are becoming increasingly popular, giving farms more opportunities to profit from their crops. In fact, the owners of Asgaard sell their products at three different farmers markets in the region. In addition to farmer's markets, food stores, like Healthy Living and Whole Foods are opening up in suburbs and even cities and they pride themselves in marketing local products. The owners of Asgaard mentioned that they sell their products to Healthy Living in Saratoga, NY, a suburb just south of the Adirondack Park. Thus, farms have more opportunities to increase their profits.
ReplyDeleteThe Adirondack Atlas also discusses the differences between high and hill farming. High farming, which involves intense agriculture and relies on nutrient rich soils every year has been less successful in the park, causing many farmers to turn to hill farming. Hill farming in comparison, incorporates cows, goats, and subsequently beef and cheese production, which Asgaard takes part in. I think the fact that the farm does not rely entirely on high farming has contributed to the success of the farm as well.
I have to admit, I was surprised to hear that the soil on the Asgaard land was relatively fertile and I think enhanced knowledge of farming techniques has helped farming in the region. But heightened demand for local food, a growing market for local food, and use of hill farming have certainly helped farming in the Adirondacks as well.