A New Wave of Agriculture in the Adirondacks

Kristin Kimball's memoir, The Dirty Life, takes you through the formation of her and her husband's unique farm, allowing you to experience the various and surprising frustrations and triumphs that comes with farming. However, the book, which only covers the first year, leaves you wondering what interesting events are transforming the farm now, 13 years later. Today, their farm is not only providing the community in the Adirondack region with good, locally grown food, but is also acting as a role model and providing opportunities for new farmers, ultimately supporting the new shift in how people think about food.

Essex Farm is a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) that offers year-round, full diet, free choice memberships ("Essex Farm"). The farm, without using synthetic fertilizer, herbicide or pesticide, is powered by 15 solar panels, 9 draft horses, 10 full-time farmers, and three tractors, feeding a total of over 300 members ("Essex Farm"). Mark and Kristin founded the farm on a simple, yet radical desire in 2003. They wanted their "members to know what it's like to eat whole food, in accordance with the seasons, and in harmony with what each year gives us," and, ultimately, "build an agro-ecosystem that is sustainable economically, environmentally, and socially ("Essex Farm"). Today, the success of the farm is clearly evident.

Images from Essex Farm, posted on Kristin Kimball's personal blog (Kimball).

There has been a shift in recent years in how people think about food and where it comes from, which tends to favor farms similar to the Kimball's. For a while, many Americans appeared to take agriculture for granted, and very few yearned to invest in agriculture (Frisch). We then saw a shift to demands for organic foods. However, industrial agriculture began also taking advantage of this market, and it's important to note that organic does not necessarily mean locally grown. Recently, the Slow Food Movement has been gaining momentum, which favors small farmers over corporate agribusiness, there has been a rise of CSAs, and "the proliferation of farmers markets have fostered demand for locally grown food that is good tasting and healthy" (Frisch). These factors, and other reasons, have lead younger people to invest in the new wave of agriculture, which is seen in Essex County.

Asa Train and Courtney Sutton, a young couple who started a meat farm in 2012 in the Champlain Valley, exemplify the new wave of agriculture. They find "happiness in working the land...[and] feel they're making a meaningful mark on the world around them" (Frisch). Asa grew up in the Adirondacks, traveled for some time after college, returned to his roots, and found work at Essex Farm. Courtney, also, gained experience in livestock production at Essex Farm. Before starting a farm of your own, it's important to have a history of farming experience, which can be hard to get. Essex Farm often is able to provide individuals, like Asa and Courtney, the experience needed before starting up on your own.

Another young farmer, Ian Ater, started an organic produce farm and met problems early on. The land he chose to use was based on "the right price, which was free" and, unfortunately, the land was very wet (Frisch). After having multiple issues with the mud, the Kimballs gave Ian a short-term loan to have a drainage tile installed. Essex farm and the Kimball's generosity and determination "has had a prodigious influence, spawning new farmers and a warm farming community" (Frisch).

Works Cited

"Essex Farm CSA." Essex Farm CSA. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.
Frisch, Tracy. "A New Crop of Farmers." Adirondack Explorer. 27 Feb. 2014. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.
Kimball, Kristin. "A Banner Year…for Mushrooms." Kristin Kimball. 26 June 2015. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.