The benefits of local farming

MILLERTON — Given that agriculture is a vital industry in Dutchess County, the NorthEast-Millerton Library invited David Hambleton from Sisters Hill Farm to give a presentation on organic versus local farming and the benefits of supporting local farms on Saturday, May 25.

Hambleton shared his knowledge about organic farming and its impact on local farms. While he said he wasn’t against organic farming, he encouraged his audience to support local farming practices and to get to know the people who feed them.

From the fruit distributed by Driscoll’s to hydroponic vegetables, Hambleton’s talk highlighted a few of the practices used in organic farming. Now that the organic rules have been loosened, he said requirements related to animals having access to space have been mostly ignored or eliminated and consolidated animal feedlot operations (CAFO’s) are now being certified. By bending the rules for the mega farms, Hambleton said real organic farms are going out of business.

To become a more informed consumer, Hambleton advised his audience to shop for and ask their grocers to carry local products. Among the benefits of shopping locally, Hambleton said consumers are given a chance to develop a relationship with the farmers who grow their food. The food is also fresher and in greater variety with more flavor. On top of that, the money spent on local products stays local. The only downside, Hambleton said, is that it might take a little more work and time to find a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model or farmers market to meet their needs.

As a farmer operating the CSA at Sisters Hill Farm in Stanfordville, Hambleton talked about the connections formed and the trust built between farmers and consumers. With a mission geared toward growing healthy food that “nurtures bodies, spirits, communities and the earth,” he gave an overview of the history behind Sisters Hill Farm and its CSA. 

Owned and operated by the Sisters of Charity, the property located at 123 Sisters Hill Road was originally willed to the Sisters in 1916. In 1995, the Sisters of Charity decided to expand their vision statement to include a reverence for the earth and created a CSA to help do so.

Hired to help create a CSA at the farm in 1999, Hambleton related how the farm has grown from 40 members in 1999 to feeding 300 families today. Each year, the farm grows about 95,000 pounds of vegetables on 5 acres of land, 10% or more of which is donated to local soup kitchens and families in need. Since the CSA was first initiated, it has shared more than 1 million pounds of organic produce with its consumers and the community.

Hambleton credited the food’s quantity, quality and value as his main reasons for getting involved. He also noted the farm grows its produce according to organic principles; has a trust between farmers and consumers and a sense of community; and offers the chance for consumers to pick their own herbs, scallions, flowers and cherry tomatoes. He said people can also visit the farm and ultimately save money by buying CSA shares. 

Hambleton reiterated that the farm is driven by its mission to not only grow a delicious variety of food, but to grow it so it’s healthy and affordable.

“I think just caring about where your food is coming from can lead to a higher quality of life,” Hambleton said. “For me, it’s all about the relationship and it’s about trust. Most of the small local farmers are not in it for the money: they’re in it because they’re passionate about feeding the community and that’s not always the same with corporate businesses.”